All,

I need a little advise here. I was driving my car down the interstate at about 70 mph and it started hesitating and sputtering. I managed to get off and then it died and wouldn't start. I kept trying - it would crank fine and start and then immediately die. After about 15 minutes, I got it started again, drove about another five miles and then it happened again.

My first thought was bad fuel. The tank had abut 1/4 of a tank full, so I filled it up. Then I managed to drive home with no reoccurance problems (about 25 miles). I left the house with the car on a few short trips to the store and no problem yet, but I was wondering what corrective action I should take to ensure this doesn't happen again.

I've searched the stalling threads and the best I can come up with is the Fuel Pump Relay, so I will change that (seems like a small fix). I changed the fuel filters about 3k ago, so I don't think that could be a problem (unless there is one in the tank - not sure). Is it possible that I could have gunk in the tank that made its way into the system as well?

I've had the car since November, but it doesn't get driven much as I am out of the country a lot. However, I've put about 3k on it since I've had it with no problems whatsoever until this happened. I've changed all fluids, replaced timing chain, done valve adjustments, replaced the A/C compressor and am doing a lot of stuff to make this car a keeper. I am not much of a DIY, but want to learn.

Any thoughts sure would be welcome. I'm paranoid and I hate the thought of dying on the highway!

Thanks, Jim

Have you done the fuel filters? There are two, the canister and the inline type, both under the hood.

Turbodiesel,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I have done both but I may do them again as a precaution.....cheap insurance.

Thanks, Jim

Did you replace the filters before or after the incident? If they have not been replaced since the incident, replace them for sure.

Oh Yes! Is this the first time you've let the fuel get this low since you've owned it? I don't know if there is a correlation, but my daughters 81 300D fuel guage hangs on 1/4 tank and never goes down beyond that. Did your fuel guage stay on 1/4 tank for a long time?

Good luck,

I second TXBill's suggestion to R&R the fuel tank filter screen and clean it. If the screen is clogged with a black/gray colored crud, then suspect algae infesting the tank and fuel system. Hopefully, its not algae but only crud and/or water in the fuel tanks causing the problem. If algae, do a search on this topic in the diesel forum (I and others have written lots on this subject).

Larry's comment about hanging fuel gauges must be considered as this is a common problem - the fuel sending unit is the culprit. When the fuel level gets low, the engine will get some fuel and then no fuel as the diesel circulates through the system and as the car moves around sloshing the remaining fuel around in the tank. The fuel tank has a raised fuel pick-up, the tank has some recesses, and this results is about a 3/8" difference between the bottom of the fuel pick-up and the bottom of the tank - allowing some fuel flow when close to empty and the engine runs and stops as fuel flow stops. This may be your problem since you have not had any problems since filling the tank up.

Good Luck!
Tom

__________________
America: Land of the Free!

1977 300D: 300,000+ miles

American Honda: Factory Trained Technician & Honor Grad.
Formerly:
Shop Foreman;
Technical Advisor to Am. Honda;
Supervisor of Maintenance largest tree care co. in US for offices in Tex.

Guys,

Thanks for all the advise and help. I am leaning to thinking that it is a problem with the fuel tank filter screen. I am going to clean it and see how it goes from there.

Larry, I thought it was perhaps out of fuel at first, as it hasn't had a problem since. However, when it only took 17 gallons at fillup (21 gal tank, right?) that it might be something else.

Tom, I also haven't ruled out crap and algae in the tank. The car doesn't get run that much and sits for long periods of time when I am out of town, so it is entirely possible that junk gets in there.

Drove the car yesterday with no problems, although I didn't go too far. Now the car is having up at low speeds (it will eventually shift into the top gear) so that is something else ot look at. Anyway, she is keeping me busy.

It is interesting - my $1500 Mercedes is going to turn into a $10k on the way I am going. Valve adjustments, new timing chain, new rebuilt steering box, new brakes and rotors, alloy wheels redone, a new A/C compressor, a new radio with CD player and a new water pump have all been done. Next week the front seat gets rebuilt and I am seriously contemplating a new paint job. I guess everyone needs a hobby! I think all this is just due after years of the car not getting much use.

Thanks again!

Jim

put one of those fungus eating additives in the tank.sounds like the fungus is among you.