what's wrong with my Protege 5?

[echo31]

When I start my car it is a bit rough, almost like it isn't going to start. It is even worse when starting the car after filling the gas tank. A few weeks ago the car wouldn't even start after putting new gas in and I had to get a jump at the gas station.

I'm not an engine person, so I apologize if this is obvious.

 

[rx7_drifter_]

You can start by checking your spark plugs and your air filter.

I'm not an expert either but I don't think a new gas tank has to do with anything...

Do you have a check engine light?
Any other problems?

 

[NCZ13]

check and see how your battery is too. if your battery is low, that could be the cause of the problem.

i know once i got my battery changed, it started strong and manly. (eekdance)

 

[Andrewsmc]

and if its not the battery check the alternater, if that nots it check everything in between.

 

[vlrussian]

after checking spark plugs and the batter! (i think its batter had simmular problem) check your fuel pump (thats my second guess) and if not any of them then last thing can be started but i doubt its batterry or fuel pump is going bad

 

[viral_override]

dead battery for sure, I think with the age of the car the alternator should not be dead yet unless your pulling alot of power through ICE

 

[echo31]

I have tested the voltage on the battery and it seemed normal or close to normal. The fact that it gets worse after refueling makes me think (with the help of a friend's advice) to check the fuel filter and fuel pump.

 

[vlrussian]

yeah then is fuel pump

 

[echo31]

any idea what sort of price range that would/should be?

 

[vlrussian]

fuel pump should coust from 50-170 mostlikely it be around 120 but it matters where u buy it

 

[ho bag]

My old acclaim did the same thing. Hard to start and not all that peppy, After filling with gas would not start for a while if at all. Pump was done.

 

[Purrfectangel]

could be a bad ground connection.

 

[echo31]

could be a bad ground connection.

how do I check for that?

 

[rx7_drifter_]

could be a bad ground connection.

Yup. How are your battery terminals looking? They should be clean. I already had problems starting my car because the negative was full of white s***.

 

[vlrussian]

take ur fuel pump to kragens some of them can test it if its good or going bad

 

[Ham*Sammich!]

Yepp.. always make sure your connections are clean of that white powder stuff it killed my last battery.Make sure that your cables don't have any corrosion underneath the sleeves as well for it will build up in the cable itself.

 

[echo31]

take ur fuel pump to kragens some of them can test it if its good or going bad

is the fuel pump easy to get to?

 

[vlrussian]

matters where it is should be that hard
but i have different car from u i wont know where it is

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

Yeah, pull the pump & also check the sock on it to make sure it's not sucking up junk on the bottom of the tank too. Access is under carpet beneath passenger side rear seat. There is an access panel then you'll be right at the pump on top of the tank. Pull out the whole unit. The pump is the little round cylinder. You can score one from the FS section here will varying mileage much cheaper than new but for peace of mind you may wanna go with a new one. Shouldn't be too much of a hassle to swap it.

 

[echo31]

Yeah, pull the pump & also check the sock on it to make sure it's not sucking up junk on the bottom of the tank too. Access is under carpet beneath passenger side rear seat. There is an access panel then you'll be right at the pump on top of the tank. Pull out the whole unit. The pump is the little round cylinder. You can score one from the FS section here will varying mileage much cheaper than new but for peace of mind you may wanna go with a new one. Shouldn't be too much of a hassle to swap it.

does the gas tank need to be empty?