I’ve been driving a stick shift for more than 8 years, so this is the only reason I can think of for my car acting the way it did this morning on my way to work:
It is possessed.
First, it didn’t want ot start; it sounded like the battery was going on it or the starter was bad. After wrestling with the ignition trying to start it and realizing I was just getting later and later for work, I got the car rolling down the hill, popped the clutch, and voila! Instant motor revving.
Then it died when I stopped at the stop sign at the bottom of the hill.
Luckily, this time, it started right back up, and, being a veteran of driving a manual transmission, I let up on the clutch while pressing on the gas, then the car jumped forward into the insection and died.
Then it did it again.
And again.
Then it lurched out of the intersection like a giant red Mexican jumping bean on wheels. Remember, I’ve been driving a stick for more than 8 years, I’ve known how to go forward from a dead stop without lurching for some time now, just not today.
I made it down the highway ok, but then the car died again at the stop light after my exit. Replay the aforementioned jumping bean impersonation/dead car at stops three more times at three separate intersections before I make it to work.
The car was fine yesterday - just peachy - but it was just plain evil today. At lunch time, some co-workers and I are going to circle around it and yell, “The power of Christ compels you!” repeatedly until we think the demon may be gone. Does anyone have some holy water I can borrow?
I’m not too knowledgeable about cars. I know the air filter and the oil filter, but that’s the first time I’ve heard of a fuel filter. Can I change this myself, like with the other two filters, or is this best left to a mechanic?
Bratman, it really depends on how old and what kind of car it is. All modern cars that I know of have injected systems. Your car will probably have to be more than 12 years old to have a carburetor.
If you have fuel injection, the filter most likely is up in, or behind, one of the rear wheel wells, somewhere near the gas tank at any rate. It’ll be a big thing, about the size of an oil filter, and fairly difficult to get at. I think a replacement part usually goes for about thirty bucks. I’d recommend you have a reputable shop replace this for you. An injected system has a bit of residual pressure and it’s possible you could spray gasoline around when you remove the filter. I know this from experience. Whoops!
If you have a carburetted engine, the filter is much smaller and somewhere under the hood. It’ll be very close next to the carburetor. This can usually be changed very easily in about 15 minutes. This type of filter is probably about 5 bucks.
What I recommend, is first checking the owner’s manual, or call a local dealer of your model to see what kind of fuel system you have. They should also be able to tell you where the filter is located and give you a replacement part number.
Then, if you find you have an injection system, take Demo’s advice, even though he didn’t give you any, and buy a bottle of fuel injector cleaner, about 2 bucks. Use that according to the instructions. That means filling the tank and adding one bottle of cleaner. This is supposed to disolve any deposits that may have collected at the injectors as you drive. If this doesn’t work, then move on to filter replacement.
If you find you have a carburetted system, replace the filter immediately; injector cleaner will do nothing for you.
Was the starter cranking but the motor not turning over?
-as in “I-don’t-wanna-wanna-wanna-wanna-wanna-wanna-start!”
If you were able to get it to do a rolling start then it’s probably either your starter or alternator. You see, if your revs are high enough (as in while driving) you provide sufficient current to keep the ignitions system igniting the sparks. But, at low rpm (as in while stopped at a light and in idle) there isn’t sufficient current to keep the ignition system going.
You did not mention that the car would stall on you while at speed. If it did not then I doubt it is a problem with fuel supply (i.e your fuel filter). Though it’s a good idea to change it every year or two anyway.
Worst case scenario (not necessarily the most expensive) is that it’s the computer that manages the fuel and ignition system. It could be cooked. Starting problems and stalling problems at idle are typical if that thing goes.
If the exorcision does not help your car, I suggest a qualified mechanic is the next best thing. It’s not likely that your car problem is very serious or expensive to fix.
Well, the Catholics won’t perform an exorcism on inanimate objects and refuse to give me Holy Water for the radiator, or even bless my anti-freeze, so we tried the next best thing and called the only expert we know on possessed cars: Steven King.
He hasn’t returned our messages.
I guess I’ll just have to try the fuel cleaner, change the fuel filter, make sure the battery’s charged, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll look into the alternator and other suggestions.