My car almost starts, but not quite?

Question

I was driving my 94 Plymouth Acclaim, then after taking off from a stoplight, it kind of chugged for a couple of seconds. It was low on gas, so I put 1 (yes, 1) gallon in. Then 8 hours later, it almost starts, but doesn't quite catch. As soon as it almost turns over, the engine kind of 'putts.'

It was about 25 degrees F, so is it possible it is gas line freeze? I put in HEET and waited for about 1/2 hour, and that didn't do anything. I tried jumpstarting it, and that did nothing.
What are some other possibilities of problems?

BillyBoy, you are stupid. You look like an inbred hick from down south yourself. Gas will not freeze until AT LEAST ~(100) F. 25 degrees will not freeze gas, but it will freeze water. You obviously don't know what gas line freeze and HEET are. Heet is something to prevent gas line freeze. It occurs when condensation 'freezes' or cyrstalizes inside your gas tank. Then those particles of ice get into your 'gas line' & the water freezes. Since it freezes, it prevents gas from properly flowing while trying to start the vehicle. HEET is a brand of 'ice melter' that you put into your gas. It prevents ice from forming in your gas tank. You should put in 1 bottle for 10 gallons of gas. If your car already doesn't start because it has 'gas line freeze,' u want to put more HEET into the tank. Since I didn't have very much gas in my car, I put in more so it could work more effectively. It did the trick (that & adding more gas last night, so it was up to almost 1/2 tank)

Oh yeah. And BillyBoy, that is coming from a Minnesotan. Why do you have so many thumbs down? I sure wish Yahoo had a feature for 'Worst Answer' because you would get it. To all others, thank you very much for your insight into this matter. Having lived here all my life, I know that I need to keep gas in my car, but this is a new car for me, and apparently the gas gauge suddenly drops... I will make sure to keep it more full in the future so I don't have to downgrade to the bus. And I sure get a kick out of people who bother to waste their time telling me that gas won't freeze at 25 degrees...

Answer 1

You need to fill the tank in cold weather. And keep it at least half full all winter. Yes your fuel lines havewater and sediment in them and are frozen or clogged. It's going to take longer than 1/2 hour for the Heet to work. Change the fuel filter, top off the tank and add another bottle of heet. If after sitting for a couple three hours or longer it doesn't thaw you're gonna have to get it indoors and/or warmed up somehow. Since you've been running the tank at near empty, there's also a possibility that you've clogged the injectors with sediment. Let's hope not because you'll have to get a mechanic to flush them.

Answer 2

might need a little more gas . If it was reallly low the added gallon may have helped when it was hot . But after the motor cooled it could be crying for another couple of gallon. When you run gas tanks real low there is also a chance of sucking up the crap in the bottom of the tank . Try not to let it get that low whenever possible

Answer 3

Ever ran the car down to zero and the car cuts out from lack of fuel? You would have mucked up the fuel pump then and I imagine that if you have done that in the past it is coming back to get you. Might have air and fuel in the lines or might be injectors getting blocked from all the cr@p at the bottom of your tank being put through the injectors and blocking them.
I done that once and had fuel pump issues forever afterwards

Answer 4

Could be a starter problem, fuel filter clogged (running all the gas from the bottom of the tank in a old car) fuel pump, the gallon of gas you put in just not getting the job done....

Answer 5

It sounds like a problem with the MAP sensor. Try disconnecting the plug from the map sensor and starting the car. It will most likely start but run very roughly. If it does start, then replace the MAP sensor.

The MAP sensor is on the firewall near the center of the car. It has a wire connector and a vacuum line to it!

This is a common problem with that car!

Answer 6

want more effective info. does it over warmth? does it rotate once you're trying to start up or no longer? if it does rotate do you listen your starter motor operating? in accordance with what you've stated identity want to seem on the starter motor. might want to be overheating. the pinion may be sticking. identity also seem at. battery value, terminals, filters, and definatley get a 2d opinion on those cats. relying on how clogged they are they could reason this tho they have a tendency to no longer even aid you're making one vacation...you by no ability understand

Answer 7

Check your Starter eventually all Acclaim will do is turn until you ware down the battery .

When is the last time Acclaim had a good tune up? Also will get to a point that she won't turn over.

When is the last time you maintained Acclaim's fuel injector system.

Did you put in a new Battery?

Ultimately, Acclaim is old and you might have to put her out to pasture before you wined up spending more money than it's worth.

Please try to get another automobile.

I have a 91 Thunderbird and I recently put in 500 dollars into my car and now the tranny (transmission) is acting up. My mechanic told me not to put any more money into Thunder and I'm taking his advice.

Answer 8

No, gas won't freeze.. it is possible that you're basically out of gas. You may have a small bit of gas left in the tank but not enough to get it going, & *1* gallon doesn't go that far.

Answer 9

gas doesnt freeze at that temp but the water in it does... when you run low everything gets sucked up..... water, and crud...put some gas in it for goodness sake.

Answer 10

25 wont freeze fuel so it must be a sensor like youre maff sensor mass air flow sensor could also be bad coil pack this sends the fire to the plugs. no fire no start