Car not getting gas?

Question

I've posted before about this problem, it seems to be escalating a bit and it was in the automechanic shop for two days. My car is not starting up correctly, the locks shift, the dash lights flash, the engine turns, and then nothing. I gave it a little gas to get it started on Monday when we took it to the autoshop, and the gas just did not seem to flow through the car. I would push the pedal and not get a lot from it and it was also a little bit harder to push the pedal. The authomechanic shop checked it and said they couldn't find anything wrong with it. It also started perfectly everytime for them. They checked the fuel pressures and said it was fine. But, my car is driving completely differently now. There just isn't power and the engine sounds different as well. Where do I take it now? Could Autozone help? Take it to another mechanic? Is it even safe to drive? Thanks!

Sorry, I added that information in my first post about my car and just didn't think to do it again when it should have been obvious. Pontiac Grand Am, 2001. 74,000 miles, V6 SE. The mechanic said he checked the fuel pump and it was fine, why wouldn't he check the filters and such? I had the fuel system cleaned about 6 to 8 months ago. I just switched to a high mileage oil and had the oil changed about a month ago, would it have anything to do w/ that?

Battery was changed a year ago. Lights are flashing, abnormally Just how they do when it normally starts up. Mentioned that because I was trying to explain the extent of what it does when I start it.

Sorry to add so many details, but I know AutoZone won't fix vehicles. I would just love for someone to tell me what it is so I can have someone fix it. I live in a rural area and the closest AutoZone is 30 miles away, same for the other automechanic shops.

Lights are flashing normally, NOT abnormally. Sorry.

Answer 1

I'm a little in the dark here. I wish you'd have included the brand of car, year and model. If you have a lot of miles on the odometer the catalytic converter may be partially plugged up.

I'd add a 16 oz. plastic bottle of 3M Complete Fuel System Cleaner to your gas tank when it's near empty. Add 14 gallons of gas. Take the car on an extended hard fast highway trip. You can find it at any NAPA or Carquest auto parts store.

Answer 2

"Sounds like you try to Start the car With the Headlights On?" To Much Draw/Strain on the system! Change the Fuel Filter! May want to have the Throttle Body Removed and Cleaned! Clean Injectors.

Do you Pump the Throttle when trying to start the car? Floods the Engine! Electronic Pump in Fuel Tank Pressurises System before start and if you Pump the Pedal you flood the engine with Fuel and it won't start.

Answer 3

Don't know what kind of car you have either! LOL!! But this applies to all makes and models....
MAKE SURE THE BATTERY TERMINALS ARE CLEAN!!
Lack of "go juice" entering or leaving your battery will cause severe intermittent problems and may not always show up when you want them to. In this day of modern electronics, good battery voltage is essential. If your battery terminals are corroded to the point of not allowing power to enter or leave, you will get things as you have said.. dash lights flickering on and off, lack of power, hard to start at times.. on and on... Just a thought.
On another thought?? You haven't seen any of those pesky lil gremlin creatures, or space alien dudes hanging out around your car have you?? I always blame things like this on them!!
If the battery terminals are clean, take it to another mechanic. It could be something as simple as the terminals, a bad cable, or a loose ground somewhere.
If the throttle is stiff, you may need to clean the throttle body also. Take the air filter snorkle off, have someone step on the gas to open the the butterfly and spray the bore and butterfly with carb cleaner, or throttle body cleaner. An old toothbrush is good for scrubbing in there, then wipe the excess away with a clean rag. Then spray the throttle body linkage with WD-40 while working the foot pedal. Hopefully that may help the stiff throttle pedal issue.
On GM's.. Their catalitic converters are junk. If It falls apart and plugs the exhaust system, the car won't get out of it's own way. It will feel like no power, and the transmission won't seem to shift right. If you can ease into the throttle slowly and it goes decent without bogging, but bogs when you romp it, you may need a new converter... Muffler shops can replace them for around $150.00 with a lifetime warranty.. Don't go with GM if you should need one. They want waaay too much!
Good luck!

Answer 4

I would take it to another shop as I dont think your going to be doing the work yourself even if you did know for sure whats wrong with it. The people at autozone might be able to help you figure out what it is but I dont know if they fix cars, the one by me just sells parts. It might just be something simple that the other mechanic overlooked like the throttle linkage since you said the peddle is harder to push. I think its fine to drive a little bit but I would address the problem as soon as possible by going to another mechanic

Answer 5

Have Auto Zone check the throttle positioning sensor. It is supposed to tell the computer how much gas you are wanting to give the car and if it can't read the signal it can't give the appropriate amount of gas making it run erratic.

Answer 6

Hmm, could be either bad fuel filter (change first) bad fuel pump, or bad injectors. Change the fuel filter, and then dump a bottle of seafoam into the gas tank.

Answer 7

AUTO ZONE.....big mistake....they don't and never will fix cars...do a little research about auto shops in you area....but it sounds like its a fuel delivery problem....fuel filter or pump...start out with the simple things first there Sally cheaper

Answer 8

auto zone could help they can comp. diagnostic of what the cars computer says is wrong, but sounds like fuel filter , throttle cable, but could just be some carbon build up and you need some octane booster to clean the internals of the fuel system.

Answer 9

I son't have a clue as to what car you are talking about. Year, make, engine type ??