98 SE-R runs out of gas at 1/4 tank! Help!

Gorilla Salad · Oct 23rd, 2003, 06:28 PM

Hi, my car runs out of 91 octane gas after about 200 miles. Right before it runs out of gas, it has a hard time starting (naturally), and it will not climb to redline (probably running it really lean). My gas mileage has averaged out to just over 22mpg with mixed city and freeway driving. My gas guage registers a little over 1/4 tank of gas, and the gas light comes on. After running it completely out of gas, I was only able to put in 9.6 gallons of fuel before it was topped off. There should be more gas in the tank it is not able to use... Any ideas as to what the problem is? Fuel pump??? I am thankful for all input!

sersr20dk · Oct 24th, 2003, 09:55 AM

your fuel pump pickup may be clogged, i thought about your fuel level sending unit going wacky, but since your car only took 9.6 gallons of fuel its steering me in the direction, but the fact that the light comes on with a 1/4 tank of gas, kinda sends me back to the sending unit. either way you are gonna need to pull the cover and check the fuel pump and the connections/grounds going to it

Gorilla Salad · Oct 24th, 2003, 11:18 AM

Thanks for the help! I am going to investigate further and pull the fuel pump. If anyone has experienced this problem please let me know!

sajohnson · May 5th, 2006, 03:41 PM

My '93 NX2000 does that ever since I replaced the fuel pump.

I am a technician and followed the instructions to the letter. The replacement pump was a Welbro, but was a smaller diameter. Other than that, the pickup and everything seemed the same.

Strange. We just fill up when it gets below 1/2. Kind of a PITA though.