2001 SC1 Saturn Sport Coupe Stalls on 3/4 of a tank left

Tiny
ARENEE4U
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 SATURN SPORT COUPE
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 14,500 MILES
2001 SC1 Saturn Coupe 145,000 Miles
Stall Problem

Hi, I have looked around here but have not really found an answer to my question. Some seem to have similar problems as mine but not quite the same. Anyways, this problem started about 6 months ago. When ever I have to make a hard stop (example at a yellow light), make a sharp turn or take a tight curve it sometimes stalls. It only does it when its low on gas (usually when there is about a quarter of a tank left.) The first tome this happened I though maybe my fuel gauge was slightly off and I was actually had an empty tank. First off the car started right back up after the stall. After that I drove straight to the gas station. My gas gauge was correct I still had just a little over three gallons in the tank. Since my car still gets an average 28 mpg having 3 gallons left is quite a bit. Anyways I filled it up and I did not have another problem till my tank got down to a quarter again. I really cant figure it out my car runs perfectly fine when its full of gas and even when its low on gas and I stop really slow and smooth it wont die. At one point I let the gas get really low to see how the car would act. The lower the gas got the more trouble I had. Also my gas gauge in my car seems perfectly fine till its get down to just below a quarter of a tank then it goes up and down slightly. I have just been continuing to drive with it like this. Since every time it dies it starts right back up. Its not a problem at all if I keep the tank with at least 4 (it only holds 10-11 gals) gallons of fuel in there.
I would think all this would have something to do with the fuel pump or fuel level. But everyone one I talk too seems to be kind of flabbergasted when I ask them about it. They think like me. If it was the fuel pump why wouldn’t I have a problem all the time? We have a few other ideas but I just thought I would put the question out there.

I would really appreciate any answers or comments any one may have. Sorry its so long just wanted make it all clear. THANKS for your time!
Monday, January 18th, 2010 AT 8:01 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
I have seen some older model saturns run out of gas and still read a 1/4 of a tank but they were really out of gas. What happened to them was a spider built a web and blocked off the vent for the tank so when the vaccuum was put on the tank from the engine it was never released and caused the tank to suck up permently where the float in the tank was causing the gas gauge to never read less then a 1/4 of a tank. Why dont u take a look at ur tank see if maybe its sucked up causing ur fuel pump to lose fuel supply under certain conditions. Let me know what u find.
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Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 AT 1:48 PM
Tiny
ARENEE4U
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Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. I checked and there is no obstruction. Also ever time the car dies its starts right back up with no problem. Plus when I take it to the gas station my car still has gas in it.
And at least in my experience the few times my car has run out of gas (which was years ago) I cant get it to start up again. Until I put more gas in it.
Anyways, thanks for your time I appreciate it!
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Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 AT 2:40 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
So the gas tank isn't sucked up?I have been really thinking about ur problem I was thinking about what If u had water or something else in ur gas tank that was sloshing around causing ur stalling. Stuff like that has always been hard to diagnose. Let me know.
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Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 AT 11:11 AM
Tiny
ARENEE4U
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Thanks, I will check that out and get back to you.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2010 AT 5:47 PM
Tiny
ARENEE4U
  • MEMBER
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Hi, sorry it took me so long to get back to you. Busy week. There is no water in the tank or anything else for that matter from what I could tell that would cause a problem. Thanks anyways =) Puzling isnt it? I would welcome any other suggestions that you might have.
Thanks Again.
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Thursday, January 28th, 2010 AT 10:59 PM

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