Hi,

Been a while since I posted. I need some insight from somebody more familiar with the LS1 than I (well, ok, more familiar with CARS than I).

I have a '98 Z V8 M6. Last night, I ran it out of gas. I got a can, put 3 Gal of premium in it, and it just won't start. For a time it would start and idle VERY rough, but now it won't even fire. There's plenty of gas in the tank, the battery is great (even tried jumping just to make sure it had plenty of juice), but it just won't go.

I understand that once the fuel injectors get empty it can be a pain to get them full again, but how can I do that? I'm beginning to suspect running it out of gas exposed something else, like a bad fuel pump.

Any ideas/suggestions?

Great BIG thanks in advance for any assistance.

/Scott

 

Turn on the keys a few times without cranking the engine, it should build fuel pressure. Then try it.

 

I tried that. Someone told me I should hear the fuel pump running then; I do not.

The battery was VERY strong, and I nearly killed it. I tried leaving the key on for a while, turning it on, waiting 5 secs, turning it off, several times, then cranking, etc.

What's odd is that it 'was' trying to idle, though rough, but won't even fire now.

 

Yeah, you should hear the fuel pump when you turn the key on. Next thing I'd do is put a fuel pressure gauge on it, and clear any codes/reset the PCM if the SES came on just for the heck of it. Good luck with it...hope it's not the pump.

 

Check the fuel pump relay in the fuse boxes under the hood on the drivers side.

 

if you don't hear the fuel pump prime when you turn the key on....you either have a blown fuse or you burned out the fuel pump.

i've heard many times that running the car out of gas will burn the pump out. seen it happen several times on the board.

check the fuses first...then check the pump.

good luck

 

AWESOME help folks--thanks so much. I'm about to go check on it again.

How do I clear the SES error?

 

The SES might just be a misfire/lean code(s) cause you ran out of gas - won't hurt to try though -

PCM Reset

Turn key on, don't start car
Pull PCM BATT and PCM IGN fuses in engine compartment
Wait 5-10 min
Turn ignition off
Replace fuses

 

My guess - you overheated and killed your fuel pump. If you are very lucky you can find your fuel filter clogged as hell with stuff from a bottom of your tank or blown fuse.

 

<sigh>
No sound from the pump, but in retrospect I recall getting in the car after my girlfriend brought it home and hearing a high pitched whine coming from the back. I think at that point the pump was overworking and the gas in the lines got me the 1 mile to my destination. When I got in the car then, it wouldn't start.

I think the pump is dead. Fuses check out ok. Estimates from around town seem to be $1,100 to $1,200, parts and labor.

Ugh. Why is EVERYTHING for this car SO expensive? No matter--I love to drive it so I pay

Thanks for all your help and suggestions!

/Scott

 

Consider doing it yourself. If/when I need to r&r mine, I'm going in from the top to avoid having to drop all the stuff underneath. Probably a 1/2 day job, if that.

 

If it's the pump, I know a couple guys who had to replace their sending units, and instead of dropping the tank to get to the pump a shop cut an access panel on the rear deck. Maybe you can buy the parts, then just pay for labor. I'll look for the link and send it to you. Was hoping it wasn't the pump - someone warned me when I first got my car never to run ouf of gas, and to always fill it when it gets to 1/4.

 

Before I had the fuel pump changed, I would change the fuel filter. I think it was like $30 (can't remember), but thats a lot cheaper, and will probably need to be replaced anyway. You ran it out of gas and all that crap in the bottom of your tank got sucked through it, so it is most likely clogged, and I would be pretty pi$$ed if I burnt my NEW fuel pump up because I didn't change the clogged filter out.

 

Youre pump is dead, im shocked it took that many replies for it to even be mentioned. You cannot run a ls1 car out of gas and not kill the fuel pump. I have only heard of a few people ever getting away with doing it.

Sorry man.

 

I agree.

Most cars will kill electric fuel pumps when run out of fuel...not just LS1s.

Mike