Runs fine for days then acts like running out of gas and then dies and try restart and runs then dies ,when I turn key on you hea

I then turn key on and you hear pump in gas tank pump up ,but you donot hear external pump ,you let sit an hour and starts and runs fine and you hear external pump running while engine is running ,replaced both fuel pumps three years ago and fuel pump relay feels hot ? I am thinking external pump is bad.

My car has 300000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The fuel pump in the fuel tank is designed to have low pressure and high volume to feed the front fuel pump the right amount fuel. The front fuel pump supplies the engine with high pressure to the engine.

When you do not hear the pump run then the fuel pump is bad and should be replaced along with the relay. You should not have to replace the in tank pump if it is running. I’d suggest replacing the fuel filter as well.

I’d suggest getting this inspected by a qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to diagnose your stalling issue and make the necessary repairs.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

Engine stalls

If the fuel pump relay has an issue while the vehicle is operating it will cut off power to the fuel pump, which will cause the engine to stall. A faulty relay may allow the vehicle to be restarted a short while later, while a completely failed relay will not.

There is a reason gas pumps have an annoying habit of shutting off. Gas pump nozzles are designed with a device on the end that turn off the fuel flow when the gasoline runs back into it. This is a safety mechanism which prevents the gas from coming out and spilling when filling up the tank.
If the pump cannot produce a constant stream of gas at higher speeds, your vehicle`s engine will sputter and threaten to stall.
The most common sensor which can lead to your car stalling is the manifold absolute pressure sensor (MAP) or the mass air flow sensor (MAF). Most cars typically have one or the other.
Does a gas pump automatically stop when the tank is full? Gas pumps are mechanically designed to automatically stop pumping gas as soon as the tank is full. The nozzle valve shuts automatically once the gasoline blocks the air in the Venturi tube.
Give the tanks about 15 pounds of air, open a line after the filter and let it push the air out, then crank the starter. The pressure in the fuel tanks will drive the air right out.
When your vehicle splutters and eventually stalls it could be a sign that your car needs new spark plugs. The spark plugs, while small, are a critical part of your engine and are what “spark” air and fuel mixture in the engine sending power through your vehicle.
This type of failure can be intermittent. It could occur when the vehicles run for a specific period of time. It can also happen when the fuel and vapors inside the tank cool. Most fuel pumps are controlled by a module in the rear of the vehicle.
Stalling Engine

Because the MAF measures the air that flows into the engine, it can actually cause the ECM to make changes to the air and fuel mixture that will cause your engine to stall if it`s sending incorrect air readings. Your engine might be fuel-starved or flooded.

When the EGR valve is clogged or dirty, as they are prone to, it may not function properly causing the engine idle rough, stall at idle speeds, cause the car to get poor fuel mileage, or emit a strong smell of fuel due to excess hydrocarbons which also results in failing emissions tests.
If the ignition relay shorts, burns out, or otherwise fails while the engine is operating it will cut off power to the fuel pump and ignition system. This will cause the vehicle to immediately stall due to fuel and spark being cut off.
There are three major causes for a stalled engine: A lack of fuel, a lack of air flow and improper ignition. Running out of fuel is one of the most common causes of engine stalling, but dirty fuel injectors or a plugged fuel filter can also be the culprit.
Is Your Engine Stalling? Similar to having reduced fuel efficiency, your engine may stall if you have bad gas in your tank. Having bad gas can also mean having diluted gas in your car. This could result in your car not having enough combustible ingredients to continue to run.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Runs fine for days then acts like running out of gas and then dies and try restart and runs then dies ,when I turn key on you hea
ANSWER : The fuel pump in the fuel tank is designed to have low pressure and high volume to feed the front fuel pump the right amount fuel. The front fuel pump supplies the engine with high pressure to the engine.

When you do not hear the pump run then the fuel pump is bad and should be replaced along with the relay. You should not have to replace the in tank pump if it is running. I’d suggest replacing the fuel filter as well.

I’d suggest getting this inspected by a qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to diagnose your stalling issue and make the necessary repairs.

Some times i turn the key and it starts up like normal but then shuts off after 1 second
ANSWER : You will need to check the purge control valve on the firewall near brake master cylinder. The purge valve may be letting too much vapor into the intake causing the stall or hard start.

There also may be an issue with shorted ignition coils in the spark plug holes. The plug boots may need to be replaced.

If you’d like some assistance with these checks, consider YourMechanic as one of our mobile experts can come to you and diagnose your starting issue firsthand. Best of luck.

Battery light turned on, car started running weirdly and it essentially died. Was able to jumpstart briefly, but it died again
ANSWER : This is likely a charging system problem (i.e. alternator or voltage regulator). As you may know, the alternator is responsible for charging the battery while the engine runs by generating amperage and recharging the battery while the engine turns the alternator. The voltage regulator is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator. When the alternator is working properly, it charges the battery as the runs maintaining a certain amperage. When the alternator is not working properly, this may cause it not to charge the battery resulting in a very quick discharge of the battery which will ultimately lead to the car shutting down and losing all power as you have experienced. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your charging system.

I’ve got a 97 Taurus. The other day, I would turn the key and the engine would turn slowly but not start. All of the lights and ra
ANSWER : You should have the battery tested after running the engine to try and charge it up. Have battery load tested to see if it can hold a load and replace it if it cannot. Then have the charging system checked to make sure it is charging at the correct rate.

key won’t start engine
ANSWER : It is possible that you could have one of two issues. You could be experiencing a bad alternator problem that is causing your battery to be drained and become faulty well before it should be. In this case, I would recommend having an electrical systems check to determine if the alternator is performing as it should.

This test may involve the use of a digital multimeter to first test the battery for proper voltage. If the battery does not have proper voltage it may need to be charged or replaced in order to start the vehicle.

Once the vehicle is started, the alternator output can then be tested with the digital multimeter. Another way to test the alternator would be on a machine that is available at most auto parts stores. This test would require the removal of the alternator from the vehicle.

The other possibility is that you could be experiencing a parasitic draw. A parasitic draw is when something electronic is drawing power from the battery while the engine is off. This would be something other than the alarm system and certain memory functions that are low draw features and are supposed to be drawing power when the vehicle is off.

I would recommend having this issue checked out by qualified technician who can performs these checks and pinpoint your starting issue firsthand.

Car running badly on first crank of the day and smokes white smoke must turn ignition key off and restart runs fine after that
ANSWER : It sounds like you may be having a poor connection to the engine control module. You could try to disconnect the battery, as well as the connection to the ECM. Afterwards, apply a dielectric compound to the connection and reinstall the connections, making sure all of the connection fully seat. Once this is done, reconnect the battery. This may be needed to all of the computer sensors to limit the corrosion in the connections.

GM uses a very small wire and pin combination on their wire harness. These can be very prone to getting damaged pins and even a small amounts of corrosion which cause a bad connection. If you need help with this, consider having a certified mechanic diagnose your wiring components so that the correct repairs can be made.

I changed fuel pump and truck ran great for 3 days. Now after 3 days truck dies. It will start runs few min then dies like before
ANSWER : Check the bottom of the fuel tank for sediment. Age and mileage could have accumulated a lot of it at the bottom of the tank. If you did not, check and change the fuel filter. Rule of thumb – replace the fuel filter any time you replace a fuel pump. Also, check the wiring for any chaffing on the fuel pump when you remove it. While your problem is kind of unique, I have seen many GM truck fuel tank baffle loosen over time, occasionally rubbing against the fuel pump can intermittently short it out and/or block the fuel pump pick up. To have this diagnosed, consider having a certified expert from YourMechanic inspect the stalling issue to have this corrected.

99 Accord turns over and fuel pump runs when I turn key, but will not start. What could be the issue? 1999 Honda Accord
ANSWER : Hello – when you say that the lights dim while trying to start the engine, I suspect that the battery may not be strong enough to spin the engine fast enough in low temperatures to catch and run. With your advanced mileage, cylinder compression is probably a bit lower than originally – and may not be compressing the air/fuel mix enough to start. Weak or corroded battery connections can also contribute to this problem. I would recommend an engine start inspection by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.