Q: Starts but will not stay running unless you pour gas directly into the engine

asked by on July 18, 2017

im not sure the milage i am fixing a car before i buy it and it starts but only stays on if you pour gas into the carb and if you put it in gear it shuts off if you tap the gas with out pouring gas into the carb it shuts off it sats for four years with out any gas all fluids are good beside coolent tank has old water but no mold it starts first turn after sitting for four years but idles a bit high then calms down and sputters a bit then it will stay on as long as you are pouring gas into it is there anything i can do to fix this beautiful car it has alot of work done so they say but it looks fairly stock

My car has 122258 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Fuel Pump Replacement $145.32 - $1299.70 Get a Quote
Fuel Pressure Regulator Replacement $126.81 - $1011.90 Get a Quote

It sounds like you may have a fuel supply problem in getting the proper amount of fuel to the fuel injectors. As you know, when you turn the key to on, the fuel pump is activated and the fuel system is primed with fuel at a specific pressure in order to supply the fuel injectors with enough fuel to start the motor. When this is less than what is needed in order for the motor to fire or in some cases higher than normal, you may notice an erratic fluctuation in engine RPMs, hard starting or a lack of power when accelerating as the engine may be starved for fuel if insufficient fuel pressure exists in the fuel system. This can happen when the pump itself is not working properly or when the fuel pressure regulator is not maintaining the proper fuel pressure in the fuel system causing the engine to starve for fuel. This can also happen when there is insufficient connectivity to the fuel injectors which can cause an intermittent fuel spray pattern into the intake system resulting in a lean fuel condition or the motor otherwise starving for fuel. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your fuel system.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How often should I change the drive belt
Hello. Your car was equipped with an EPDM-based (ethylene propylene diene monomer) serpentine belt that theoretically can last the lifetime of that vehicle. It will certainly last at least ten years or 150,000 miles (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-long-does-a-serpentine-drive-belt-last), whichever comes first. Nevertheless, belts...
p4020 code is my o2 sensor bad?
Hi there: The OBD-II error code P0420 (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0420-obd-ii-trouble-code-catalyst-system-efficiency-below-threshold-bank-1-by-jamahl-walker) generally indicates a Catalyst System Efficiency is below threshold (Bank 1). The upstream oxygen sensor is located in front of the catalytic converter. If the upstream oxygen sensor is working properly, its...
Wrench light came on truck has no power and the rpms constantly get higher if put in park
Hi there: The wrench light is service light indicator that alerts the driver that maintenance or service is due for a component. Most of the time, scan that Auto Zone will complete uses a basic scan tool, which does not...
Burning engine oil and have gray smoke coming from below the engine and the tailpipe.
Hi there. If you are getting gray smoke from under the vehicle and in the engine compartment, then there is an external oil leak. The oil is leaking onto the exhaust pipe and then burning off. This is why you...
Vibrating or shaking
Hi There, It sounds like you may be having a problem with the vehicle vibrating or shaking. Shaking or vibration (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/engine-is-shaking-pulsating-or-vibrating-inspection) may be caused by many different things such as faulty spark plugs, poor fuel pressure or misfires. Other things...
Ac condensation leaks a lot of water from drainage tube outside under yukon 2005, even if I haven't driven it in a day, is this ok
You will see varying amounts of condensation draining from the a/c drain depending how much humidity is in the truck. This is normal. The larger amount you see if just an indication of how much humid air is being removed...
P0730 99 Honda Accord
Hi Mercedes. This is one of those very rare error codes, but when it appears, it's typically due to internal damage or problems inside the transmission. P0730 is the OBD-II generic code (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0730-obd-ii-trouble-code-incorrect-gear-ratio-by-ian-swan) for an incorrect gear ratio detected in...
Timing issue on a 1996 ram 1500 5.2
If the valve timing was off at speed, inasmuch as the 5.2L is an interference engine, you want to first rule out mechanical damage. A way to do that is perform a compression test on all cylinders. If compression is...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Cadillac CTS
The The 2012 Cadillac CTS comes with high tech features and a large amount of standard equipment when compared to its Japanese and European counterparts. The CTS is available in wagon, coupe, and sedan models to fit the needs of...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2013 Cadillac XTS
There’s There’s no denying that the former king of luxury, quality, and name prestige in the American automobile market has suffered from a case of getting lost in the crowd in recent years. Their efforts at a comeback, however, seem...
Understanding the Cadillac Oil Life Monitor and Service Indicator Lights
Car symbols, or dashboard lights, are a car service reminder. The Cadillac Oil Life Monitor system indicates when and what service your car needs.