Experiencing car trouble after running your fuel tank dry can be frustrating. One driver of a 1999 G20 found this out firsthand when their fuel gauge proved inaccurate. After refueling, they encountered a concerning issue: the car now jerks and hesitates, especially at higher speeds or when accelerating. Even more worryingly, the engine has stalled a couple of times while idling, suggesting inadequate fuel delivery.
Despite these symptoms, a check engine light hasn’t illuminated, and an OBD2 scanner showed no error codes. This absence of OBD2 codes can be perplexing when dealing with fuel-related problems. While the fuel pump and fuel filter have been replaced, the issue persists, albeit temporarily improving after the fuel filter change. Could this point to a deeper problem within the fuel system, potentially related to bad fuel or a component not readily diagnosed by standard OBD2 systems?
Possible culprits could include a clog in the fuel lines, dislodged sediment from the bottom of the tank when it ran dry, or a malfunctioning fuel pressure regulator. Running the tank completely empty can sometimes pull debris into the fuel lines, leading to restrictions. While modern OBD2 systems are sophisticated, they might not always detect subtle fuel delivery issues like minor clogs or a slightly erratic fuel pressure regulator, especially if these issues don’t directly trigger sensor readings outside of their normal operating ranges. Therefore, the absence of OBD2 codes doesn’t necessarily rule out fuel system problems as the root cause of the jerking and stalling.
In this situation, further investigation is warranted. A mechanic should inspect the fuel lines for blockages and check the fuel pressure regulator to ensure it’s functioning correctly. While “Bad Fuel In Obd2” might not be a directly searchable error code, considering fuel quality and potential contamination introduced when the tank ran dry could be relevant aspects of diagnosing this issue. Even without OBD2 error codes pointing directly to the problem, a systematic check of the fuel delivery system is crucial to resolve the car’s jerking and stalling issues.
