Hi All,

I'm a newbie coming for help. Thanks!

My car is 93 accord 4dr EX automatic, with 220000km on it.

Thegas tank is leaking and my mechanic suggested filling only half tank every time. It works - No more leak from the tank.

However, I found the engine was cut off easily at any stops, no check engine light on. When I press the brake paddle, I could see the idle speed went very low and died sometimes - not if I approach the stop slowly. This happened only when my gas in tank was low to about 1/4 or less. Once I re-filled the tank to half full (couldn't be more because of the leaking), everything was fine: the engine was powerful, and idled smoothly at arround 700+.

I guess the engine was cut off due to low fuel pressure at idle, but I don't know how it related to a leaking tank.

My questions are:
1. Could the problem be solved if I fix the leaking tank?
2. Is it possible that my fuel pump is too old and needs to dip deeper in gas to keel cool?
3. Could it be malfunction of a pressure sensor? (fuel tank pressure sensor?)

Here is a list of what have been done to the car recently, after the problem happened:
a. replaced fuel filter (new)
b. replaced fuel pressure regulator (used)
c. replaced IACV (used, cleaned)
d. replaced PCV (new)
e. cleaned FITV
f. cleaned butter fly (from outside, not the whole throttle body)
g. re-soldered all solder joints on main relay
h. cleaned EGR valve
i. cleaned EGR ports (cleaned 4 only)

I've ordered a front engine mount (I thought it could be a high torque from my broken engine mount caused engine overload at idle), and I'm planning to remove and clean the throttle body (to improve idle). However, I do feel it's a fuel tank related issue.

It can't be the transmission. Engine stalls at neutral as well. It can't be a leaking brake booster - because everything is OK when fuel tank is half full.

I appreciate any of your response!

Thanks!
Jason

 

welcome to the forum jason_home; enjoy your stay, hope we might be able to assist you. possible fuel pump in your tank not keep up the pressure.if you have a pressure tester, when the tank is low on fuel, take a pressure reading off the fuel rail, it's probably low, enough to stall the engine.

 

Thanks for your response, acmech52!

I wonder why the fuel pump works fine with more gas in tank. Does this mean the pump will die soon?

Is it possible that the fuel level sensor is defective and causing this problem?

Thanks!
Jason

 

fuel level sensor sends message to the fuel quantity guage. the fuel pressure sensor sends message to the e c u as to the amount of vapor pressure is in the tank. the message is incorrect due to the 0 vapor pressure in the tank due to a leak. So the e c u thinks the car engine is not running due to no vapor pressure. ( I think this is how it works )

 

Thank you, acmech52!

I'm planning to fix the tank in the coming weekend.

I replaced the broken engine mount. The problem still there.

Jason