[Macca78]

Hi everyone,

My 2003 grand vitara (auto) was running very low on fuel and chugged as i was going around the corner...i was only 100m from a servo so went and put $30 in. As i pulled upto a set of lights after leaving the servo my car stalled...turned it on again and fired after a few turns....but the check engine light was on...and driving home the car chugged a few times like it was running out of fuel...as the check engine light was on i just went straight home. I tried starting it half an hr after i got home and it stalled a few times...started but engine light still on. Its been a while since its had a service and i know the air filter needs replacing...could it just be something simple like that or am i up for big dollars?

Thanks in advance for any replies

Justin

[henno]

Could it be something as simple as a bad batch of fuel? Certainly wouldn't be the first time.

[Macca78]

I didn't even think of that...what would be the best way of checking? I'm not the most mechanically minded person

[Matthew]

Check the codes, it should give you some useful info.

http://www.rhinopower.org/diag/cel.html

[Jezza86]

i assume 30 bucks is nowhere near a full tank?
go get a bottle of octane booster (methanol) and then top up your tank with a gerri can of high octane
if you have water in your fuel the methanol will help burn it off safe
otherwise youve probably picked up junk from your empty tank and your fuel filter is blocked meaning your fuel pressure is down on the rails

[Macca78]

Thanks Jezza, ha no it was nowhere near...Ill do that..am i ok to drive it to the servo? Its not far from my house..only about 3 minute drive...When you say down on the rails does that mean stuffed?!

[henno]

No. It'd just mean replacing the filter which would be restricting flow... if that's what it is of course.

EDIT: Removed Tapatalk sig

[JrZook]

Jezza86 wrote:

otherwise youve probably picked up junk from your empty tank

How do you pick up more junk from an empty tank compared to a full one when your pickup is always at the bottom of the tank?

[mnemonix]

Theoretically, through dilution/dispersion. Assuming your filter is effective in preventing sediment from passing through it, the quantity of "junk" in the tank remains constant, but the concentration becomes higher fuel quantity drops.
Assuming with a full tank the "junk" is mobile enough to disperse through the entire tank and not remain on the bottom.

To the OP: Get the code checked. It's a cheap step to steer you in the right direction. Any other measures could be jumping at shadows.