Expert: Rob Painter - 4/14/2009

Question
my car sat for 2 years, started with starter fluid but wouldn't run, replaced fuel pump, new plugs, fuel sensor and mechanic checked computer readings all was ok,  it starts but as soon as accelerator is push it dies, my mechanic gave up what can be wrong with it help -thanks in advance for your expert advice

Answer
Hello Robin,

If you want to litterally blow one of those 4.9's up, use starter fluid, which is very explosive!

Most people don't realize the danger in using this stuff especially on an engine with not all cast iron major components. Starter fluid should have never been sold to the public. In fact, these days, it's only real use is on diesels and cold weather.

There are so many things that can be wrong (most likely in fuel delivery system from your discription)that if your mechanic can't find the problem being physically with the vehicle, it's obvious I won't be able to assist you.

Although there are no codes that can be read, you will probably need to go with a shop that has better experience and equipment than your current mechanic. One of the last places I recommend is a dealer who charges way to much.

You might try having the vehicle taken to a service center like Sears, Firestone or Good Year. They may have the testing equipment to test map sensors idle control motors etc.

Your car is complicated with fuel injection, computers and sensors and many mechanics just do not have the needed equipment to work on these vehicles.

It would be nice if I could give you a direct answer for your repair. I would love to, but the reality is that I don't want you to chase ghosts on guesses. Parts changing on a guess can be very expensive.

To give you an idea of what kind of guess work from your discription, here are just a few thoughts and please don't mistake these as repair suggestions. A plugged catalytic converter. Since the car sat for 2 years, something could have crawled into the exhaust and died. Bad O2 sensor, bad map sensor, fuel injection problems and more. Just because no codes were picked up, does not mean something did not fail. The engine needs to run, sometimes for an extended period to set an error code.

I wish you luck, but as I said, don't use anymore starter fluid on this car and have it looked at by a competent service center.

Good luck!

Rob