Expert: Robert Summers - 3/2/2010

Question
I have a wrecked 1993 cavalier, automatic, 2.2L, with less than 80K miles.  When I apray starting fluid into the air duct the motor starts but it immediately dies after about one second.

Somehow from the wreck the gas tank ruptured on the passenger side bottom of the tank, but if I raise the passenger side rear tire about six inches, the tank can take about two gallons of gasoline, and before the gasoline leaks from the rupture I know that there is some gasoline in the longitudinal middle of the tank.

My first question is how can I tell if there is pumped gasoline, and the exact place place where the needed check is done and how.
My second question is if it is possible for a fuel pump to suck gasoline let's say from a two and a half gallon gasoline container if we just immerse the intake gasoline fuel pipe or hose into the gasoline in the container.  And my third question is if there is sometging else having to do with the motor dying in about one second.

I appreciate the answers.  

Respectfully,  Andres R.

Answer
Hi Andres,  if the tank is ruptured chances are the fuel pump inside the tank is damaged
if you turn the key to on you should be able to hear pump run...if not it's probably damaged. so the answer to your other question is no...it needs to have a fuel pump working in order to start and the pump is in the tank. you would need to hook up a pump on the pressure line submerged in fuel...hope this helps