Hey everyone first timer here, I got a 96 sts and it has been sittin for like 6 months I parked it becasue of gas prices and I just put a new battery in it today and tried to start it and it will crank but not start. The message center saysservice fuel system. What could it be? Fuel filter what? I saw another post saying it could be fuel pump relya but I dont know where that might be. Any ideas need help I cant even roll it the brakes are stuck. Thanks. It drove perfect before I parked it but batt died so I let it sit for a while and now this. Help please

 

see if the fuel pump is working by disconnecting one of the fuel lines on top of the blockbut be very careful! Only turn it over a few times to see if its pumping fuel!!!! You do so at your own risk! It sounds like your fuel pump is bad but make sure you are getting a spark too.

 

Joes96sts 1st WELCOME to the FORUM!!! sorry 'bout the trouble you having...... do you know??? is it getting fuel? spark?...... anyway keep the FORUM posted, a Tech will answer asap......look around the FORUM a bit.....you'll enjoy and learn alot, and have some fun....for sure check out OFF TOPIC.......great stuff....again welcome and keep the FORUM posted........it will help!
rickyd

 

Its getting spark but there is a problem with the fuel system because my car told me so ha ha I just dont know where to start I tried asking it again and she would nt tell me. No for real I kow its getting a spark It only sat for six months comin off the everyday driver list. I was thinkin maybe it could be the fuel filter. I wanna start cheap and obvious and thats the fuel filter, I dont know though I am no expert shott for all I know it might not be getting a spark but the info center on my dash says service fuel system. Thats whats pushing me towards checking out the fuel system.

Thanks Ricky!!

 

Also be interested to know how the car was running when it was parked and if there were any issues then. How much gas was in the tank when your parked it? What sort of climate do you live in? Did you put in fresh gasoline when you tried to restart the car?

 

it was running great when I parked it I live in ohio so it was like early spring I drove all winter with then I got a new car easier on gas and wehn i went to start it I put fresh gas in it because it was on E and we all know when a caddy says E theres like a one gallon reserve or so in it. I have never had problems with the car just nor mal wear and tear its been a great car I have only had to replce the alternator, water pump, blower motorand belts. It has about 145k on it. I t would always start immediatley like the first crank. No problems what so ever with it. So this is why I hope its nothin big. Its been sittin all Summer in like 80-90 degree weather it hasnt sat through a winter yet, this is why I want to get it started.

 

No lecture here, but leaving a car to sit with an empty tank is a potential problem. The reason is that moisture develops in the tank and starts to corrode it and then all that corrosion falls off to the bottom and it can potentially get caught up in the fuel pick up and filter plugging the fuel delivery. Also water is not an ideal liquid to aid the internal combustion process.

Since your car was running fine when parked what is the likelyhood that parts like regulators and what not would fail? I suggest that you clear the error code message first, you know what it says. So I think it is probably a fuel delivery issue and fuel quality isuue. I tend to side with you and think a fuel filter replacement is a good place to go. I would also get all of that gas out of the tank and put in totally fresh. I would also recheck the new battery connections and take off the air box, any chance that mice have maybe built a nest in there blocking air flow? All cars need air and fuel and spark to start. Wardbowen also has a good suggestion if this all fails. These steps do not cost a lot of money and are fairly easy to do.

 

OK guys heres the skinny, I changed the fuel filter and no luck. When I pulled off the filter a little gas leaked out from the motor and a little gas from the tank. I have about 4 gallons in the tank right now. I figured that there was someting wrong with the fuel pump because no gas was coming out of the line from the tank when it was hanging there. Normally you have to pinch the line, but I didnt. So I called around and some people said it could be the fuel pump relay, but I have no idea where it is. Does anybody out there know where it might be? I figured that I could try to replace that and go from there. The pump will cost me about 600.00 to replace so I'll try everything first. If not we might have a DIY step by step session here. I wanna thank everyone for their help with this topic. Thanks again.

 

which the key on see if you can take you hand and tap on the bottom of the gas tank....see if you hear the fuel pump come on. if it comes on then well you know what it is. Not bad to put a fuel pump in, be sure you have a friend to help ya out it will requite a few hands. the exhaust will have to come off also