SOOOOOO....DH's car wouldn't start this morning....

[Tiggerlover91]

.....he checks the trip odometer for mileage and he knows gas is okay(gas gage doesn't work properly), checks the oil and that's okay too, so we are like...???????

So I come home after dropping him off and call a car place we like a lot to ask some questions. Tammy the receptionist says, "Are you sure gas is okay? Sounds like you're out of gas to me?" I explained how the car would crank over but as soon as I touched the gas pedal everything went kaput!! Insides lights would blink, the warning light for the radio security system would blink. I told her our trip odometer only said 330 miles and that we had about another 40 miles to go before fill-up. We know NOT to drive beyond 370...380 maybe...but we fill up in the 370 area to make sure. SOOOO....Tammy again says she would hate for me to pay $50 for a tow and gas be the problem. So I took my gas can from the shed and put a couple gallons in the Jetta. Wouldn't start at first and I said...so that's not it. Tried another gallon and GUESS WHAT....YUP....car started! How silly do I fill? I mean really....did the trip odometer stop working correctly? Are we leaking gas? Did one of us not fill up all the way last time and we misjudged? I'm pretty sure it has to be the last one. Charles says that happened one other time and he ran out of gas pretty earlier than norm. So thank goodness...we need that second car and we DO NOT have the money for repairs on the Jetta at the moment. That will change when the income tax refund comes through next year. We're going on vacation in 5 days and that's one worry gone now. Ran out of gas....geesh!

 

[Chicago526]

Fuel economy isn't a static thing, it can go down as a car ages. Try getting a tune up and then make sure your tires are inflated correctly, both can have a noticiable difference on gas mileage.

 

[lovesmurfs]

.....he checks the trip odometer for mileage and he knows gas is okay(gas gage doesn't work properly), checks the oil and that's okay too, so we are like...???????

So I come home after dropping him off and call a car place we like a lot to ask some questions. Tammy the receptionist says, "Are you sure gas is okay? Sounds like you're out of gas to me?" I explained how the car would crank over but as soon as I touched the gas pedal everything went kaput!! Insides lights would blink, the warning light for the radio security system would blink. I told her our trip odometer only said 330 miles and that we had about another 40 miles to go before fill-up. We know NOT to drive beyond 370...380 maybe...but we fill up in the 370 area to make sure. SOOOO....Tammy again says she would hate for me to pay $50 for a tow and gas be the problem. So I took my gas can from the shed and put a couple gallons in the Jetta. Wouldn't start at first and I said...so that's not it. Tried another gallon and GUESS WHAT....YUP....car started! How silly do I fill? I mean really....did the trip odometer stop working correctly? Are we leaking gas? Did one of us not fill up all the way last time and we misjudged? I'm pretty sure it has to be the last one. Charles says that happened one other time and he ran out of gas pretty earlier than norm. So thank goodness...we need that second car and we DO NOT have the money for repairs on the Jetta at the moment. That will change when the income tax refund comes through next year. We're going on vacation in 5 days and that's one worry gone now. Ran out of gas....geesh!

Glad it was an easy fix. The last time I ran out of gas, the fuel filter got clogged.

We're leaving Friday, and our garage door decided to break last night (something with the pulley, DH says). Have a repairman (at $99/hour) coming today. Sigh. It's always something.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[VickiVM]

Also, make sure the tank cap is tightly sealed.

 

[sbell111]

... we need that second car and we DO NOT have the money for repairs on the Jetta at the moment.

The problem that you are describing has an easy fix. You need not buy a new car or even fix the gas gauge. All you have to do is fill it up after every two hundred miles. You'll end up spending the same amount of money for gas as you currently do, but you'll never run out.

 

[MomofKatie]

The problem that you are describing has an easy fix. You need not buy a new car or even fix the gas gauge. All you have to do is fill it up after every two hundred miles. You'll end up spending the same amount of money for gas as you currently do, but you'll never run out.

That's what I was thinking, too!

 

[Tiggerlover91]

The problem that you are describing has an easy fix. You need not buy a new car or even fix the gas gauge. All you have to do is fill it up after every two hundred miles. You'll end up spending the same amount of money for gas as you currently do, but you'll never run out.

I understand, but I wasn't referring to fixing the gas gauge...I was referring to a new problem that may have arisen. That's why we go by the trip odometer and NOT the gauge...obviously we underfilled last time or we need to check tires and gas cap. Thanks though.

 

[sbell111]

I understand, but I wasn't referring to fixing the gas gauge...I was referring to a new problem that may have arisen. That's why we go by the trip odometer and NOT the gauge...obviously we underfilled last time or we need to check tires and gas cap. Thanks though.

Whether you would run out at 330 or 600, filling up at 200 would prevent it.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Is there any chance someone stole your gas? DH ended up getting a locking gas cap because someone was syphoning (sp?) the gas out of his and another car parked at his job overnight.

 

[disney1990]

I would never depend on the odometer to tell me when to fill my car. I never let it get below 1/4 tank of gasoline. I would hate to run out of gas.

 

[MnMomtoboys]

Its also better for the car to not go so low before you fill up again. I try to fill it about half or a little less.

 

[kim929]

Been there, I didn't realize when I parked my Expedition on a hill, it registered as empty... lots of fun playing the oh no how much is this going to cost me game....

 

[DMickey28]

Dawn - So happy to hear that it was just the gas. You are so excited about the vacation I'd hate to have another $$$ thing in front of you!!!

 

[Tiggerlover91]

I would never depend on the odometer to tell me when to fill my car. I never let it get below 1/4 tank of gasoline. I would hate to run out of gas.

My gas gauge doesn't work...I've said that. Hasn't worked in nearly 5-6 years. The ONLY way we know to fill is by the odometer...period.

Whether you would run out at 330 or 600, filling up at 200 would prevent it.

Point taken.

Is there any chance someone stole your gas? DH ended up getting a locking gas cap because someone was syphoning (sp?) the gas out of his and another car parked at his job overnight.

Interesting point...but I don't think so. However...we'll be more aware of it now...thank you. Guess it would be easier to siphon from the Jetta since it sits outside of the carport further away from the house.

 

[disneymarie]

Also, make sure the tank cap is tightly sealed.

Tires properly inflated and good, if it is idling in traffic or warm up in cold weather. Heavy foot, road rage, speeding up, hurry up to get to the next red light....all figures in the numbers. Oh, the amount of ethanol too.....

 

[aprilgail2]

I would be topping my tank off every three days if my gas gauge didn't work- that is not something I could be living with, would have to get that gas gauge fixed! Could never have dealt with that for SIX YEARS!

 

[Quacktatty]

I can get 250 miles on a tank or 330 miles on a tank depending on my driving habits for those particular weeks. I wouldn't even come close to what I knew the "cutoff" was if it were my car...

 

[Mellie2162]

We have the same problem with our gas guage, we know not to ever go past 340 and usually always fill up around 290, just to be sure. One thing thats easy to do, if you are in a hurry and filling up quick its very easy to go several miles down the road before you remember to reset the trip odometer. Ive done it, but luckily Ive remembered to tell DH about it so he would know when to get gas. It happens.