I hope someone can help. I have two issues, not necessarily related. First and most importantly I am experiencing a sputtering when I excelerate (and recently have begun getting popping sounds while accelerating too). I have replaced timing belt, done a tune up (that indicated fuel filter was replaced - which I hear is quite large and should/could last a lifetime). This has been going on for a couple years.
I have also recently begun having my fuel empty light come on and the guage begin to rapidly descend to empty even if I just filled up, and this corrects itself almost immediately.
I think you have two different problems. I’d guess that something’s wrong with your in-tank sender for the fuel gauge, and as far as the sputtering problem, it would be useful if you could get the computer codes read. Is the check engine light on? To read a simplified version of the trouble codes, you can probably turn the ignition on-off-on-off-on (do not start the car) The codes should blink out on the check engine light—example “12” would be one blink followed by a pause and two blinks. Or no your model, they may display on the odometer if it’s electronic. Off the top of my head, I’d guess you may have a throttle position sensor failing.