# Low Fuel Jerking **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** engines, gasoline\ **Created:** [June 22, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/low-fuel-jerking/852 "2007-06-22T17:01:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JabezBunting](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jabezbunting/32/150_2.png) [@JabezBunting](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JabezBunting)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/low-fuel-jerking/852/1 "2007-06-22T17:01:38Z")
Dear All Here’s a question from Great Britain! My car is a 2001 Vauxhall Vectra - roughly equivalent to a Chevrolet Cavalier. It’s a 1.8 petrol (unleaded gas) model with single point injection and manual (stick shift) transmission… Recently, it’s developed an odd and intermittent fault. When it gets down to about 1/3rd full in the fuel tank, the engine starts “jumping” under standard town traffic acceleration - and on any form of uphill driving. Put some fuel in and the problem goes away; get back to under 1/3rd tank full and back comes the problem. I?ve tried several solutions:- 1 Keep filling up! Problem disappears (but, I reason there?s something WRONG!) 2 Run the tank down until it’s just about fumes and sludge in the tank incase there?s any much in the fuel (I reasoned I could change the fuel filter and sort it that way); but, it just keeps repeating the problem each time the tank gets emptier… 3 The local motorists? shop suggested I try some fuel system cleaner and I did this; the next time the tank got below 1/3rd full it was a bit better, but, not much. I tried putting Red-X in the tank and thought that might deal with any trouble - but, it comes back each time the tank gets low… Any ideas?? ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2007, 5:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/low-fuel-jerking/852/2 "2007-06-22T17:47:44Z")
That sure sounds like a weak fuel pump to me. It may also be a clogged pick up screen. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2007, 2:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/low-fuel-jerking/852/3 "2007-06-23T02:27:00Z")
[b]Yup! Weak fuel pump. Tester[/b]