I replaced the air filter in my eclipse yesterday, after getting an oil change and now anytime I start the car it seems like there's no gas going through the engine. The car made it home from the oil change just fine, and before I left the shop I added one of those STP fuel system cleaners (the one in the silver bottle). When I got home I put the new filter in and that's when the problems started.</P>


It'll turn over and start up, but as soon as I let off the ignition the car seems to idle at very low RPM's (like 400-500) and then dies. Also, if I hit the gas, it seems like the fuel flow is completely cut off from the engine as the car will instantly want to die. If I pump the gas it'll rev up a little, but if I hold it down for more that a fraction of a second it seems like the flow is being cut off. </P>


Aside from the oil change and fuel system cleaner, I put the new air filter in and also took the bolts off of part of the engine (not sure of the name, as I'm still new to doing my own car work, but the silver part w/the DOHC writing on it, where you put new spark plugs into. The entire top, not just the black cover over the spark plug wires). I've got a leak in the gasket there where oil is coming out and thought that the gasket I needed was a replacement oil pan gasket (it wasn't, so if anyone knows the name of the gasket I need is I'd appreciate it). Once I found out it wasn't the gasket I needed I put the bolts back in. I never actually took off the top because it seemed to be anchored on by something else and I couldn't see what it was so I put the bolts back on and went on my merry way.</P>


I'm sure it was something I did to mess up the car, since it worked fine before I got to digging around in there. I checked everything I did and from what I can tell everything seems to be hooked back up properly. Maybe I hit a **** or screw or something and changed the richness of the fuel flow, or maybe something else, but my baby is dead right now and I'm an official pedestrian again! Help!</P>

 

Did you remove any of the sparkplug wires? If so maybe you got them mixed up when reinstalling them.Also check the plug to the mass airflow sensor. It's the one right behind the air filter. </P>

 

<IMG src=smileys/smiley19.gif border="0"> that silver cover is the rocker box cover,also known as a valve cover. it may not have come off easily because they sometimes use rtv sealant in addition to a gasket</P>


</P>

 

Vacuum leak....... possible..... ya know??? check ur hoses, check your exhaust system for proper flow.

 

I have practically the same problem with my '92 Eclipse. Sometimes it acts up, as the original poster described, and others, it will run fairly decently (other than the problem, described below). I really love the car, but I'm afraid to drive it.

The other problem I'm having, is that it seems to lose power. It doesn't have the speed/power it once had, even when not having the stalling problem.

I've taken it in for several diagnostic tests, and every mechanic has had a different opinion. The actual dealership mechanic said it was the computer, that it would cost more than the car was worth, and then offered to personally buy the car for like $100.00... the radio I have in the car is worth more than that. The next mechanic tested the computer, and said it tested out fine... thought it might be transmission. The next said it didn't sound like a transmission issue, and that it was much simpler (and less expensive) to repair (oxygen sensor, I believe). So, right now, I'm no closer to figuring out the problem than I was before I spent all that money, taking it to mechanics.

Any, honest, mechanics have any idea as to what the problem might be?<edited><editID>Jessa</editID><editDate>37968.5481481481</editDate></edited>