Car issues

[cewfa]

Last month I bought a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am GT after my other Pontiac blew a head gasket. Once in a while the car will hesitate when I go to start it, but usually if I tap the gas pedal it will fire right up. Today while I was work, I delivered pizzas and it did the same thing except it took four attempts to start it up and was non responsive when I would tap on the gas pedal until it started. It doesn't do this every time and it especially likes to do it when the engine is warm and after being turned off a short time. I suspect that the fuel filter is going bad, but am not quite sure. The Check Engine light is not on, nor are any other warning lights and once it starts it doesn't stall or have any less power. It is just at start up.

Am I on the correct path with the fuel filter or do I need to look elsewhere? I always put 93 octane in my tank.

[Aethian]

I know I heard Click and Clack talk about this once but I can't remember what they said. Check out their website at cartalk.com

[crashhelmet]

Once the car starts, how does it run? Any misfires? Does it feel sluggish at all? What color is the smoke from your exhaust?

If everything runs fine once it starts, I'd honestly start looking at fuses and spark plugs.

CH

[Seshat]

If it starts right up when you tap the accelerator, I'd be looking at fuel mix, which means the carburettor.

Except that it's now nonresponsive when you tap the gas pedal. Hrm.

Actually, that could still be fuel mix - if it's getting worse, you may be getting deposits on the spark plugs.

If you're your own mechanic, try cleaning the spark plugs and verifying that the gap is correct. Also, as crashhelmet suggested, check the fuses. Replacing the fuel filter can't hurt. And verify that the fuel/air mix is correct & the carburettor is in good condition.

And please provide the answers to crashhelmet's questions. They will help. :)

[cewfa]

It was the fuel filter. It has ran and started up fine since I replaced it.

I don't have a carburetor, my car is Fuel Injected.

[emax4]

i had an '88 Honda Accord and it had two fuel filters; one near the gas tank and one in the engine bay. Both were easily replace-able, and it shouldn't hurt to get two filters for your own car. It won;t have any effect on the acceleration but it was just be filtered by another factor.