To the mechanically inclined,

My 2000 Dodge Dakota has had problems in the past going up steep hills on a low tank of gas. It sputters and then stops, and I have to back down, start the engine again, rev it up and charge the hill. Sometimes I have to repeat this multiple times.

My temporary fix is not letting my tank get below half, but there has to be another solution. This last week when it died it was just below a 1/4 tank. Surely this isn't natural. Do any of you all have any suggestions? I've heard that my fuel filter may be the cause or my fuel pump.

Any advice is helpful.
Thanks all!

 

below 1/4 tank could cause the fuel to flow away from the pump (should never let a fuel injected vehicle get that low, the fuel cools the pump, and if it's that low the pumps don't live long) there should be a baffle to prevent it from happening quickly, may be the baffle is cracked, or you are just on a steep enough long enough hill to allow it to all run away.

 

Well this is the Black Hills of South Dakota....so that is a very possible scenario. I'll look into the baffle and pray to the heavens that it isn't my fuel pump.