Subject: 1995 Mirage Suddenly not starting
Question:

Hi,
I have a 1995 Mitsubishi mirage that suddenly won?t start. It was running fine but I ran to my friend?s home, turned the car off for a couple hours, and now it won?t start. When I turn the key the starter sounds normal but the engine never turns over. It sounds like it is not getting any fuel.
I was thinking about changing the fuel filter before I did anything to expensive. Is this hard to do? I don?t know much about cars.
Best!
Kirk

 
Answer: Kirk,
There is a very good chance your fuel filter is clogged. If you've never replaced it before, this is a good time to do it. It actually should be replaced every year, but 99% of people will never do that.
It's also possible that either your fuel pump has failed or even your alternator has died. But changing your fuel filter will definately be the easiest and cheapest thing to change first. You can change it yourself, but just remember, you are work with your fuel lines. You will want plenty of ventilation and a fire extinguisher near by. Chiltons sells a car service manual for your car. You may want to buy one for a reference to familiarize yourself with your car a little better. They cost around $20, and a new fuel filter will cost about $10.
If you want to replace the filter yourself, you have to relieve pressure on your fuel lines. You can do this by taking off your gas cap, then unplug the electrical connector to your fuel pump, then try to start your engine. Keep your key turned for about 5 seconds. If the car doesn't start, your fuel pressure should be low enough to change your filter.
This would be a pretty simple job for a mechanic, so if you want to skip the hassle this time, any mechanic should be able to take care of this for you in about 30 minutes.
Good luck!