When I start my car the whole thing shakes and nearly cuts out then catches and maintains a shaky idle. This started yesterday afternoon, when I was leaving the gym. I was reading around that it may be a fuel filter or pump based on the symptoms but I have no idea. I also think it may be one of those items because I ran out of gas 2-3 weeks ago and I may be feeling the consequences now.

I'm confused though because I drove my car from Boston to New York and back for Thanksgiving with no problems, it sat over night, then I took it to the gym again with no problems, get back in and it shakes and smells like rotten eggs. If this had happened immediately after I ran out of gas it would make more sense to me, but for there to be such a lag period and it not showing up during a long trip I don't understand.

Can anyone tell me what might be causing these shakes and the smell?

Thank you-
Pete