Date:         Tue, 24 Aug 2004 09:06:10 -0700
Reply-To:     Craig Oda <craigoda@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Craig Oda <craigoda@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Uh-oh. Won't start
Comments: To: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@worldnet.att.net>
In-Reply-To:  <000a01c489ac$22f183d0$1e62480c@home>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

The fuel pump itself might not be bad.  There is a ground wire by the
pump that connects to the chassis.  Check this first and measure the
voltage at the pump.  You're lucky to have a known working fuel pump
to swap in.  If the pump is good, the other two things to check are:

   1) fuel filter
   2) fuel pressure regulator

I think that if your fuel filter is totally clogged, it might obstruct
the flow of fuel enough to lower the pressure enough to prevent the
van from starting after raquetball.  BTW, did you win the game?

If the fuel pressure regulator is totally hosed, you might have a
similar problem with low fuel pressure.   You can easily test the
pressure regulator by putting a fuel line clamp on the discharge of
the regulator and monitor the pressure with a fuel pressure gauge.

You can test the fuel filter by putting a piece of inline tubing in there.

I would check the pump ground terminal at the chassis screw and
overall voltage at the pump terminals.  Make sure there is no open gas
when doing the electrical tests.


On Tue, 24 Aug 2004 00:29:47 -0700, Karl Wolz
<wolzphoto@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Andy and I wandered off this evening to play racquetball for a while.
> When we went back out to the van and tried to start it, it gave a little
> cough, then just cranked.
>
> When I first turn the key, I hear the fuel pump, but it doesn't sound
> normal.  It just gives a plaintive little sigh.  There is no fuel
> pressure or flow to the engine, and there is fuel at the connection from
> the tank to the pump.
>
> My sort of educated guess is that, since the pump makes some noise, it
> is not the relay (I can hear it click).  Before I start swapping parts,
> is it likely to be anything other than the pump itself?  I do have a
> known good pump in one of my other vans.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Karl Wolz
>