Date: Sat, 2 Oct 2004 14:40:48 -0500
Reply-To: Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Subject: Re: Fuel pumps
In-Reply-To: <LPBBJNMLKNNACJHPMHCOKEPADKAA.kgrotz@pop3.craftech.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
I've just finished replacing the tank in my 91. The only symptom was
that it would shudder every couple of days, just like the pump or
ignition was turned off for about 1 second. Just enough to make me know
there was something wrong and it wasn't going to get better on its own!
Opening up the big line to the pump and dumping it onto a white napkin
resulted in a big orange spot. RUST. The inlet screen was plugged.
Taking the tank off, I could see quite a bit of rust on theh cones
shaped inlet screen. Must be a hole in it too. I put in another tank
from a less rusty parts car I have. I treated the inside of this one
with Metal Prep, rinsed it out 2 times.
I think the water gets in by humidity in the air and then condenses. I
believe that my daily driver 87 is making fuel pump noise, now that I
think about it. I think all cars in humid climates get this rust
problem. Perhaps others do not suffer from the problem since they have
filters on the INTAKE side and replacing the filter buys more time.
I'm adding an intake filter just as soon as I can find one with 7/16"
inlet and outlet.
Al Brase
Vanagons
Kurt Grotz wrote:
>DITTO -
>
>This is my problem - I bought my Vanagon (RexMobile) in July. One major
>problem - gas gauge does not work. So the first time I ran out - I could
>not start again. I tried sucking out what I could from tank - ugly rust
>colored substance. I am sure I need to pull tank, but can't afford it.
>Anyway to make a long story short I pulled pump, hooked up to a battery
>charger, smacked it around and then got it running. I cleaned out filter in
>same way. I am going to order a new one ASAP. Then stupid me - it happened
>again, yesterday. Same story, ran out of gas, pump gets clogged, take it
>all apart and I am running. This time, I had an new filter for my old 84.
>I ran that in-between the tank and filter, so I have two filter now. It may
>cause the pump to wear faster, but until I can get that tank out, it will
>have to do. I have a spare filter from the 84 which is ready to be popped
>in in case of emergency.
>
>My guess in the end is that you have some water-sludge-crap in the tank that
>you need to deal with.
>
>Which brings me to my question. How do I keep getting water in the system?
>Is there a universal weak link in the fuel system?
>
>Thanks
>
>Kurt Grotz
>
>84 Vanagon - Jackson Parts Car
>86 Vanagon - RexMobile Rex is my dog.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
>Of Mike Miller
>Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2004 1:09 AM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Fuel pumps
>
>
>Fellow listees,
>
>I have a persistent fuel pump problem. One went out a year or so ago,
>replaced with proper Bosch. It went out 2 months ago, replaced with FLAPS
>forever guarantee. This one is starting the process again.
>
>Is there anything else that would make a fuel pump not work that replacing
>it would cure besides a bad pump? Wiring short, gremlins?
>
>Mike
>
>
>
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