Date:         Fri, 22 Apr 2005 13:13:48 -0500
Reply-To:     Max Wellhouse <maxjoyce@IPA.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Max Wellhouse <maxjoyce@IPA.NET>
Subject:      Re: Ran out of gas ....now won't start ??
Comments: To: rrecardo@WEBTV.NET
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

RC:   I have done this a time or two and if you run the motor totally out
of gas, the fuel pump will pump air into the system and it sorta acts like
a vapor lock on the older carburetored engines.  My solution was to
gingerly open up the T connection in the fuel line by the distributor(7 or
8mm wrench,I forget) and ease the screw out and listen to the air hiss out
of there.  I would have a rag that I didn't care about there to catch any
fuel and prevent it from hitting a hot exhaust manifold also.  You may need
to have someone turn on the ignition switch long enough for the fuel pump
to run some fuel back through the loop, but don't do that for very
long.  Once you get a steady stream, it's time to shut it off.  That should
"prime" the fuel lines and it should start.  Many on this list have warned
that running the fuel pump wihtout fuel in it is a great way to send
yourself shoppingfor a new one.  In retrospect, I should be lucky I had my
original pump last as long as it did.

I don't want to discount the fuel filter clogging either, but the fact that
the car running out of gas and then not starting tells me there's likely
air in there blocking the fuel from getting to  the injectors.

  let us know how it turns out.

Max

At 06:47 AM 4/22/2005, Robert Cardo wrote:
>If you can hear the pump running but the engine refuses to fire, I would
>also suspect the filter being a bit plugged.
>
>Now's a good time to change it.
>
>RC
>
>
>Subject: Ran out of gas ....now won't start ??
>I ran out of gas this evening....rolled right into a gas
>station.....lucky break.....but after putting gas in.....won't
>start.....unlucky break
>Fires and sputters but won't catch.
>I'm guessing some crud from bottom of tank has clogged either the fuel
>pickup or the fuel filter.
>Suggestions.....other ideas for a fix?????
>This is a 2wd 89 Westy, automatic.
>Warren C.