Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 20:59:40 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Fuel Tank R&R-Now Won't Start
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I would say that 5 gallons is way plenty suffecient for it to be able to
run.
I also cycle the pump a number of times first............and I think he did.
I'd next hot wire the fuel pump - it's SUPER easy at the fuel pump relay
once you see which two wires to jumper.
You can also take teh screw out the fuel pressure testing port by the
distributor, but don't let fuel spray all over your interior !
putting on a fuel pressure guage there is the best way.
fuel filter has been checked ?
I have seen a fuel filter go from 'almost clogged' to 'won't run' just by
disturbing it. Really.
And sometimes I have to prime the fuel pump.
many fluid pumps can't get going with just air in them.
they're designed to pump liquids of course.
I've had to do that a few times - pour gas into the fuel pump inlet with a
hose and small funnel to prime it.
good call on checking fuel pump polarity.
sure wish they woulda made those little + and - symbols easier to see !!
also.........long shot .........a very old fuel pump.......maybe it was
getting pretty tired anyway......and now it's pushed over the edge.
just something to consider.
and flooeded too........you get the plugs wet with fuel........espcecially
if they are old..........and you can't really tell if it's flooed or if no
fuel is getting to the injectors, unless you pull a plug or two and check
them.
----- Original Message -----
From: "craig cowan" <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 7:51 PM
Subject: Re: Fuel Tank R&R-Now Won't Start
> The trick i use for putting the straps up without a helper is to either
> put
> a floor jack under the tank....and then tighten them up, or.....just rest
> the whole assembly on your chest. If it's empty (It sure better be!), it's
> not that bad weight wise. Then you just get that thing up there and strap
> it
> in.
>
> It sounds like you might need to cycle it more. It could take a fair
> amount
> of cranking to get it primed, and while 5 gallons sounds like plenty, i
> know
> some cars and i believe vanagons as well will ABSOLUTELY NOT START if
> drained, and then filled with less than a certain number of gallons to
> prime
> the system. I have a volvo that's that way. You run it dry, and it's not
> even worth trying to crank untill you add 3 or 4 gallons (Which doesn't
> make
> sense when you only have a 1 gallon jug), but it's just the way it is.
>
> You cold try a fuel pressure test in the engine compartment.....maybe it's
> getting fuel and you flooded it somehow......or you've burnt out your
> fuelpump.
> OR.....just hear me out on this one because I did this once.....
> If you had your fuelpump off, you may have it connected so that it's
> running
> backwards. It won't help get fuel to the engine at all this way..... Check
> your electricals, i doubt you actually reversed the pump, but if you had
> the
> connections off, check that they're right. This would make you hear the
> pump, and crank and crank but never to any avail. Sometimes the little
> things are so hard to diagnose.
>
> -Craig
> '85GL Gutted
>
> On Mon, Aug 4, 2008 at 10:24 PM, J Stewart <fonman4277@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> Finished up the fuel tank job today, dropped the tank and replaced the
>> vent
>> lines,grommets, etc. Jumped in the van, cycled the fuel pump a few times
>> and
>> it fired right up-ran for about 5 seconds then died. That was about 6:00
>> pm,
>> hasn't started since. About every 10th time it just about starts, then
>> just
>> cranks <sigh> ran fine when I started this, not a particularly technical
>> job, didn't expect this. I have about 5 gallons of fuel in the tank. I
>> hear
>> the fuel pump run. Have a battery charger on the battery now, because of
>> course it has now run down. I truly love this van, but it's times like
>> this
>> I'm ready to buy another Chevy Van, of which I've owned several and
>> driven
>> into the ground and they never gave me any trouble. Sorry, just need to
>> rant
>> a bit. I have the week off from work, and the time alloted for this was
>> one
>> day, it's now been a day and a half (ok, many interruptions though) and I
>> cannot dedicate the rest of the week to this. FWIW, anyone contemplating
>> this job, it sure
>> would be helpful to have a helper when re-installing the tank-it's no
>> fun
>> trying hold that tank up and put the straps back in place! Jeff
>>
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