Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:45:01 -0600
Reply-To: Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Subject: Re: '89 Vanagon Not Starting
In-Reply-To: <02dd01c95f0f$7b4557e0$6701a8c0@PROSPERITY>
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I will ashamedly admit that I run my Vanagon out of gas from time to
time and have had this problem in both summer and winter driving. If
you drive it until the engine won't run another revolution ie.
totally out of gas, air gets in the line and creates a sort of vapor
lock in the system. You can fill your tank and it still won't
start!!!. The simple solution is to take a 7mm wrench or socket and
remove the bolt that plugs up the T connector that the mechanics tie
into to check fuel pressure. It usually hangs somewhere around the
fuel pressure regulator toward the middle of the engine block. I'd be
careful doing this by having a rag near by as some fuel will spew
out, but more importantly, a puff of air or two will come out as
well. Once you have flushed the air out of the lines, put the bolt
back in and tighten it andI'll almost guarantee you the engine will
start right up. It's certainly the cheapest way to eliminate the problem.
I don't have a solid mechanical explanation as to why the trapped air
prevents the engine from starting, but belching the air out works for
me every time. to prevent this from occurring the nest time you do
drive with a low tank of fuel, be listening intently to the motor and
the first, and I mean the FIRST time you feel the engine stumble or
balk, shut the motor down immediately. The pump actually gets some
of its lubrication from the fuel passing by it and pumping air is
hard on the pump as well.
I don't want to dis the other advise the others have given as their
scenarios could be plausible as well, but try purging the air in the
lines first.
DM&FS
t 05:47 PM 12/15/2008, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>really helps to put a fuel pressure gauge on it during this testing-trying
>to get it to start period.
>that way you know for sure if there really is sufficient fuel pressure or
>not.
>
>also......consider the fuel itself............whether it might be diesel, or
>full of water, or summer gas, or whatever.
>
>Any time I think maybe it's the tank that's clogged or restricted.....like I
>suspect 'the tank' as the main reason for problems,
>I just rig up a temporary gas can to run the engine on.......
>just have the fuel pump suck out of the can, and run the fuel return from
>the engine to the gas can.........and you've got a temporary aux fuel source
>for testing purposes;. I do it all the time........to make SURE fuel is
>getting to the engine. I've seen fuel tanks clog up a few times.
>
>Running and old fuel injected car out of gas can sure cause a lot of
>problems.
>Scott
>
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