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She wont start!!!

Posted: 03 Nov 2009 11:03 am
by Con2K
Started the car on tuesday last week and it cut out within seconds. After that it turned over and would start. Changed the plugs, dizzy cap, rotor arm and all 5 leads. Started fine and drove fine. Friday I started it and same thing happened, fired up but cut out even when I applied some throttle.

Saturday, started, drove fine, got to a round about and as I was going round it the car died and since then hasnt started. the fuel gauge said it was below the 1st little line near empty, but above the v.empty line (if you know what I mean). stuck a fiver in adn still nothing.

Towed it home and changed the filter in the engine bay and it was full of black fuel. Still nothing. removed the feed pipe and turned the car over expecting to see a surge of fuel from it being primed but nothing came out, turned it over incase it was a mechanical fuel pump and still nothing came out. tried to blow down the feed line and couldnt, so assumed blockage.

Turned my attention to the rear of the car, removed the small inline filter near the car and not a drop came out. a small jab with a screw driver to get it moving I thought and refill my 5ltr can and I ended up filling 3 buckets with fuel!!

at the same time covered my phone in petrol and it started to rain, so I'm yet to replace the rubber hoses or try and blow through it again to see if there is a blockage sumwhere between them. (will do it tonight)

But the new problem now is why did the car read that there was so little fuel left in it AND have a blockage at the same time. I'd have assumed it was 2 unrelated issues but both appeared at the same time.

Sum ppl seem to abandon the 1st small filter by the tank.

Any reccommendations people? Still unsure why it wouldnt start earlier in the week even after changing the spark related items.

Re: She wont start!!!

Posted: 03 Nov 2009 12:17 pm
by OapEM
Stick a spare plug in to make sure it's sparking, and like I said check over all of your fuel hose and replace that nasty woven crap.
I'm still putting my money on the pick up in the tank not being right at the bottom so there will always be fuel left over.

Re: She wont start!!!

Posted: 03 Nov 2009 12:22 pm
by Chris_C
I'm guessing this is a GLT?

Fusebox behind the battery, the fuel pump fuse is likely to have corroded.

Re: She wont start!!!

Posted: 03 Nov 2009 12:33 pm
by Speedy88
If I've read that right and you were running it on low fuel, some crap from the bottom of the tank probably got sucked into the fuel pump.

Re: She wont start!!!

Posted: 03 Nov 2009 12:34 pm
by OapEM
Aye it's a GLT.

I think he's already unblocked it now, or blew through and all was well.

Re: She wont start!!!

Posted: 03 Nov 2009 12:50 pm
by Chris_C
OapEM wrote:Aye it's a GLT.
I'd put a fair bet on the fuse then ;)

Re: She wont start!!!

Posted: 03 Nov 2009 01:04 pm
by Ronnie
Chris_C wrote:
OapEM wrote:Aye it's a GLT.
I'd put a fair bet on the fuse then ;)
I had these symptoms too - and it was the fuse in the auxiliary box behind the battery. It hadn't actually blown, just kind of disintegrated after 25 years so was giving an intermittent circuit. Paperclip got me home until i could fit a fuse.

Re: She wont start!!!

Posted: 03 Nov 2009 01:11 pm
by SteveP
Oh yes... I vote fuse too... happened to my saloon on the way to a meet :lol: :roll:

Re: She wont start!!!

Posted: 03 Nov 2009 01:31 pm
by Con2K
oohh - the fuse in the black box with the front fogs? I think I replaced them both recently. In saying that since owning the car i've never heard the fuel pump prime when I turn the key.

I'll have to go home and check the fuse, like u say, just disintigrated possibly.

Fingers crossed.

Will also go home and blow through the pipe to check for a blockage.

Oh and when fitting the new engine bay fuel filter, do u need to fill it with fuel or will the feed pipe do that pretty quick for me when I try and start it?

Re: She wont start!!!

Posted: 03 Nov 2009 01:44 pm
by SteveP
Yeah they're the ones, but hmm... if you've already replaced them. Worth a go anyway!

Re: She wont start!!!

Posted: 03 Nov 2009 03:58 pm
by Con2K
hats the thing steve - i've deffo replaced the foglight noe, but I cant remember if I replaced the other one while I was in there. I'm hoping its this simple problem and i'm stupid for not checking it 1st but I can live with the greif.

If it isnt, and I've changed all the filters and blockages i'm guna be concerned. Next step to test the 12v feed to the pump and then I dont know what.


Shall update later tonight hopefully.

Re: She wont start!!!

Posted: 03 Nov 2009 04:55 pm
by SteveP
Wouldn't worry about hearing the fuel pump priming when you turn the ignition on, I never heard that on either of mine. Suppose as a quick test you could always temporarily swap the fog/fuel pump fuse over (although note I think they are both different ratings)

Re: She wont start!!!

Posted: 03 Nov 2009 05:05 pm
by volvodspec
the fuel pump doesn't run with ignition on, it only starts running when you actually start the engine.

you could take the fuel line off the injection rail or behind the filter and then crank it to see if the rail gets petrol feed, but i bet on the fuse not having good contact/broke as the cause too.

Re: She wont start!!!

Posted: 03 Nov 2009 09:15 pm
by Ride_on
The pump should run for a few seconds (can't remember how long) when you turn the key under control of the relay in the engine bay. If there are no flywheel pulses it shuts down.

Fuse clip corrosion is not necessarily the main problem, mostly I see they just get loose with temperature cycles. They are very stiff because of the high current+thick material and so there is not much spring action to absorb changes in dimensions. Bending the clips in a bit or rotating the fuse in situ normally provides a temorary cure.

Re: She wont start!!!

Posted: 03 Nov 2009 11:00 pm
by volvodspec
i can't recall that, what's the point of running for a few seconds when turning ignition on?

sure you get fuel pressurized on the injector rail instantly but the Renix unit is switched on when engine is turning so building up pressure on the rail before that is pointless, empty hose + filter + rail is filled completely in 2 sec, same time it takes the renix to start working.