What is making my van conk out (was ok before fuel ran out)?

Post by **sonic23** » 03 Jan 2006, 09:41

Happy New Year Eveyone!

My van ran out of petrol at the weekend. Put some more in and started it with no problems - then after 5 mins it conked out again. Thinking that there still might not be enough fuel, I went and got more petrol - so it's now got a 1/4 tank and the same thing happens - drives for 5 mins then conks out.

The situation I am now in is that you then have to leave it for a minimum of 15 mins and it's ok again for the next 5 mins worth of driving before the whole process begins again - so the van is totally unusuable.

I'm a bit confused as this problem wasn't occuring until it ran out of fuel.
It's a new 2L A/C engine, the Carbs have been reserviced by Gasure, the Ht leads and plugs are all new. It did have a new fuel filter too - but could this now be ruined by letting it run out of fuel? Or maybe have I broken the fuel pump?

I tried the van again this morning - stated first time, left it idling in the driveway and then after 5 mins it just conked out
.
Any suggestions/ideas would be most appreciated.
cheers,
Rich

Post by **steve8090** » 03 Jan 2006, 09:45

Sounds to me like a fuel blockage, you may have dragged a shed load of crap up from the tank when it ran out, just change the filter, for £3 its an easy fix even if it makes no difference, check the out put from the pump too, may be worth blowing out the fuel lines all the way back to the tank basically you are getting a carb(s) full of fuel then its running out.

Post by **sonic23** » 03 Jan 2006, 09:47

thanks Steve - I'll replace the filter first then give it a go.
cheers
Rich

Post by **Dud** » 03 Jan 2006, 10:41

Could well be a blockage, have a look at your fuel filter to see if it's dirty (that is normally the first place dirty fuel ends up). If its spottless I'd expect its air in the system.

If the filter is clean try putting a full tank of fuel in. Sometimes the extra weight of fuel on top is enough to knock an airlock out.

Rich

Post by **DiscoDave** » 03 Jan 2006, 19:02

same sort of thing happened to me over the weekend!

Post by **missusjen** » 03 Jan 2006, 19:56

It's happened to us before same as it did to you Dave - uphill after a petrol run out and refill - crap in the carbs dragged up from the bottom of the tank....

Hopefully yours will be okay now.......

Post by **sonic23** » 16 Jan 2006, 09:43

All working again.

I replaced the fuel filter and after a few attempts managed to get it all working again nicely. I think there was some air in the system too as I had to disconnect the fuel hoses from each carb in turn and collect the petrol as it was pumped through.

As always - thanks for the tips everyone.