Out of petrol and wet through

[CovKid]

Just got in - still moist after having trudged home in the pouring rain. Normally at Sunday teatime I take the little lad back to his Mum and thinking I'm approaching reserve I head to nearest garage. Card payments only (no good to me as I don't have one) so head off to 24 hr Tesco garage. Barely half way and van cruises to a stop at the lights and then won't fire. Luckily really nice guy in a bay sees I'm stranded at a major junction and tows me into nearest pub car park.

Anyway, just to check I remove inlet from top of carb, gave the throttle a few pumps (you can hear it pump petrol down ok) and quick turn of key and engine fires but then peeters out. Normally I'm never out of gas just above reserve but would seem that I am. Only thing I've done recently is a dash rewire so maybe fuel guage reads slightly different? Ideas? Does sound like out of fuel syndrone though.

[AngeloEvs]

It has to be peeing down just when you need it dry, I suppose it's a case of getting some juice in it and trying it CovKid. Hopefully you won't need to prime the pump and she will be up and running after a few spins. Gauge could be reading slightly lower with the dash rewire but best of luck and hope you get it sorted without too much trouble.....

[VWCamperfan]

There's never a worse feeling than your engine running out of fuel at the traffic lights... I've been there on occasion!

I think your diagnosis of the rewire is a good one though. Your rewire has probably allowed a little more voltage through to the guage and it's giving a slightly higher reading than usual.

The accellerator pump on the carb will continue to squirt fuel out until the float chamber is completly empty because the pump is fed from the bottom of the chamber. The running jets however are fed from higher up in the float chamber and run out of fuel sooner, starving the engine of fuel and stalling it. The accellerator pump still operating makes it look like you havn't run out and although there is still fuel in the carb, there's not enough to run the engine.

Now... Grab a towel and dry yourself off, the ink on the letters on me screen is running down the page!

[CovKid]

Worse, peeing down with a five year old in tow. Could have called breakdown truck I guess but wanted the kid in the warm asap so walked the mile. Series of caps of fuel straight into carb during starting should help pull the rest through. Other fortunate thing is van is parked nose up on a slope so at least fuel will have a helping hand. Think you're right though guys - dash rewire probably upset it so best carry a can till I know where empty really is.

Man, that was the pits though. Grateful to that bay owner for pulling me off that set of lights though. Best I could do was give him a big handshake for going out of his way to rescue me. My five year old sang all the way back to mine despite the downpour and is now tucked under a quilt watching Monsters Inc after a dry off.

[ermie571]

There's never a worse feeling than your engine running out of fuel at the traffic lights... I've been there on occasion!

or "turning it off" while trying to cross a roundabout....

Em
x

[VWCamperfan]

Yeah... Thats a favourite too!

Thanks for reminding me Em!

[CovKid]

What? halfway found a roundabout, throwing caution to the wind and spontaneously deciding you've had enough and just turning your ignition off? If you do decide to do this, remove key too to limit steering capability - it adds an 'edge' to the proceedings. Always a good un that.

Reminds me of a good un you CAN try if bored. Had it done to me so happy to pass it on. On a road you know well at dusk, briefly turn light off and shout (preferably in a panic) to passenger: "Quick, give me a shilling for the meter" - its amazing how many put their hands to their pockets! - needs dash lights to go out for maximum effect.

[VWCamperfan]

He! He! Might just give that one a go!

Here's what happened to me... Just to bore the pants off you all!

Approaching roundabout, all is ok. Just about to go onto roundabout and some fool approaching roundabout from right-hand side road doing about 60 made me slam anchors on... Which stalled engine! (think it was a bit hot!). Anyways... I don't use a key for steering lock or ignition, it's all done from a remote keyfob and card reader which activates the ignition and all I have to do is press the 'Start' button to kick it into life.
Unfortunatly... The Ignition OFF button is next to the start button and I hit that instead, killing all the ignition and any hope I had of starting the engine!
The next delay was finding the keyfob, which was knocking around on the floor somewhere where I threw it and until I found it I was going nowhere. I had by this time drifted onto the roundabout because I was sure I was going to start the engine straight away at the push of a button... Obviously not then!
Anyway... Found key and got going again. Can't understand why everyone in the cars around me looked like this though -->

Any more of a delay and I think it would have been on the news though!

[ermie571]

My favourite was to lose the spigot bearing and all gears at a four-way set of lights, on one of th buisest roads out of Chatham at 7.55am

I wasn't popular....


Em
x

[Ian and Lins]

I think this is stupider. Put Extra Stong Mints in orderly pile on ledge in front of speedo; munch on when feel inclined by passing right hand through steering wheel spokes to select mint. Do this when negotiating round a bout that needs large, rapid and vigerous movements of the steering wheel. Nearly broke me wrist.

[CovKid]

Eureka. Splash of petrol down carb plus five litres in tank, started first time and got her home no prob. Thats it then - I now have a VERY different petrol guage then. One good result though was the moment I got there, manager of the pub (I was in his car park remember) came out and offered me a set of alloys for under £100. Not sure I'll take him up on his kind offer as I rather like the black painted steelies but good to know people are at least friendly. The guy with the bay who towed me off that set of lights last night, I DEFINATELY owe a drink so will be hunting him down! I was in a real pickle there and he really helped me out.

[AngeloEvs]

Great news........knew you would sort it........

[andisnewsyncro]

Glad that's all it was, nice smple fix.

It is a bit embarrassing though isn't it...
I knew I could make Dover on a full tank, just hadn't realised how much difference having a roof box on would make to the fuel economy - or lack of it and ran out 6 miles this side of the ferry

I think this is stupider. Put Extra Stong Mints in orderly pile on ledge in front of speedo; munch on when feel inclined by passing right hand through steering wheel spokes to select mint. Do this when negotiating round a bout that needs large, rapid and vigerous movements of the steering wheel. Nearly broke me wrist.

I did exactly that in an old works Astra may years ago, really hurt my arm AND broke the indicator stalk off

[CovKid]

Another you need to be VERY careful of is this one. One night I pulled away and discovered on negating the first corner that I just couldn't get enough lock on the wheel. Pulled in as best I could, fearing the worst and it turned out the fabric lanyard that I use to hang my keys up at home had caught on the indicator stalk, wrapping itself partly around the wheel base until it wouldn't turn anymore. I shortened the lanyard after that!

[Damien]

I ran out of petrol twice last week, first time i was on my way back from work and could hear a knocking and passengers door wasnt shut properly. My dog was sat next to it so pulled over got out shut door got back in, not starting, gauge was at top of red, had a peek, no fuel. Got doglead out walked 2 miles to a mates house. 1 hour later back on my way home.

2 days later, though i'd better top up so left workand went towards nearest garage, van spluttered to a hault on middle of mini roundabout. managed to get it out of the way with a bit of a push, lucky i was pointing downhill, sat in van for a bit in rain, same mate as before pulled up behind me, another half hour later back on my way.

Now know when fuel gauge is near red i should be prepaired to walk. On the upside my mate came in on the friday with a 10 litre jerry can for me which is now full and waiting for the next time.

To top this off i did a 60 mile round trip for missus to get tattoo on friday got there and back got up saturday morning to go fix a car and clutch slave has pooped fluid out. I think it felt bad for leaving me stranded and got me home out of pity!!