Wont start!

[insitu_mouldings]

Hello,

I recently borrowed my friend my van as his car was broken and he was desperate.

He proceeded to run it around all day delivering phonebooks and put 25 pounds in petrol in it.
He went from manchester to blackpool ran around all day and then back.
Needless to say the fuel gauge was well and truly under the red when he brought it back.
Since then I have not been able to get the gauge out the red I put 35 quid in it last week and it still wouldnt reach the white mark although the gauge was working.

I got up yesterday morning to find the van wont start, I went and got a fuel can and put some fuel in the tank and it still wont start.
I checked the battery and it is turning the engine over.
I then checked the fuel filter which is under the tank and there was no fuel in it.
I then checked the in-line filter near the carb and found that no fuel was in that too.
I then "call me mad" undone the pipe to the filter and blew and sucked on the pipe to make sure there was no blockage.
Any ideas anyone?

I'm thinking the fuel lifter pump which is located near the carb has broken, please correct me if i'm wrong as i'm no expert.
I certainly have learned my lesson and will not borrow my machine out again!!!

[insitu_mouldings]

Sorry i think my van is 1.9 DG.

[fullsunian]

If your mate has run it to the point where its empty, then it could well of picked some crap up from the bottom of the tank and blocked the fuel outlet. Try taking the pipe off at the tank to see if any fuel runs out, if not its blocked

[insitu_mouldings]

On my way outside now! thanks!

[insitu_mouldings]

Took the fuel hose off at the tank end under the van, no fuel ran out but there may only be a fiver in it from the jerry can I filled it up with.

i fed a wire down the tube to try and remove any blockage but felt no resistance. any more dignosis? thanks for the quick response

[fullsunian]

Took the fuel hose off at the tank end under the van, no fuel ran out but there may only be a fiver in it from the jerry can I filled it up with.

i fed a wire down the tube to try and remove any blockage but felt no resistance. any more dignosis? thanks for the quick response

Well if there is nothing coming out and you have cleared it, then its empty...

[insitu_mouldings]

im confused! I put a jerry can full of fuel in the van last night and there was no fuel on the floor, where is my fuel going!!

When I say I cleared it i poked a wire through the hole on the fuel tank and could feel no blockage.

I assumed that there was not enough fuel in there for it to come out of the hole and thought maybe the levek of fuel was lower than the hole?

[A KIRK]

Is the van parked on a level ground, if not you could try pushing (lol yeah I know) it so that the front end is higher up.

Could be that the fuel pump isn't strong enough to pull what little fuel is in there up to the carb. I've had cars inthe past where they need a good 10l before they even think about drawing the fuel up

[insitu_mouldings]

off to the garage to fill the jerry can again! will let you know when i get back!

[insitu_mouldings]

ok filled it up and now the batterys dead, i give up til the morning!!!

[ermie571]

Fill the carb with petrol? Then it should start, and will give then engine some ooomph to pull fuel through?

Em
x

[insitu_mouldings]

thanks very much for your help with this, I will try the suggested when the light permits tomorrow, i may change the filters and renew the the hoses as a matter of due course!

[insitu_mouldings]

Finally solved, clogged fuel pipes and flat battery as tried to start it too much and drained, thanks for the help everyone