Van not starting - any ideas! UPDATE

[300CE]

Apologies but cut this bit as a reply in error - response at the bottom!

[silverbullet]

I didn't clock first time that you have a Weber carb!

[300CE]

I didn't clock first time that you have a Weber carb!

I do indeed sir!

[silverbullet]

Which one is that? DGAV?

[300CE]

34 DAT - I think it's a great little carb, pulls really well. Have bought a refurb kit for it just as a matter of course so will change this sometime in the summer.

[silverbullet]

Of course. The one they stopped doing because it was also for an Alfa iirc and demand dried up...

[300CE]

Yeah, I think you're right Ian - 34 DAT was available for the Alfa as well - not sure if it was exact spec as the VW but not sure.

[300CE]

Well she lives!! First checked for a spark, all good, then checked for tolerances on the coil (Green) and the spare that I have (Grey) - both were within the guidelines as per the Brickwerks specs.

Now I put the old pump on & still wouldn't start so put some fuel down the carb and she fired up, so deffo a delivery issue! Now the fuel coming through the filter was again very trickley so we had a look at the new fuel pump push rod against the old one and it looked the same height as the worn one, so I wonder whether I need the slightly longer one rather than the 100mm?

My pal is going to 'extend' the rod slightly with a bit of weld so will test that and see if it pulls a bit more through.

I also need a new starter motor as my old one is deffo on its way out as it has been really struggling recently so this isn't probably helping things - will put up an ad in the wanted section!

Thanks again for all the help and advice & I'll report back

[kevtherev]

Do you have a starter motor repair shop near you?
It would be cheaper than a new one.

[300CE]

I do as it goes Kev - Just had a look & I've got two local to me so will give them a buzz:

http://www.bexleystarters.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://alternatorrepair.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Any ideas at what I should be looking at cost wise - no worries if not

[ghost123uk]

we had a look at the new fuel pump push rod against the old one and it looked the same height as the worn one, so I wonder whether I need the slightly longer one rather than the 100mm?

My pal is going to 'extend' the rod slightly with a bit of weld so will test that and see if it pulls a bit more through.

You might end up damaging the diaphragm in the pump if it's too long.

Have you tried bowing back down the fuel line (before the pump) to check for obstructions.
btw, if you do that, suck some fuel back up the pipe afterwards or you will be waiting for ever for the pump to do it, even with a good pump.

[300CE]

Cheers John - haven't tried blowing down the fuel line so that'll be another thing on the agenda. She started on the button yesterday so we'll see how she fares by the end of the week.

With regards to the push rod, gonna try an extra millimetre so will see if that makes any difference - I've still got another 2 pumps should it go t1ts up after testing.

[New Kentish Campers]

Check the lifter arm on the pump before you extend the operating rod, Justin. That might have a wear ridge in it so as to affect stroke. Has it been dropped and bent the arm? I guess you can't rule anything out right now though it's a fuel delivery issue .

As John says, try to see if the line itself is blocked and also check the pipe clips haven't been over tightened so as to crush the hose diameter.

Also, whats the fuel delivery flow like from pump to carb.? You should be getting nice regular squirts during cranking. ( what's telling me that's gonna get posted in a certain section ...) but you know what I am trying to say.

Good luck with it mate

[300CE]

Cheers Doug. Will check the pipe by blowing through - am wondering if there's a bit of crud in the tank or alternatively if there's a bit of crud in the carb - do you think it's worth taking off the hose connections to carb and squirting a bit of carb cleaner through? Will deffo check the clips as well as I've just changed the filter so may have over tightened.

Haven't checked the healthiness of the squirt from pump but will check that this weekend too

Thanks again for all your advice mate

[New Kentish Campers]

I'd not worry about adding a car cleaner fluid at this stage. Personally, I'd check delivery from tank, to the filter, up to the pump, and then from the pump to the carb. That way, you are checking it through logically.

There was a post here some time back, from Ermie, I think, where she had placed a magnet on the underside of the tank so it made rusty flakes from the tank, stick to the magnet and not then get into the fuel flow. I don't know how good your tank is, but this might be an option if you have doubts.

Also, have you checked the actual lines themselves? If you have the wrong type of rubber pipe fitted, then petrol, as it usually contains ethanol, can destroy the inner lining of the pipe which would either restrict or even block the flow. I replaced all the lines on my previous van with the correct pipe as mine had decayed. Might be a symptom on your van? As you'll be replacing that filter in the engine bay then you'd need to lengthen the pipe to compensate the gap so you'd need to fit new pipe anyway... Brickwerks sell it I think, though I bought mine from the local car accessory shop. It was marked as suitable for ethanol based fuel too.

Just go through it step by step and that should do the trick