ENGINE WON'T START

[VWCamperfan]

Try blowing back down through the fuel line. Take the feed pipe off of the pump and give it a good blow (sorry!) until all the fuel is out of the line and you just have air blowing into the tank. May clear blockage long enough to find out where it is. I had to change my fuel filter by tank a while back, could'nt see anything wrong with it 'till I took it off ang gave it a shake. A film of 'goo' detatched itself from the inside of the filter and floated around in the remaining fuel... Yuck! Changed tank as well now!

[Fritz]

Steve, sounds a silly idea But check the pivot pin on the fuel pump hasn't gone missing (can be seen easily from back of van).

I am suggesting this as this happened to me on a brand new after market pump I bought recently,,,,I fixed it with a Stainless 5 mm bolt and nylock nut.

Regards,

Fritz,,,,,,,,

[Bowton Lad]

Steve, sounds a silly idea But check the pivot pin on the fuel pump hasn't gone missing (can be seen easily from back of van).

Fritz, I only fitted the new Pierburg fuel pump yesterday & the spring loaded plate mechanism ''thingy'' that the cam rod pushes against was
operating correctly.

Is the ''Pivot pin'' to which you are referring the one that the above plate mechanism ''thingy'' hinges on?

P.S. ''Thingy'' is a highly technical term referring to the ''Thingy'' inside the base of the mechanical fuel pump & it cannot be seen once the pump is bolted into position.

[dazzzer1]

ive got £10 that says youll end up dropin the tank off.....just coz its a job i hate to do.........is the fuel flowing freely from the tank when you take the hose off AT THE TANK.

[Bowton Lad]

ive got £10 that says youll end up dropin the tank off.....just coz its a job i hate to do.........is the fuel flowing freely from the tank when you take the hose off AT THE TANK.

Firstly, the Purple People Eater spluttered back into life late yesterday afternoon so I will be going to the Red Lion at Costock tomorrow.

I replaced the braided fuel hose in the engine bay with a new piece of the same stuff because I don't fancy using plastic stuff over a hot engine. I removed the filter & a trickle of petrol ran out & then nothing. I got part of a heavy duty metal coat hanger & pushed it into th 6 inches of thick rubber hose attached to the tank but no dirt or petrol came out. I used a 12v tyre compressor to pump air along the hose to the tank & the other way to the engine bay.

Now the peculiar bit. Remember that from a brim full tank (13 gallons) the van has been to VW Extravaganza & back, a return trip of about 140 miles & the fuel gauge was reading between 1/4 & 1/2 tank. So let's say 1/3 of a tank ie.4 galls + 1 gallon reserve.

I tried to dip the tank with a bamboo cane but it isn't possible. I tapped the tank withe the cane & it gave a 'clanky' empty sound. I poured about 1.5 gallons of petrol from a can into the van & put a cup full directly into the carb. The van started using the petrol in the carb & then died briefly before spluttering into life! The fuel gauge is now on 1/2 tank.

I have been out in the van this afternoon & brimmed the tank. I put in 7.44 gallons so ther must have been 5.5 gallons approx. in the tank already. There's something perculiar going on but I can't fathom it out.

Dug, when I brimmed the tank there was a small pool of petrol under the van but after driving the 3 miles home there was nothing dripping under the van. I reckon that there must be a small hole in the top of the tank that leaks petrol only when the tank is brimmed. The possibilty of a small hole on top of the tank doesn't explain the none starting.

P.S. Dug, you won't win £10 because I definitely won't be dropping the tank. Somebody else might do the job but it won't be me!

[Ian Hulley]

Tha's not got an airlocked tank have you Steve ? Some peeps have been on about dispensing with the breathers and expansion tanks

Ian.

[Fritz]

What ,,,,

I tried to dip the tank with a bamboo cane

I've heard everything now,,,only a Tramp would do such a thing.

Regards

Fritz,,,,,,

[Bowton Lad]

Tha's not got an airlocked tank have you Steve ? Some peeps have been on about dispensing with the breathers and expansion tanks

Ian.

I had wondered about the tank being airlocked but I would have expected an inrush of air when the fuel filler cap was removed. My van still has the breather and expansion tanks.

The other possibility is sludge on the strainer in the bottom of the tank which was temporarily removed by the air from the small tyre compressor.

I'll be leaving for Costock by noon so fingers crossed that I get there!