She wont start!!

[mattjb]

Hi Guys,

Have looked in the tech pages but still need to ask

My 83 watercooled 1.9 petrol would not start last week - called AA and they said its the fuel pump.

Have changed the fuel pump but still wont start!

Changed the fuel filler near the tank coz it was bad!

I have taken the fuel in pipe of the pump and it was dry and i cant get fuel up to the pump!

The fuel pipe is not blocked as i can blow down it and the fuel in the tank bubbles.

Please help as i am with out wheels as its mt DD

Cheers

[Wychall]

Can't claim to be an expert on this but I would suggest that the fuel pump needs priming. They usually will not pull on air. Try connecting the pump up and then either sucking fuel up from the tank into the pump, or dribbling fuel back down the pump output pipe so that there is liquid within the pump. Hopefully it will then continue to draw.

[T25Convert]

Hi,

I didn't prime my pump, but can confirm it takes an age for the van to start - it needs to drag fuel from low down, up to the pump then up further into the carb at the slow speed the starter cranks the engine at.

Priming (as above) would help. If you've got a quality replacement you'll be able to undo the bolt on the top and split the pump in two and dribble in some fuel in.

Alternatively take the air filter off, dribble a little fuel down into the carb throat and start it - it will run for a couple of seconds, but at a much higher speed than the starter motor. Repeat the dribble and start technque - it took me three goes like this to achieve a running van, after cranking for about 3 minutes acheived very little.....

Good luck!

Alex

[mattjb]

Cheers Guys - will try that