Fuel issue & resolution
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:05 pm
Just a little story from this evening I thought I would share.
Drove the RX from my office into West Perth to pick the missus up from work as always.
Turned it off and waited for 5 or 10 mins then went to start up again and it started into a terrible idle. Chugging along at about ~100rpm. Stalled then would not start again at all.
Straight away I thought it was a fuel problem, specifically injectors as I have had an ongoing issue with the rubber injector seals leaking slightly - this has caused a similar issue for me in the past and general starting difficulties over the last few months.
Missus went off to catch the bus/train home.
Decided to confirm it was a fuel problem. Disconnected the WAIC intercooler and shoved it back to expose the throttle body. Luckily I had a fuel can in the boot. Trickled a little fuel down the throttle body and turned it over - started up straight away and revved up well, for about 10 to 15 seconds before dying again. This means engine/ecu etc is all okay but either the injectors aren't working or there is no fuel getting to the manifold at all. Heart sank abit here as I strongly suspected injectors again due to the issue I had in the past.
Decided to check the fuel delivery anyway. Unmounted the engine bay fuel filter from the strut tower and swirled it around abit expecting to hear/feel fuel swishing around inside - couldn't feel any. Maybe the fuel pump isn't working.
Unfortunately my original 1986 L series fuel pump is so nice and quiet that you can't hear it priming when the key is turned in the ignition, and with nobody else around to turn the key for me I couldn't check that. Had an idea tho - jumped under the dashboard and connected the two green connectors to put the EJ ECU into test mode - this poles most electrical components in the loom (injectors, solenoids, thermo fans...and fuel pump) at regular intervals. With everything in the engine bay happily clicking away I went down under the rear driver's side footwell and had a listen/feel. Yep - fuel pump not doing anything at all.
Disconnected the electrical terminals at the fuel pump, connected back up again, everything seemed fine here but still no life in the pump. From here I though right I'll have to check fuses etc but then I had a brain wave. I thought of Beny (El-Freddo) when he was over here on his big Perth trip he had a problem with his L series fuel pump where it stopped working and just needed a light tap/kick to get it going again. Gave my pump a light tap and "bzzzzzzz" - she sprang to life!
Started the car up, no worries at all. Turned the car off to take ECU out of test mode and re-assemble the intercooler, went to turn it back on again and no good - gave the pump another tap and bingo, all good again.
Drove all the way home without any issue at all (picked the missus up from the local train station on the way).
Turned the car off in the garage, went to start again, no good.
Looks like I'll be swapping fuel pumps tomorrow!
At least the 1986 pump lasted longer than my mate's in his WRX, and I didn't have to call him to tow me home either
Drove the RX from my office into West Perth to pick the missus up from work as always.
Turned it off and waited for 5 or 10 mins then went to start up again and it started into a terrible idle. Chugging along at about ~100rpm. Stalled then would not start again at all.
Straight away I thought it was a fuel problem, specifically injectors as I have had an ongoing issue with the rubber injector seals leaking slightly - this has caused a similar issue for me in the past and general starting difficulties over the last few months.
Missus went off to catch the bus/train home.
Decided to confirm it was a fuel problem. Disconnected the WAIC intercooler and shoved it back to expose the throttle body. Luckily I had a fuel can in the boot. Trickled a little fuel down the throttle body and turned it over - started up straight away and revved up well, for about 10 to 15 seconds before dying again. This means engine/ecu etc is all okay but either the injectors aren't working or there is no fuel getting to the manifold at all. Heart sank abit here as I strongly suspected injectors again due to the issue I had in the past.
Decided to check the fuel delivery anyway. Unmounted the engine bay fuel filter from the strut tower and swirled it around abit expecting to hear/feel fuel swishing around inside - couldn't feel any. Maybe the fuel pump isn't working.
Unfortunately my original 1986 L series fuel pump is so nice and quiet that you can't hear it priming when the key is turned in the ignition, and with nobody else around to turn the key for me I couldn't check that. Had an idea tho - jumped under the dashboard and connected the two green connectors to put the EJ ECU into test mode - this poles most electrical components in the loom (injectors, solenoids, thermo fans...and fuel pump) at regular intervals. With everything in the engine bay happily clicking away I went down under the rear driver's side footwell and had a listen/feel. Yep - fuel pump not doing anything at all.
Disconnected the electrical terminals at the fuel pump, connected back up again, everything seemed fine here but still no life in the pump. From here I though right I'll have to check fuses etc but then I had a brain wave. I thought of Beny (El-Freddo) when he was over here on his big Perth trip he had a problem with his L series fuel pump where it stopped working and just needed a light tap/kick to get it going again. Gave my pump a light tap and "bzzzzzzz" - she sprang to life!
Started the car up, no worries at all. Turned the car off to take ECU out of test mode and re-assemble the intercooler, went to turn it back on again and no good - gave the pump another tap and bingo, all good again.
Drove all the way home without any issue at all (picked the missus up from the local train station on the way).
Turned the car off in the garage, went to start again, no good.
Looks like I'll be swapping fuel pumps tomorrow!
At least the 1986 pump lasted longer than my mate's in his WRX, and I didn't have to call him to tow me home either
