not getting fuel

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thebigbread
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Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:35 pm
Location: Citronelle, Al (north of mobile)

not getting fuel

Post by thebigbread »

i think i found out why my tercel randomly "dies". Its got good plugs, timing is advanced (its actually been running advanced for a month now, i doubt that would be it) BUT i found out what it is: even with a half-full tank, there is no gas in the carb (looking through the float glass). i believe the problem is the fuel filter, a few days ago i COMPLETELY ran out of gas, i guess it picked up some trash, older cars tend to do that when there is little fuel.

well its 9:30, ill fix it tommorrow.
Last edited by thebigbread on Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
1984 2wd wagon, "bottle rocket": http://www.myspace.com/1984tercel
1995 Isuzu TFR-S, "Shorty": no cardomain page yet
takza
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Post by takza »

These are strange cars. I found that my hard starting issue when sitting for a few days was due to a failing fuel pump...so where I thought the gas was staying in the fuel bowl...it must have been bleeding back to the tank or into the carbon canister...but I didn't see any black smoke...meaning it wasn't going down into the intake.

New fuel pump...problem solved. Pump was also noisy...sticking in cold weather.

I've seen a Corolla simply stop running due to a clogged filter.
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thebigbread
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Posts: 212
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:35 pm
Location: Citronelle, Al (north of mobile)

Post by thebigbread »

takza wrote:These are strange cars. I found that my hard starting issue when sitting for a few days was due to a failing fuel pump...so where I thought the gas was staying in the fuel bowl...it must have been bleeding back to the tank or into the carbon canister...but I didn't see any black smoke...meaning it wasn't going down into the intake.

New fuel pump...problem solved. Pump was also noisy...sticking in cold weather.

I've seen a Corolla simply stop running due to a clogged filter.
yesterday i removed the filter, hooked it up to a air compressor, & the gas came out clean. Since my filter is transparent, you can tell if its full of gas or not. I emptied it using the air compressor, then hooked it back up to the fuel lines & cranked it about 3 times. I checked the filter, & it was full of gas. most likely that means the fuel pump is working, im not sure. fuel is getting all the way to the outlet on the fuel pump, but that carb float area is still empty. I was going to crank it (to see if the carb would fill up) but the battery is dead from cranking it so much.
1984 2wd wagon, "bottle rocket": http://www.myspace.com/1984tercel
1995 Isuzu TFR-S, "Shorty": no cardomain page yet
thebigbread
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Posts: 212
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:35 pm
Location: Citronelle, Al (north of mobile)

Post by thebigbread »

here's something interesting:

I removed the Fuel pump, & sucked some seafoam through the return valve by moving the lever arm. it sucked in about 1/4-1/2 oz. I shook it, & let it set for 30-45 minutes. Then, I moved the arm several times to get the seafoam out bolted it back on & hooked up all the fuel lines. The tercel immediately started up & ran fine.
1984 2wd wagon, "bottle rocket": http://www.myspace.com/1984tercel
1995 Isuzu TFR-S, "Shorty": no cardomain page yet
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ARCHINSTL
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My tercel:: Goldie is a 1986 SR5 attualmente con Weber/also owned the first T4WD in STL in late '82
Location: Kirkwood, a 'burb of St. Louis

Post by ARCHINSTL »

Good to know - Thanks.
How about keeping an eye on this and, if that is the cure, then making a post in the Repair Guides section to that effect?
Sometimes these "little fixes" get lost.
Tom M.
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thebigbread
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Posts: 212
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:35 pm
Location: Citronelle, Al (north of mobile)

Post by thebigbread »

ARCHINSTL wrote:Good to know - Thanks.
How about keeping an eye on this and, if that is the cure, then making a post in the Repair Guides section to that effect?
Sometimes these "little fixes" get lost.
Tom M.
Will do, but right now its not idling. the old spark plugs are fouled (they are from my dad's 1949 8N). Ill buy some NGK's tommorrow and if the pump seems to stay working, i will post a repair thread about this.
1984 2wd wagon, "bottle rocket": http://www.myspace.com/1984tercel
1995 Isuzu TFR-S, "Shorty": no cardomain page yet
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Petros
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My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
Location: Arlington WA USA

Post by Petros »

I would replace your filter anyway. They are cheap and you can not determine if they are partially plugged the way you "tested" it. It can still pass fuel but not always enough for all road conditions, causing it to die at seeming randum moments.

Also if your pump is bad I doubt the seafoam would fix it for very long. It is possible some crud was caught in one of the valves and it cleaned it out. But if there is crud in the pump it means your filter is not working. Fuel pumps are not expensive either, but I would wait until you know the pump is bad. BTW, a simple test with a fuel preure gauge would tell you if the pump is working correctly (you can rent one at most AutoZone stores for free, or just use it in the parking lot).

Good luck and keep us posted.
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
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