gas in new filter but no start

[warbstrd]

my 118000 mi. terc wont start after 3 months of sitting. It was my daily driver before that. I had shoulder surgery back in July and I'm out of work for 5 months (thank god for sick leave). I tried to start it last weekend and turns over but wont start.
So I put gas right in carb and hey it starts then stops. As long as someone is pouring gas into the carb the car runs great. So replace fuel filter with a new one. The old one was really heavy and rust came out of it, thank god I thought , because i thought that was the problem. Well, after trying to get it to start for ten minutes (I did take the gas cap off) I gave up. The new fuel filter was full off gas. I take the Hard fuel line off the carb that comes from the fuel pump and turn the engine over to see if fuel will come out and it doesnt.

The only thing in between the fuel filter and carb is the fuel pump. Can the fuel pump be pumping gas from the tank, but not to the carb?

[danzo]

If your pump is working properly then it will most definitely spurt gas out of the pump when turning the engine. Gas in the filter wasn't necessarily pumped from the tank. I believe it's possible for fuel already in the pump/lines to seep down into the filter if the pump is internally faulty (outlet valve stuck?).

You might first route the filter-to-pump fuel line into a gas can and see if it pumps out of that. If it does then you have a blockage somewhere between the tank and the filter. Very possible with an older car, esp since you saw 'cayenne pepper' in the filter. I once had a car with a rusty tank that clogged the lines so much that it wouldn't run. At this point you either pressure spray out the tank as best you can or get a new tank, just like the Army.

The FSM has a good pump troubleshooting section starting on page 181. If that's the problem then at least it's an inexpensive and easy to replace pump that you can get anywhere. Good luck.

[warbstrd]

Thanks, but I drained the lines before connecting the filter so HOPEFULLY their was no fuel to drain back to the filter. Havent worked on my car for so long I had forgotten that I had a manual for it...haha
And the check verified the pump is pumping fuel and the filter is mostly clean (not enough to stop fuel all together).

since I have to replace the pump might as well get a new tank, new weber, and an electric pump and regulator so ill be ready for my 4ac swap....time do do some searching for the best pump and reg....

[ARCHINSTL]

As far as the pump goes - apart from an electric one - I've had good luck with just a "pump" from Advance, which I'm sure is probably the same from any store. As far as the regulator goes - see the photo. In 2008, the Holley was $40 and the gauge was $17, both from Advance - but most stores stock these.
There was a thread just last year on tank sourcing; as I recall, there was a disparity in pricing - do a Search.
Sounds like your problem is in the tank and/or lines; I wouldn't do a tank without renewing the steel and rubber lines. Bending the steel lines is a real PITA and learning experience, but why risk contaminating the rest of the new system? And do get the Corolla filter as Petros suggested - I did.
Tom M.

Left-click to enlarge.

[dlb]

if you verified the pump is working, there's gas in the tank, and the filter is new, the problem is in the fuel lines. disconnect each fuel line and blow them out with compressed air. then get to the root of the problem: the rusty gas tank. i just replaced the tank on my '82 VW westfalia because of the same problem. it kept clogging filters after 2000-3000 km. like danzo mentioned, you can either clean the tank out and treat it or you can get another. personally i would just buy a good used one from a wrecker (simply inspect it with a flashlight) because doing a thorough cleaning job on a gas tank is a bigger undertaking than it's worth IMO. here's a good guide though if you're interested:

http://www.ratwell.com/technical/FuelTa ... ation.html

[Petros]

when a car sits sometimes the fuel lines crack and let air in. so before you replace everything take the flex lines off at the filter, and up stream of the fuel pump and check for cracks (I blow in one end with my finger over the other). A crack in the line up stream of the pump will not leak fuel but it will suck air.

Also sometimes the diaframe in the pump can crack if it sat for a long time, so check that it pumps fuel by running an line from the pump in to a fuel can and see it will run on that. If it does it is a leaky fuel line upstream of the pump. Sometimes it is even the ones over the top of the fuel tank, which means dropping the tank to replace it (but I would check the easy to reach ones under the hood first).

Good luck.

[ARCHINSTL]

Addendum to Petros' post about replacing the lines above the tank: The rubber lines above the tank can be replaced without dropping the tank. It is tricky, but it can be done - I did it.
It helps to remove the wheel, of course.
Tom M.

[warbstrd]

Thanks for all the responses. I was going to work on it today, but had to go to the gun show and buy some toys. cant work on it tomorrow cause im going to maybe purchase a 1994 Range Rover. Tuesday I will check all the easy stuff, and wilst im at it replace all the rubber lines and a new gas tank. A friend told me that the new fuel line hose is compatible with ethanol gas and what I have is not, anyone heard that before? Makes sense, because a few years ago I had to replace the lines in my mower (very gummed up) and the new lines actually said it was ethanol safe. Anyway, Ill get a new gas tank and new hoses and work on it in a couple of days and reply what I found out.

[Petros]

Well it will likely be much easier to keep the old TErcel running reliable than the newer Rover. If you have a Range Rover as your daily driver you will need a reliable "spare" car anyway. I think all you will need for the Tercel is some new fuel line, or even a fuel pump, both inexpensive and easy fixes. Good luck.

[xirdneh]

sounds like a bad carb to me

[warbstrd]

I know its been a couple of months, but I purchased a 1998 suzuki sidekick 4wd sport 4 door auto with power locks, doors and cruise with 107000 miles for $3000. that has been my daily driver since I went back to work Dec 7. My 2002 VW Cabrio stopped going in reverse (my daughter drives that) and $2500 to fix. So I had to give her the Suzuki and fix my tercel while her car is in the shop. Today replaced the pump that I ordered back in Sept from Rockauto and I got my tercel back running again. I also bought a fuel tank that I will replace later. Funny thing is the pump WAS pumping gas from the tank. Dont know if it was barely pumping with not enough strength or pumping it at a good rate but something was not working and it wasnt going to the carb. New pump and she fired right over. I did buy the mech. pump it was only 25 dollars I think. ill do a electric pump when i give her a 4ac engine.

[Petros]

Good to hear. I would still check the up stream fuel lines for leaks.

So, the old Tercel was both much cheaper and easier to fix than any of your other cars.

What kind of fuel economy does the Suzuki get? I have always liked them, but they do not have as much cargo space as the Tercel.

[warbstrd]

she has just a little less room than the tercel. the rear seats fold and tumble and that leaves a lot of flat room. I can put a piece of 8 foot crown molding in the tercel as long as it can bend a little. the same crown molding in the sidekick has to bend a little more for it to fit but not much. gas is 20 mpg. but It feels like it is missing sometimes, but the SES light aint on. The 4wd is plain stupid: 1-stop, 2-shift to N, 3-shift in 4wd hi or lo dont matter, 4-shift back to drive and on ya go. to shift out of 4wd: 1-stop, 2-shift in N, 3-shift 4wd lever back to 2wd, 4-shift in reverse, 5-back up 7 feet, 6-shift in drive and on you go.... What da hell its 14 years newer than my tercel and thats the best they can come up with. oh well I can put an ARB air locker in it and ARB makes a bull bar and the lifts are plentyfull. 4.5 inches sounds good. actually it doesnt, it already beats you to death from being topheavy..ill only go 2 inches and put 30 inch tires on it. BUT FIRST I have to do a lot of things to the tercel.

[Petros]

So, worst fuel economy, known roll-over risk, no shift on the fly 4wd, and a bit less room and usually much more cost than a good 4wd Tercel. Okay, but all the same I will stick with my Tercel thank you.