Fuel Pressure
Fuel Pressure
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Discussion

gsx600

Original Poster:

2,740 posts

278 months

Friday 7th September 2007
quotequote all
Ok then I've now tested the fuel pressure and on start up there is 30 - 40 but then instantly goes down to 0 - no pressure

Tried this on the origianl regulator and also on one of the FSE adjustably types

So question is what cause low presuere, checking hoses etc and all seem ok, other things could cause like
stuck open injector ? how to test ?
faulty fuel return ?
Dodgy fuel pump, although seems to pump under no load condition
Anything else ?

Would my spare Sagem 4FP 73351A also marked as Bosch 0 580 464 055 be up to the job as a replacement ?

Anyone know where my Wedge Bible is ?

GreenV8S

31,020 posts

314 months

Friday 7th September 2007
quotequote all
gsx600 said:
Ok then I've now tested the fuel pressure and on start up there is 30 - 40 but then instantly goes down to 0 - no pressure
I would say either your gauge is lying, or the pump has stopped.

gsx600

Original Poster:

2,740 posts

278 months

Friday 7th September 2007
quotequote all
That's what I thought so I tried 3 different guages all with the same results. Engine will idle but as soon as you put it under load it will die frown

GreenV8S

31,020 posts

314 months

Friday 7th September 2007
quotequote all
gsx600 said:
That's what I thought so I tried 3 different guages all with the same results. Engine will idle but as soon as you put it under load it will die frown
Thought you meant it would start but not keep running. You're saying it will start and idle but cut when you open the throttle?

Please explain the symptoms in a bit more detail, including what's happening to the fuel pressure while this is going on.

adam quantrill

11,679 posts

272 months

Friday 7th September 2007
quotequote all
Some more tests for you:

1. Idle engine then cut the ignition. What happens to the fuel pressure?

- It should remain high.

2. With engine idling, disconnect the vacuum line from the regulator and plug it.

- The pressure should rise.

3. If you suspect an injector, disconnect each electrical socket, one at a time, and see if the symptoms change. Of course if it's stuck open, this might not help!

gsx600

Original Poster:

2,740 posts

278 months

Friday 7th September 2007
quotequote all
GreenV8S said:
gsx600 said:
That's what I thought so I tried 3 different guages all with the same results. Engine will idle but as soon as you put it under load it will die frown
Thought you meant it would start but not keep running. You're saying it will start and idle but cut when you open the throttle?

Please explain the symptoms in a bit more detail, including what's happening to the fuel pressure while this is going on.
Well it will start, fuel pressure goes upto 30 - 40 for a second, then pressure drops back to zero and it will idle for a bit and then start to idle roughly, and if you touch the throttle it will die with any load on it

I've definately had some dodgy fuel as the fuel I drained out of the TVR I put in the Cav and it still ran poorly until I put more fresh fuel in their so the Cav now runs great.

I've now got £20 of shells finest optimax in the Wedge and was hoping it would solve it all, but I think something has happened to the fuel pressure. I'm currently taking of pump and what looks like the fuel filter (if that had too much crud in it would that cause presure to drop ? ) and going to try the spare pump and see what happens then.

There is also a stronger than normal smell of petrol, but I can't find any obvious leak , so again will need to jack up and shove me hammer in the flapper to get pump started and crawl underneath when there may be more pressure in the fuel lines or connect my air compressor up and see if I can hold 60 psi from the hose without the pump in line ?

TVRleigh(BBWR)

6,553 posts

243 months

Friday 7th September 2007
quotequote all
Another way to keep the pump going is to connect a battery charger direct to the pump. make sure the switch is off, when connecting to not cause sparks.

or get some wire with spade conectors either end, and take the relay out and fit the wire so the wiring thinks the relay is on.

sounds like a faulty pump, or flow from tank is being restricted. or filter is blocked.

Most EFI pumps should work fine.

Also the Battery charger method will make the pump run a bit faster than normal, and the car may run ok on the battery charger, but then fail with standard car wiring. is this happens then the pump is knackered.

GreenV8S

31,020 posts

314 months

Saturday 8th September 2007
quotequote all
So basically the fuel pressure drops to nothing as soon as you stop cranking? Surely that means the pump is stopping, so test whether you still have power to the pump and whether it still sounds as if it's running.

You may well find that the engine will run without the pump, depending on the cam you can get enough manifold depression to pull enough fuel through for it to fire, as soon as you touch the throttle it dies though.

gsx600

Original Poster:

2,740 posts

278 months

Saturday 8th September 2007
quotequote all
Well after fiddling around with connections at the fuel pump and taking off and attaching to batt charger managed to get pressure back. She would then idle ok but still not rev past 3k.

Took filter out of equation and she now revs her arse off smile

So where is the best place to get a replacement filter, will try halfrauds later but I doubt if they have any of the shelf items as big as what came off yikes

350zwelgje

1,820 posts

291 months

Saturday 8th September 2007
quotequote all
Have a big filter myself, and think the replacement (matched to original) is also used on fuel injected VW Golfs. So halfords should be able to come up with something.

Rob

Number 7

4,113 posts

292 months

Saturday 8th September 2007
quotequote all
gsx600 said:
Well after fiddling around with connections at the fuel pump and taking off and attaching to batt charger managed to get pressure back. She would then idle ok but still not rev past 3k.

Took filter out of equation and she now revs her arse off smile

So where is the best place to get a replacement filter, will try halfrauds later but I doubt if they have any of the shelf items as big as what came off yikes
Paul, the Mann part number is here (fitted to my 400 last year)
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

7.

gsx600

Original Poster:

2,740 posts

278 months

Saturday 8th September 2007
quotequote all
Well went to halfrauds and they had the exact same filter on the shelf for a 3.5 V8 Rover / Landrover of some sorts. Got home put it on and wey hey all running hunky dorey smile

Go down the road on a road test round the block and all superb. Get back to pick up Michell and pop to Wokingham and then break down on the A329, guess wot



No bl**dy fuel pressure after a long right hand sweep going on to A329




Wait for an hour to get recovered home, and once home fiut my spare pump, so far all seems ok ,but not been on any large right hand sweeps. Going to VW now tomorrow as no time to prepare for car boot sale, so hopefully all will now be ok

Morale of story dont't be a cheapskate, and if you have the spare part to hand fit it whilst the other part is off frown

TVRleigh(BBWR)

6,553 posts

243 months

Monday 10th September 2007
quotequote all
I think it does say in the service schedule you should change it every 30,000 miles, its amazing how clean it get the petrol.

You may want to check the pre-filter has not failed or missing, as this can damage the pump and also the clog up the main filter very quickly.

if you still have the old filter, you may want to back flush it into some rag, to see the size of any deposits that come out.

gsx600

Original Poster:

2,740 posts

278 months

Monday 10th September 2007
quotequote all
Now that is what I was wondering why is there no filter before the pump ? Or as you say is there a pre filter - supposidly - somewhere between the tanks and before the pump.

Had a quick look around whilst on the stands but could not see anything apart from a swirlpot that looks like it could be replaced soon as well frown

TVRleigh(BBWR)

6,553 posts

243 months

Monday 10th September 2007
quotequote all
Well most had a filter in the swirl-pot.

But these can come loose, or get pitted.

The only aftermarket one I have found that fits, i.e. has 12mm conectors and can flow enough is the systec one with the cleanable metal filter. I just did a order for me and Jeff and got a small discount, but was still 65 each inc postage and vat.