heavyweight280 Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 I recently got my car started aftering being in several pieces for about 2 years. I was having trouble getting it to start, thought maybe it was flooded, and disconnected the fuel pump relay and fuel pump contol relay(I think its called) in hopes of getting some fuel out. Well it fired right up after that, idled at aroun 1100 rpm and continued running for some reason until I killed it. Plugged relays in and it starts, but idles at under 500rpm, is shaky, and smokes a lot. rotating the distributor doesn't really fix anything. If i get on the gas, it stalls and wont start again. Disconnect the relays again, It starts. idles smooth, and runs until I give it gas or turn the key. Reconnect relays, back to bad idle, smokey, and stalls as soon as I get on gas. Any input? Advice? Does this sound like something may be wrong with my fuel delivery? Timing? Something electrical? Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Put a fuel pressure gauge on the feed line. My bet is you're plugged on the return from sitting, and when you restarted after all that time all the swarf in the lines passed back to the tank and plugged at the return line elbow just inside the tank. A coat hangar, vice grips, and hammer to punch through it will restore it to operation. Don't continue flooding it, you're washing the hell out f your cylinder walls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skirkland1980 Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 I had this problem it was a noisy cas signal. I swapped to a na distributor. What distributor does yours have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavyweight280 Posted August 23, 2013 Author Share Posted August 23, 2013 Update: I installed the fuel guage and ran some wire through the tanks return to see if it was clogged. There was something muddy on the wire after running it through a few times, but I did get the wire in to go in pretty far after a while. Guessing it may have been rust, or hopefully one of those stupid mud wasps didn't make their way in. (usually had the lines taped off, but for a couple days it was exposed.) Anyway I went a head and installed a see through fuel filter from the tank to the fuel pump, and a new fuel filter up front. What I am noticing is that after starting the car while cold, the fuel pressure goes to around 30psi and it idles decent for a little while, then shortly after, it starts idling poor again, fuel pressure drops to like 18-20, then it cuts off. After that, it really wont start. I went to look at the fuel filter between the tank and fuel pump and it is pretty empty, not much fuel made its way in, so now I am guessing the fuel pump is dying? skirkland1980: I am using the distributor that came with the car. Guess I should mention the car has the stock l28e and is a 1978 280z. Thanks for response Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domzs Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 (edited) Check for power and ground at the fuel pump to see if you are loosing power or ground when it acts up . And how long will it run before it acts up ? Edited August 24, 2013 by Domzs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavyweight280 Posted August 24, 2013 Author Share Posted August 24, 2013 gonna go look at it before it gets dark. It seems like the idle degrades almost immediatly. It idles decent for around 30-60 seconds, then gradually drops... Within about 5 minutes, it cuts off and wont start again. Let it sit for a long time, and it restarts and does the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domzs Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 The fuel pump has a small filter on the inlet side , remove the hose and take a look to see if it's clogged . You can carefully remove it for cleaning . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavyweight280 Posted August 24, 2013 Author Share Posted August 24, 2013 will check first thing tomorrow morning. Couldn't check the current cause my tester is playing the a** but will try to check that tomorrow as well. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavyweight280 Posted August 24, 2013 Author Share Posted August 24, 2013 (edited) Update: Removed the small cone shaped strainer and it appeared clean. Also the hose to the inlet was dry. Pump is getting current when attempting to start, so at this point I am guessing the pump has gone out. Last attempt, I will buy a bit more fuel and see if that makes any difference, probably wont. But if that fails, I am off to the parts store to get another pump unless someone knows something I don't. Will post results later. Edited August 24, 2013 by heavyweight280 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domzs Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 Update: Removed the small cone shaped strainer and it appeared clean. Also the hose to the inlet was dry. Pump is getting current when attempting to start, so at this point I am guessing the pump has gone out. Last attempt, I will buy a bit more fuel and see if that makes any difference, probably wont. But if that fails, I am off to the parts store to get another pump unless someone knows something I don't. Will post results later. Sounds like a good plan . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 "I will buy a bit more fuel and see if that makes any difference, probably wont." NEVER NEVER NEVER, EVER troubleshoot fuel issues with an almost empty tank. This one sounds like it's gonna have a "Sling Blade Lawnmower Solution" to it: 'tain't gets n'er gas in tchere, uhm hum! You can mail me my biscuits 'n musterd ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavyweight280 Posted August 27, 2013 Author Share Posted August 27, 2013 "I will buy a bit more fuel and see if that makes any difference, probably wont." NEVER NEVER NEVER, EVER troubleshoot fuel issues with an almost empty tank. This one sounds like it's gonna have a "Sling Blade Lawnmower Solution" to it: 'tain't gets n'er gas in tchere, uhm hum! You can mail me my biscuits 'n musterd ... I had 4 gallons in there at first, just went to put 2 more, but made no real difference. New pump is in, finally getting fuel again. Idle still bad. Now the guage reads around 40psi, slow idle, smoke. Turned it off and it wont start up again... Thinking of taking it in to mechanic at this point, no more free time to play with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domzs Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 If you can get it to run again , I would let it run for awhile before you shut it off . You said the car sat for 2 yrs , poss . that you still have bad fuel in it . Might want to put some fuel injector cleaner in the tank . Highly rec Chevron Techron . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavyweight280 Posted August 28, 2013 Author Share Posted August 28, 2013 If you can get it to run again , I would let it run for awhile before you shut it off . You said the car sat for 2 yrs , poss . that you still have bad fuel in it . Might want to put some fuel injector cleaner in the tank . Highly rec Chevron Techron . Well I had removed the tank as well so the old gas was drained. I did put some injector cleaner and premium from citgo. Anyways, here are a couple vids of what it is like atm. Unfortunately, my free time ended, gonna have to take it to a mechanic. It is probably something really small and I came a along way from where it was, but yeah... Anyways, will post what was wrong with it when i find out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym8Tn0f9c24 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTt82gddI28 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domzs Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 The first vdo shows low fuel press. and which side of the pump is the clear plastic fuel filter mounted ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavyweight280 Posted August 28, 2013 Author Share Posted August 28, 2013 I The first vdo shows low fuel press. and which side of the pump is the clear plastic fuel filter mounted ? I actually noticed that on the youtube vid. It started around 40psi, and gradually made its way down to around 20. I let it run for like 10ish-15ish minutes and it died about 3-4 mins after I stopped filming. And the clear filter is between the tank and the fuel pump inlet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domzs Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 Either you have restriction , bad pump , voltage problem to pump , bad fuel press regulator . Pinch the fuel return line to see if press goes up . If yes , poss bad regulator ( further diag required ) By-pass fuel pump control circuit with separate power and ground wires to pump ( good size wire ) to test voltage drop problem . If press. is ok , then you might have voltage drop problem . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavyweight280 Posted January 19, 2014 Author Share Posted January 19, 2014 Solved. 2 injectors were stuck open. Runs like a champ now. Updating so it can be helpful. Close and lock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skirkland1980 Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Ah ha! Injectors stuck open. I seem to be having that same problem right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.