3.2 Swap - No Start - Low Fuel Pressure?

Laneco · 09-23-2007, 06:09 PM

Hi guys - this was a two steps forward, one step back day working on Steve's car. He has a 1980 slantnose cabby that we have been putting an 85 3.2 in. My job is the wiring - Yeah LUCKY ME!!! Whoo-HOO!! Nothing like handing a DME to a monkey and saying - here - have it girl... Actually the DME isn't that bad, it's all the factory wiring I've been repairing from some bottom feeder cutting and splicing for a stereo - large portions were melted - nasty...

So after hours and hours of me pathetically and slowly tracing everything from both the 3.0 Bentley manual, the 3.2 Bentley Manual and a download from the Pelican Site, I believe I've fixed the existing problems and wired in the 3.2 system. I proudly announced to Steve that today WAS THE DAY! I think we can start it!

On goes the key. ON goes the fuel pump, crank crank crank... I throw a timing light on it. Try it again, hey COOL! We have spark! Must have done a series of things correctly. Then we smell fuel

Not good, you know the lines in the tunnel? Apparently Steve got a little close with the welder when he built the seat adaptors. Now we have a puddle under the car and the tunnel is full of fuel. Time to stop and replace both of those fuel lines!

Here's my question, maybe a stupid one - but the engine cranked and kicked a few times but wouldn't start. Would the leak in the fuel line cause enough of a low pressure problem that it wouldn't start?

Obviously we won't be trying again until we have two more fuel lines. But I'm hoping that I've probably wired my husband's car right and the problem at this point is just fuel... What do you guys think?

angela

Rot 911 · 09-23-2007, 06:16 PM

I doubt the fuel leak, unless you can see massive amounts of fuel pouring out of the leak, would keep the 3.2 from starting.

S ECU Repair · 09-23-2007, 06:32 PM

Do you have injection pulse ???

Laneco · 09-23-2007, 06:35 PM

You know, I didn't check for injector pulse. When the fuel leak became apparent, as oh goodness, check out the lake o'gasoline...we abandoned any attempt to start.

To check for injection pulse - pull an injector and let it squirt into a mason jar? Or is there a more elegant way I should do this?

angela

S ECU Repair · 09-23-2007, 06:58 PM

You can get a injector tester at any Auto Part store just make sure is for Bosch type of harness/connector .plug it an see if the pulse is there .

S ECU Repair · 09-23-2007, 07:02 PM

ischmitz · ischmitz's Garage

It usually takes a little while until all the air is purged from the fuel rails once tings were apart. Depending on how long you have been cranking maybe there was still enough air inside to make the engine stumble and surge....

To check injector pulse you could pull one connector and measure with a DVM set to AC.

Ingo

Laneco · 09-23-2007, 07:13 PM

Oh you guys are AWESOME!! Thanks! I found a tester on line and ordered it. We will order the fuel lines tomorrow. We'll get them swapped out (fun times, fun times...) and then give it another try. I suspect there is still air in the lines, it began kicking with great frequency toward until we had to abruptly abandon testing...

Thanks again!

angela

LakeCleElum · 09-23-2007, 09:13 PM

I wish I had a wife that would wire up my projects........U have a very lucky husband!!!!!!!!!

Laneco · 09-29-2007, 05:18 PM

We put in two new fuel lines today thru the tunnel. Definately something that works better for TWO people...

And then we STARTED THE CAR UP!!!!!

Ran kinda ratty for the first few minutes (this engine has sat for 5 years), but then started to clean up and run very well. I tell you what guys, you have no idea how relieved I was that it started. I felt very much over my head with the wiring, not the 3.2, that really isn't that hard, but the existing 3.0 wiring was pretty messed up, the combination was intimidating...

So right now - I'm sitting down having a nice cold beer! YEAH BABY!
angela