Fuel or Fire???

[Warren Taylor]

Hey guys, got a 81 911 3.0 CIS. The other day I was driving and all was swell, I turned her off for about 15 minutes then went back and she started up then started spitting and sputtering with half power, after about 3 minutes she cutoff and I haven't got her started since. The car was low on fuel but not out. I have changed the fuel filter and the gas looked like pond water coming out. Please email me personally for tips since I'm posting this off my phone. Thanks!! Warrent22@gmail.com

[Joe Bob]

Use quick start/ether....spray into the intake. If it starts, you have contaminated fuel. Drain everything and refill with fresh fuel.

[Warren Taylor]

Tryed that.. Nothing

[Joe Bob]

Got spark? Ground out a plug and see if there is a arc to ground. Could be your CD box.

[JK McDonald]

Hey Warren, Don't rule out a defective fuel sending unit inside the gas tank as the culprit. I had the long thin wire that the float arms strattle break and hold the gauge steady at about a 1/4 tank just outside Chattanooga one time. Just as we were passing an 18 wheeler Frauhelga suddenly begins to sputter and the engine conked out. Luckily we were able to coast across traffic and to an off ramp with only a couple of horn honks and one obscene gesture. I told my wife the problem shouldn't be gas because the red low fuel warning light wasn't even on. A short hike later to a nearby filling station had us back on the road.

If this turns out to be your problem, you can easily remove the outer aluminum cylinder that houses the fuel sending unit and float assembly for inspection. Just be careful and don't lose either of those tiny nuts. The single thin metal wire inside is simply a series loop of sensing element that the float slides along to change the resistance seen by the gauge. I later bought a couple of feet of a similar wire at an electrical shop that rewinds motors and soldered in a new element. Accurately measure about a foot of the remaining old element to know what value of new resistance wire to use.

My repair has been working great for years...

Sorry - I see where you have tried a blast of ether - got to be spark or the muffler bearing could be bad...

Good Luck, Michael

[Warren Taylor]

It better not be that box I just replaced that thing two months ago!! But I will check spark and let ya know

[kodioneill]

Pull the sending unit look for contamination in the tank especially the fuel pick up screen.

[wwest]

Originally Posted by Warren Taylor

It better not be that box I just replaced that thing two months ago!! But I will check spark and let ya know

Blown airbox...??

[docrodg]

Gas looked like pond water? Low fuel and pond water gas says to me you probably sucked in some water/ethanol from phase separation in the tank that also cleaned up some crud and sent it to the engine.

[porwolf]

You may want to check the tank fuel filter that is located at the tank bottom. It can easily be done with an empty tank and the car on a hoist.

[fitchn]

also check your popoff valve under the air filter... if it stuck open it may be causing your no-start issue

[chicago_82sc]

Originally Posted by docrodg

Gas looked like pond water? Low fuel and pond water gas says to me you probably sucked in some water/ethanol from phase separation in the tank that also cleaned up some crud and sent it to the engine.

Happened to me too. Water and fuel separate in the tank. Once I removed the sender I got about a gallon of water out by siphoning out from the bottom of the tank. Once I got the water out, I was able to start the car and get to shop for proper draining.