930 trouble starting when not parked flat?
 

The question/topic is as titled... If I park the car with the nose up, even only slightly; I have uber problems getting it started again. Once moved to it's appropriate flattened state.....She'll fire back up with some throttle. Anyone ever ran into this?
Car is a euro car, Leask WUR, fabspeed exhaust, otherwise stock cis car.... Thanks in advance!

Sorry to ask but how much fuel do you have when she is on a grade?

So even with some throttle she won't start on grade?

That would have been useful information! It had 3/4 tank when I last had trouble... Car runs fabulously other than this issue...

will it idle when nose up?

if it runs with the nose up then I dont see how it could be fuel(pickup) related. I would look at the CSV system/wiring. I have seen wires move, like when turning, and cause issues. I know, I slight nose up is not much change to move anything.

if you really think it is tank related you can remove the fuel sending unit and look down in there.
if you feel the need, drain the tank and remove the screen from the bottom.

you did not say the year. 86 and later have electronics under the seat that can cause issues.

put the car nose up. when it will not start check for spark, rule that out.
then remove the connector on the top rear of the AFM, turn the key on and both pumps should run.
with pumps running, push down on the mixture adjuster and put some fuel into the engine, then start it. put the connector back on and repeat just to verify. if it starts both times, try it normally. if no start then its something with the CSV.

I'll have to see if it will idle while on an incline.... I don't drive it much, but I am considering going to P2O this year(250 miles one way), I figured making a punch list of things that need attention and correcting them would be a good idea.

The car is a 1981. I am nearly certain it's a fuel related issue, as if I push the car to flat ground, it will restart with some throttle..

Sounds like my '70 VW Beetle. It has a 30pict3 carb. If I park it in a lot or on the street during a drive, when I try to start it, it's flooded. I have to push the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor, then hold it there while cranking. It'll then start right up. Don't know if there's a correlation or not, but it sounds like you have a flooding issue. I believe they included a check valve on the later Beetles to keep gas from migrating from the up-front tank to the engine. Does it seem to be flooded when you try to start?

When it is on an incline and it doesn't start, are the fuel pumps running?

Wondering if it is something funky with the inertia switch for the fuel pumps.

Mark

^^^

No inertia switch unless someone added one . . . instead, there is a switch on the air metering housing that prevents the pumps from running if air is not passing over the metering arm/disc, so if engine stalls, the pumps stop automatically.

Oops, wrong nomenclature, but that's the switch I mean, sitting behind the CIS intake boot.

I know it shouldn't be affected by the incline, so let's forget about that possibility for a minute, I'm still wondering if the fuel pumps are running when it fails to start.

Mark

Just going to toss this out as a just in case- do you have an alarm system? Some of them have an anti tow sensor that could cause an issue.

good call on the alarm.
I don't know if the factory one disables the FP or the starter.

aftermarket alarms are all junk. just remove them.
I use to do auto electric work for a living and I never saw one that was worth anything. they were good for business though.

I have the switch behind the intake boot unplugged, the pumps run all the time with the key on... what's odd is that as soon as it's flat, it'll start... Like it's being starved of fuel.

There is no alarm on the car, I feel strongly that I have a mechanical issue

I am going to make sure both pumps are operating, and check the tank for debris in the pickup..


Thank you for all the help and suggestions! I'll keep everyone posted on what I find...

jack the front of the car up.
remove the line from the FD to the WUR.
put the hose in a bucket.
with the pumps on you should get around 220ml in a minute.

If you think you have an issue with the tank do what I said about inspecting it, but I would run some tests first.

start it up and jack up the front of the car. see if it will keep running with the nose up.

leave the connector off for now.

Okay..... So the car will idle nose up, and it seems the more I drive it, the better(more normal) it acts... Anyways, I drove the car to Granville, OH last weekend(550 mile round trip). No issues, ran out perfect! I think I am going to inspect the tank when I get the time... But for now, I think the car is telling me to drive it more;)