Restart problem
 

Can anyone help trouble shoot a restart problem on a 1974-914-2.0L? Car will start and run gets up to normal operating temp. Then when shut off..... won't restart until cooled down. Engine will turn over and has spark.... It will start and stay running when starting fluid is used. Sensor fuel issue ?? look forward to your comments

sorry - please clarify for me :) - it doesn't die when it gets hot, it just won't restart if turned off when its hot ?

Correct..... when I turn the key to shut down ... the engine temp is in the normal operating range and running O.K..... Then say I want to restart after 5-10 min.... The engine will turn over but won't fire up.

I had a similar problem a few years ago. I discovered that if I tapped the fuel pump with a wrench or something, it would start. A new fuel pump cured it completely.

Vern

Vern...... Thanks for the tip... I will try that and research the new feul pump. Ron

If the fuel pump was bad it doesn't seem to me like it would keep running after the starter fluid trick. In the failure state, do you hear the pump hum for a second after turning the ignition on?

Yes ..... It does have the hum sound just as the key is switched on.

I would guess that the fuel in the pump is getting hot after turning off the car. Then you have vapor lock. Is the pump still in the engine bay, or have you moved it up to the tank? If its at the tank, then disreguard. When this happens, do you get fuel at the injectors?

The fuel pump has not been moved..... I have not checked the injectors but when this problem occurs it is like you decribed "vapor lock" because I don't think there is fuel getting to the injectors on the restart.

this was my thought, but then would the starter fluid work to cure vapor lock?

I'm not clear on the starter fluid trick either..... but because of the starter fluid it does get the fuel moving through the system. Maybe I need to move the fuel pump. Need to reseach that. Thanks for the help. Ron

Try this starting procedure - turn the key to the first position, let the fuel pump run, turn key off. Turn back to the first position, open the throttle completely and hold the pedal down. Now, crank it with the pedal on the floor, release when it starts.

Have not heard that tip until now..... Thank you... I will report back

OOOOhhhh...

Nice one Brad...

I never thought of that... use the fuel to cool off the system..

Sweet...

Clayton

Wait to you see how much a fuel pump costs$$$. I had to replace mine last Summer and I think it was around 400 bucks. Hopefully relocating the original is the answer? Eddy

There's a guy selling new fuel pumps on ebay for $250 - I just bought one for my spare parts bin the other day.

If you "think" your fuel is no longer flowing, it would be a very good idea to check the fuel pressure to see. It is a very unusual circumstance that keeps the fuel from flowing but still shows the correct fuel pressure in the high-pressure loop on top of the engine.

I have a small fuel pressure gauge quasi-permanently mounted in the engine bay.

--DD

Dave...... Thank you for the tip. I'll look into it. Also I checked out your pics. I also have an Olympic Blue 74-2.0.....Ron