Servicing Gas?

[shane87vl]

Hey guys,
I've recently bought another VL but this time its on gas. I've always been fine with servicing my cars but this is my first LPG car and I'm not sure exactly how the system works. Can't seem to find any threads about LPG and was just wandering if there is anything particular I can/need to do to service the LPG system??
Thanks

[shane87vl]

OK so I serviced my car today (nothing to do with the LPG though), The guy I bought it from said the fuel pump had seized as it didn't start when ignition turned on. I got under the car and found that the positive terminal was not connected so hooked it up and heard the fuel pump when ignition turned on... still no fuel though as when switched over to fuel it just dies, any ideas?? Fuel filter? lines? just knackered from not running on fuel for so long? Would i still hear the pump if it was siezed/blocked?
Thanks

[aussie_macca]

yeah thats always a bugger, have you tried disconnecting the fuel line up at the engine bay and cranking it over to see if any fuel is coming out of the line? if theres not it could be worth disconnecting the line before the fuel filter and if theres still nothing the odds are the pump/s is shot, could be wrong but thats just from my 2 cents. If there is fuel making it to the engine then my guesse would be the injectors, i know the bloke said the fuel pump from what ive seen as soon as a car stops running on fuel people just advertise it as needing a fuel pump so it comes across as i nice easy semi-cheap fix. is it running at all on fuel even for a few seconds or just dying in the arse as soon as the gas has stopped.

[shane87vl]

Thanks man, will check the lines when the weather clears up (raining).. I think it might just be a blockage somewhere as I can hear the pump when the ignition turns on. The car doesn't run at all on fuel when you switch it over to the fuel its just stalls when the gas in the lines runs out.

[detox_nath83]

sure both pumps are working as in inertia pump(intank) u may be only hearing the highflow pump(external)

[v6lux]

was just wandering if there is anything particular I can/need to do to service the LPG system??
Thanks

Legally NO!

You would only touch it if you didn't have to ask, so book-in to a LPG installer for a tune-up. Should only cost less than $100, unless the tank is out of date or it don't work at all.

[shane87vl]

v6lux, Yeah I didn't really want to touch anything with the gas (don't really want to blow myself up) it's working fine just a general enquiry.

detox_nath83, How would I go about checking the intank pump? Are there leads I can wack a multimeter on or anything like that?

[detox_nath83]

well basically because its the intank one the leads may work no worries but the pump itself is up the sh*t
if it does not run on fuel and u have no pressure up the lines i would say that one of the pumps is failing.
you could basically remove the intank pump and power it up manually to see if it works.(take it out and leave it plugged in to see if it runs when ignitioni s on)
when u turn ignition on u may hear a pump working so as it tries to prime(highflow) it will not shut off after say 3-5 seconds if it keeps running it is trying to pressurise the system still but not getting fed from the inertia pump.
goodluck man let us know

[Nackerz]

have u got petrol in the thing?

[detox_nath83]

he aint a half wit nackerz... well i hope not

[Nackerz]

smart arse some people wouldn't think tho!

[shane87vl]

HAHA yeah That was the first thing I checked, I'ts always the little things ppl forget isn't it.

I got time today so I'll check the lines and see if any fuel is being fed through, but I'll have to wait for the weekend to drop the tank out if It's the pump.

Thanks for the help guys, I'll keep you posted on the progress.

P.S. car is running a hell of a lot better now after I serviced it Just need some Lifter fluid coz I think there a bit noisy :P

[detox_nath83]

nice man
goodluck
nackerz is the half wit :P

[Nackerz]

shut up ya smart arse shit lol

and you dont need to pull the tank out to change intake pumps either

[strgas]

how long since it has run on petrol ??? last taxi i fixed hadnt run on petrol for two years and the only part of the fuel system we could reuse was the plastic tank after washing out the old stale fuel , everything from injectors to injector rail fuel lines , filters , petrol cap had to be replaced due to old fuel gone bad. cost something like $2000 parts and labour

[strgas]

you could basically remove the intank pump and power it up manually to see if it works.(take it out and leave it plugged in to see if it runs when ignitioni s on)

And if the pump is faulty and shorts out or causes a spark it could ignite the remaining fuel in the tank , these pumps should not be tested near the fuel tank or run dry as they can over spin and destroy themselves in the process ???

[shane87vl]

Alright it looks like the intank pump. Pulled the fuel lines off at engine and before fuel filter and their bone dry, I can hear the pump running constantly not cutting out like it should so that leads me to believe the intank pump isn't bringing the fuel up to the hiflow pump.
Will have to put it up on stands on the weekend and test this intank unit. Have never done fuel pumps before so if anyone knows any good threads on the subject here on JC it would be much appriciated.

[strgas]

check for power and earth at the intank connector first maybe a bad connection or an open circuit in the wiring , then move onto removing the fuel pump and bench test it away from the fuel tank .