Fuel Pump Problem

[W1LLO]

Im new to the forum and also to cars as i have just bought my first car so open to any help anyone can offer.
I have an 87' VL and now it wont start. My old man bought it about a year ago but for the past few months its just been sitting there. I turn it over and i can hear the fuel pump start but it is followed by a 'gurgling' noise.
The is just over a quarter of petrol in the tank so its not empty.
Help?

[strgas]

how old is the petrol in the tank ?

[W1LLO]

About a week now?
I thought it may have been empty because my gauge wasnt working for awhile but fixed now.

[mrvdv]

you can try changing the fuel filter and also when you mean by it wont start, have you checked to see if it still has the spark ??

[W1LLO]

Yeah it has spark, thats why i think it may be a fuel problem.

[strgas]

does the fuel pump run after cranking or is it only priming ? the gurgling sound is normal just air passing thru the lines , check your fuel pressure and flow

[mrvdv]

also your fuel filter could be clogged too so suss that out as well as the pressure

[vr1uz-fe]

if you dissconcet the fuel line than you will know if fuel is flowing when you turn it on it might have air lock if so then you will need to prime it but from my memory most commies have some valve that stops air lock as there a submersible

[detox_nath83]

just take the fuel hose off at the engine end top hose off the 2(drivers Side) and put it in a bottle turn your ignition on and it shouild prime fuel about 3-5 seconds and switch off.. if your not getting fuel in the bottle, something is either blocking it or one of your pumps is Kaput

[Radarboy]

I've has this problem in the workshop before same senerio car sitting and not being used for a while. While people have a good point regarding the fuel going off you can check a simple thing which I think you will find is the problem. The problem is more apparent when the vehicle tank is under quarter fuel. Your car has an external fuel pump but also has a fuel pump inside the the tank. Remove the 8mm nuts around the sender unit (Circle near the external fuel pump with wire connection and hoses). It's best to jack the front of the car up so the petrol stays in the tank if under quarter full. Carefully twist and turn the sender unit out. On the unit you will find the sender, float level, filter and pump. On the pump is a small fuel hose which rots and perish. Change the fuel hose with fuel hose not vaccum hose etc. The gurgling noise you heard was the air sucking into the hose when under quarter as the pump is sitting abobe the fuel level.......Mark

[harry3]

when removing internal pump, remember how the fuel filter bag is positioned as it has to allow pump to sit down in swirl pot, if fitting a new filter bag, it can land on top of an edge of the swirl pot, stopping the pump from getting down into place

the swirl pot cant really be seen thru the hole, so its difficult to know whats happening, the gasket for hole in tank is still available from holden dealers