My VL Sedan Won't start after running out of fuel

[jdl6666]

Hey fellas,

Accidentally ran my VL out of fuel just 300m before hitting the service station. I got out the container and put in 20 litres. Still won't start. I can hear the pump humming from the rear drivers-side of the car, like it's priming the EFI lines, but still no go. If i leave it for awhile and then crank it over it does sound like it wants to start but then does nothing still. I've poured some fuel down the intake where the throttle body is and it does start for a short while i.e. 30 seconds or so and then dies once again.

Is it likely that it's a very old/never replaced fuel pump that is weak? Was running the engine at idle yesterday and could hear the humm of the fuel pump variate a bit which seemed to affect the rev's a bit. Could it also be a likely blocked fuel filter to boot?

Heard another possibility, that it might be a CAS. If this is the case, I'll change the distributor for a good one that I have tomorrow and see how it all goes. I did just change the AFM, but that didn't make any change whatsoever as I know if one of these are disconnected it will stop the car from running.

I was lucky enough to get a tow home some 30K's away, and was quite exciting to say the least. Power steering rack has something like 40 degrees of play in it, not to mention coming down a hill before I got home, I almost totally lost all my braking function. Literally, the brake pedal was flat on the floor and had the handbrake locked just to slow down.... Quite scary!

Anyway, any suggestions on what it may be would be more than helpful and does any one happen to know where the fuel pump is located on the VL sedan? are they an internal or external pump and what would be the average price on getting a new one?

Cheers!
Jim.

[87RB30VL]

I can bet 99% it's the fuel filter. I once had an 83 Ford Courier ute and it ran out of furl and would start but then die straight away, and it was due to a blocked fuel filter. Bought a new one from Supercheap for like, $15, and away I went! Back to normal.

It would be very very unfortunate/coincidental if your CAS popped at the same time, but possible. From personal experience, mine popped while driving. I've never heard of them just dying while idling but I could be wrong.

[jdl6666]

You could be right 87RB30VL,

I spoke to my old man on the phone earlier on tonight, and he was saying that it sounds like the fuel pump is as good as dead. He said from memory they also ran a pre-pump too, but has temporarily rigged those sorts of cars just to run on the external pump alone. He was saying to replace both pumps at once along with the fuel filter. He also said to remove a fuel line in the engine bay and key the ignition onto accessories to check for fuel flow. Reckons if it's flowing a lot of fuel, than it's fine, and he even thinks that there might be the unlikelyhood of an airlock in the injector system due to running the tank on empty.

I've just ordered the new pumps and filter tonight. Once I get them in, I will install them and let you guys know how it all went!

Cheers!
Jim.

[jdl6666]

I can bet 99% it's the fuel filter. I once had an 83 Ford Courier ute and it ran out of furl and would start but then die straight away, and it was due to a blocked fuel filter. Bought a new one from Supercheap for like, $15, and away I went! Back to normal.

It would be very very unfortunate/coincidental if your CAS popped at the same time, but possible. From personal experience, mine popped while driving. I've never heard of them just dying while idling but I could be wrong.

If it isn't raining down here tomorrow, I'll firstly check it for fuel flow. If that's fine I'll change the Distributor with my good working spare and if that turns out fine I'll change the AFM once again. Other than that, I'll replace a couple of relays just on the off chance, check some fuses and check all the wiring.

Cheers Mate!
Jim.

[jdl6666]

Removed the fuel line in the engine bay and found that it's not bringing up fuel! Kind of expected something like that. So am just waiting for new fuel pump and should be on the road yet again!

Cheers!
Jim.

[jdl6666]

Can hear the pump prime up intermittently, but bugger all flow. Checked the relays, fuses and wiring and she's definitely gotta be that!

[detox_nath83]

Vl has internal Pump(inertia) sitting in the swirl pot and the high-flow is external right next to tank..

u would have sucked up the crap from ur tank and blocked both filters... (1 filter bag on inertia pump, and ur main filter in-front of right hand axle bolted to underside of car.. replace these if pumps arnt fried (shouldn't B) and as u said flush ur lines into a bottle and inspect..

she will b fine after this..

"personal note dont b cheap and run ur L under Qtr of a tank"

[jdl6666]

Thanks for the advice,
Both new pumps are on their way. Internal one was $75 and external one was $60 so not too expensive. Fuel filter was about $15.

Cheers!
Jim.