Strange fuel related, half tank, right corner problem.

[adomatt]

I have a strange problem with my VN wagon. When the tank is about half full and I turn a right hand corner (quite quickly) it momentarily runs out of fuel. Sometimes causing the motor to stall. When the car finishes the corner (and is back on level ground) it's good to go until the next sharp right corner.

This obviously sounds like a fuel pickup problem, but am a little baffled as I've put a new pump in - No change. Then put a secondhand tank in (as Holden told me the tanks are discontinued) - Still no change. I did put the new pump into the secondhand tank though.

I replaced the tank after I was told it could be a swirl-pot or return line problem. Both of which are inside the tank and inaccessible.

I can put $5 of fuel in and the problem goes away.

If anyone can shed some light on this problem it would be much appreciated as me and my mechanic are stumped.

Cheers

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Make sure the filter in the end on the pick up is on correctly, going around a rh corner it may move with the fuel and partially block the pick up.

Has it always done this or was there something that changed before it started.

[pandaman]

I'd be tipping the swirl pot to be the problem (or the pickup location with relation to the swirl pot), the pickup is on the right hand side of the tank, so a right hand turn will move the fuel in the tank to the left away from the pickup. It's inacessible, but fitting a new tank isn't too difficult. The anti abba's idea is an interesting one and definitely worth a check. While you've got the pump out you can take a torch (not a lighter, a torch mmkay?) and take a peak inside. It's a bit of a contortionist act but I'm pretty sure it's possible.

[adomatt]

Thanks guys - Not_An_Abba_Fan & Not_An_Abba_Fan .

Not_An_Abba_Fan - If this is the case would the filter move only when the tank is around half full or all the time? and No it was always fine - it just started doing it one day after no change. Great suggestion though - cheers.

&

Not_An_Abba_Fan - I've fitted a secondhand tank with no change. But thanks.

Could this be a logical scenerio:-
Could something have gone wrong in my old tank (such as swirl pot/pump/filter) causing the fault originally. Then when the mechanic replaced the pump we had no change because the fault was in the tank. Then when he put that (new) pump into a 2nd hand tank, could he have installed it wrong or broke something in the tank causing the same problem.

Cheers guys and thanks again.

[adomatt]

Sorry pandaman - I meant you as well - thanks

[Burt_vn]

my wagon does the same, but not at half a tank, i have to keep down to a few bars above empty, but yeah. i usually get around for about 350km's before she starts to die in the corners..
not too sure on what the problem is thinking of putting an inline fuel filter in it, so when one pump fails to suck up the other might have enough left in it to dampen the fuel loss..
but thats just a thought lol.

[adomatt]

G'day Burt_vn, I know it's not good - but it is sort of good to know someone has had te same or similar problem.

Have you seen anywhere on the forum where anyone else is having the same problem?

If so would love to know.

Cheers
Adomatt

[4eyedperson]

i still have the same problem.... So ur definatly not alone. Can't say as i have really looked into fixing mine as of yet. A couple of friends have had this problem with there and it came down to the fuel pump not being installed correctly. I've had no experience with changeing fuel pumps so i have no idea about them but, apparently it clicks in twice??, any way there's was only in once and it was cutting out round corners, took it out and put it back in properly and fixed the problem. Mine was replaced then the problem started, which i why i think mine might be exactly that... This weekend im gonna try that with mine... If it doesnt work... I'll be trying some of the suggestions in this thread i think. ha ha ha.

So yeh... Maybe you could double check yours is in properly and the wiring is is all good. Just so thats well and truly off the list.

Good luck with it all mate. I look forward to hearing what it ended up being.

Cheers

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

You can fit a surge tank, fuel gets pumped into that first then to your engine. Expensive fix though.

You may have struck a dodgy tank the second time as well.

[Matt_vp]

is the rubber return hose connected properly and not broken, it connects to the circle plate that u have to pull off to get the pump out, that hoses feeds the swirl pot and keeps a contant flow of fuel over the pickup, or is the fuel pump in properly? or the filter on the end off the pump is on the wrong way. from memory the long side points back towards the circle plate.

[hakhawk]

i had a similar problem to this ages ago, but when i was low on fuel, if i parked on the side of the road, where the road angle went down at the side, so the right side of car sat higher, it wouldnt start, turned out the filter on the end of pickup was folded in half and not picking up fuel, changed the filter and it started working properly

[Bz Kn33z]

ive done the same new fuel pump filter fuel tank i have put in a hole different motor and still the same i have no idea been like it 4 the last 2 years.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Plan your routes so you only do left hand turns.

[Burt_vn]

Theres our answer boys and girls. Why didnt i think of that? lol

[adomatt]

Left hand corners only - brilliant!

I'm taking my VN to the mechanic today to have a chat to him. Will let you know wat transpires.

Cheers guys

[sgthoon]

new fuel filter fixed it for me!!!

[Bz Kn33z]

Replaced fuel filter and still the same. So i have to avoid round abouts?

[Burt_vn]

Try the fuel pump.

[adomatt]

Thanks Burt_vn, but that was the first thing I did. Great minds think alike hey! or is it fools never differ?

sgthoon - cheers mate (got you on the other thread, but we might as well just continue updating this one - up too you?). After Friday when my mechanic and I spent a bit of time on my car (as you know, but other people on this thread don't), where we came to the conclusion that it must be the swirl pot not being replenished with fuel because of a suspected blocked hole at the bottom of the swirl pot. This hole is right where the return line comes in. The return line though doesn't go directly into the swirl pot - it stops about 1 to 2 cm's before it. Right in front of a hole. The theory is that the pressure of the fuel coming back from the engine (through the return line) goes straight into the swirl pot through that hole, sucking in other fuel that is sitting at the bottom of the tank.

Now after that on Friday, my mechanic said he'd like to check all the fuel pressures of the various lines etc. I said (obviously) OK. And we'll wait till he's a bit quieter. Then I got your thread about the fuel filter - so replaced that today. But unfortunately that had no impact. The problem still exists!! Bugger it!!!!

So I will book it in for him to check the pressures etc and we'll take it from there.

So thanks dude. Will let you know what fixed mine.

Cheers

[krypt0n]

I'm having the same issue with mine, what ended up happening? Sorry to dig up an old thread!

[89 vn]

I had to do that too, when I needed a right turn I would just reverse up the road... nah jk mine did that a while ago but at all times but especially on low fuel, your pump may not be ****ed but a small part of mine was and had to be fixed, was cheap and fixed my probs

[Bz Kn33z]

i ended up fixing my problem anything under half a tank it would die in the a** around a round about, turned out to be the sender, i think to fully solve it is to replae fuel pump sender fuel filter. i put a new motor in my old car and it still did it so its a prob with the sender thats how i fixed mine, also some people say its the swirl on the bottom of the tank but that would only play up with stuff all fuel in the tank, shouldnt have probs with that when you have half a tank, sorry to reply to an old thread lol hope this solves peoples problems with cutting out around corners give it a try and post back.

[bunkycalais]

funnily enough...im having the exact same problem. fuel pump died so i replaced that (and the fuel filter) and thats where my trouble started. it dies on a hardish right turn with about 1/4 tank of fuel.

ive made sure its in the swirl pot and checked the strainer at the end of the pump and all appears to be good. but the problem is still there.

Bz Kn33z how was the sender causing your problems?

[Bz Kn33z]

Old one was bent i think, i am having the same problem with my current car atm lol, but its not as bad only when doing some donuts it will do it, but if the pump doesnt sit on the bottom of the tank there will be problems, or a weak fuel pump,filters, and swirl pot comes down to it aswell, but start off with tha basics, as you have fuel pump/filter, mine only started doing it when i do some circle works and it must have lifter off the bottom of the tank, or the swirl pot has lifted from the bottom of the tank, its definatly a fuel tank issue.

[Matt_vp]

Is there a black hose on the back of the circle plate that holds the fuel pump, for the fuel return. I know theres one on the vps. If you didnt connect this back up when changing the fuel pump the fuel from the return wont be going to the swerl pot.
Matt