Car starts in gas but not petrol?????

[deXtrous]

Hey all. I got a vs which has be troubling me for a few days. Fuel pump was shot so I replaced that, but petrol still does not work.

The car starts in gas fine but when I try to start with petrol I get nothing.

New fuel pump, new battery, everything else is fine obviously because it starts in gas. Any ideas?

Gas system is a Sprint Gas AEB 295.

[Brett_jjj]

Blocked fuel filter maybe,is the pump actually running.You should be able to hear it running if you get down near the tank and listen.Also you should be able to hear it start up for around 2 seconds,and then stop again when the key is turned from the off position to the on position,or it should constantly run when the engine is running and is switched to petrol.

[deXtrous]

Yep the pump is priming. Had a listen last night whilst there was no noise around. Heard a slight creaking noise when the ignition was turned to 'ON' and also when I turned it off.

[chrisdoesitbetter]

it isnt a creaking noise, more of a buzzing noise.

[nathanVY]

injectors might be clogged?

[Brett_jjj]

If the fuel pump is running then its likely to be a blocked fuel filter or blocked injectors.

[deXtrous]

it isnt a creaking noise, more of a buzzing noise.

Creak, buzz, all the same. I replaced the fuel pump just a couple of days ago so I doubt it's fault so the noise I'm hearing has gotta be right.

Injectors or fuel filter huh! Sounds about right. To get things right I can't clean injectors myself - you need a special tool?

I may have a look at the fuel filter now.

[nathanVY]

fuel filters easy enough to change, id be changing that first then putting some fierce injector cleaner in the petrol tank
if you can get her started on petrol that should clear the injectors a bit if theyre blocked.

if you can get it started then you wont have to get the injectors cleaned, you can't really do them yourself.
depending on how old they are you might be better off getting reco ones.

[HSV.006]

yeah pretty much change the filter and clean the fuel system if not then would be electrical prob with the injectors

[nathanVY]

i think it's less likely to be an electrical fault cos the car won't start on petrol but runs on gas - electrical fault doesn't seem related.

[deXtrous]

Cheers folks! Really appreciate it. You guys may have saved me a few hundred $ of going to a mechanic.

[nathanVY]

no worries i'm not a mechanic but ive had a similar issue with my parents volvo before.
let us know how it goes mate, if you do need to take your injectors out itd be worth getting
a professional to do it, it's easy to do. but it's easy to stuff up to, break o-rings, etc.

edit: just read yours is a vs, injectors are harder to do in these I think (compared to the older vr engines)

[deXtrous]

Well I just took the fuel filter out. The bugger was clogged up hard. I tried blowing through it in the direction of the flow and it was like trying to breathe through a needlehead or a tiny tiny straw .

I suppose this means I need to get a new fuel filter! Unless that kind of flow is normal?

[nathanVY]

not sure about the normal flow rate, but just chuck a new one in there!
theyre like 10-15 bucks.

[deXtrous]

Rode down to repco, picked up a filter for $12.

Put it in.

It was the moment of truth......




AND NOTHING!

God damn I thought this would really be it seeing how blocked it was :'(

WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nathanVY]

lol!

step 1. relax.

make sure theres no leaks after installing the new filter. other than that you could try putting some injector cleaner in the tank
starting it on gas, then kicking it over to petrol and give it some accel see if it can get the cleaner through the lines.
worth a try.

otherwise get your injectors cleaned, or get reco ones fitted - get some other advice before you spend the money on this though.

[Brett_jjj]

You might have to undo the fuel line at the fuel rail near the engine and turn the key on to see if fuel is actually getting up to the engine.If it is its probably blocked injectors.As mentioned above,run it on gas ,then switch it over to petrol and see if you can get it running enough like that enough to get some injector cleaner through the system.You could try undoing the return line at the tank to see if fuel getting back to the tank from the fuel rail.The fuel pressure regulator could get blocked up pretty easily too Id say.

[JJ's VR]

G'day. Try what Brett_jjj just said, see if your getting fuel up at the fuel rail at the regulator with the ignition ON, have a small container ready to catch the fuel, its under alot of pressure. If no fuel is present, I have to ask, did you put the fuel feed and fuel return hoses on the correct spot on fuel puel pump assy when you replaced it? The hose at the top of the pump should be connected to your fuel filter as this is the supply hose. The hose underneath it (at bottom of pump) is the fuel return hose. Worth a check!! Good luck.

[v6lux]

Hey deXtrous, are you sure you don't have bad fuel, like a tank 1/3 full with water?

You will find out if you catch what comes out at the fuel rail into a clear plastic bottle.

[deXtrous]

you mean these fuel lines,



?? Don't you need a special tool to get them off?

[Brett_jjj]

Cut a pen lid in half and cut it lengthways on one side,slip it over the fuel line and push it into the quick connector to undo it.

[deXtrous]

Great instructions mate!

Alright so I undid the hoses with my crafty pen tool and a bit of fuel dribbled out. I had already released the pressure though.

Should I try to start the car with the hoses out? I may get a couple of clear tubes to attatch to them so fuel doesn't spew out all over the engine hey?

[v6lux]

Get someone to turn it on while you hold the tubes into a big drink bottle away from the engine.

[Brett_jjj]

As above,get someone to help.They run at a fairly high pressure.Dont wanna risk setting it alight by spraying petrol everywhere.I cant take the credit for the fuel line quick connector pen lid tool.It says how to make it in the gregorys workshop manual.