Car wont start after changing fuel tank, please help

Changed the fuel tank, filled it up with fuel and now nothing is happening. Turns over but isnt getting any fuel. What can i start to look at?

What actually sucks up the fuel, isit a vacuum or pump? If i have pipes off of the sender unit should fuel squirt out?

Have tried it with swapping the fuel lines around incase the return was on.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Dom

what model car?

aha ye would probably help, tis a mk1 golf, 1.1.

What is involved in getting fuel from the tank to the engine?? Vacuum/ pump, just so i can illiminate different things.

There is a mechanical pump at the front of the cylinder head. You may have got air in the fuel hoses that run from the tank?

Remove the pipes that go to tht pump and check you are getting an healthy suck/blow when the engine cranks over.

Have you got an Haynes manual?

ok will try that first, well i got a haynes for a mk2 but not mk1.

You can take petrol-in hose off carb and point it into some container. Crank engine and petrol will flow into container. Pump OK.
You can also disconnect petrol hose-in from pump and blow down it. You should hear air bubbling in pertol tank. Clears line
Fit a see through petrol filter in this hose as well. It filters crap and you can see petrol flow.

In theory, you shouldn't need to "prime" the fuel system, ie the pump should be strong enough to suck the air through and eventually suck fuel. Otherwise, you'd need to visit a garage after every time you'd run out of fuel….

In practice, I'd be tempted to prime it, by removing a fuel line close to the fuel pump and sucking on it until I got a mouthful of unleaded. (Petrol actually doesn't taste that bad and is somewhat underrated).

paul_c said

 (Petrol actually doesn't taste that bad and is somewhat underrated).

that's how it starts….. next you'll be on the aftershave  

paul_c said

In theory, you shouldn't need to "prime" the fuel system, ie the pump should be strong enough to suck the air through and eventually suck fuel. Otherwise, you'd need to visit a garage after every time you'd run out of fuel….

In practice, I'd be tempted to prime it, by removing a fuel line close to the fuel pump and sucking on it until I got a mouthful of unleaded. (Petrol actually doesn't taste that bad and is somewhat underrated).

dont do it with diesel though. that stuff is horrible. more like special brew than a nice crisp pint
may i suggest a shell vpower 2008 sir. a truelly excellent vintage.
and would you care for a cigar with that sir.

Right quick update, have spent a day trying to get this thing going, lots of trial and error, and some moments of happiness as it chugged to life and then died.

Have fuel lines on correct way etc to start with. Have managed to suck up fuel through line, but when connected back up you can just see it seep back down through the filter. It just isnt sucking up enough fuel. Tried a new fuel pump, no luck, old one is actually sucking, because if you push it in your hand it created suction, but when on car it doesnt create much suction at all. Feels like its just to weak.

Basically we came to the conclusion that the fuel lines have a minor blockage, or tank had some crud in it. How much resistance should there be as i blow down the line. I can hear the fuel bubbling in tank, but there is a bit of resistance (enough to make cheeks puff out).

We thought of sticking an inline facet fuel pump on it and seeing how that changed things.

Wotcha think guys?

cheers

I would stay away from the facet mate. that would over fuel it I think…. (cost you more to run also)

The Mec pump worked before. I would Drain the tanks and Make sure all connections are tight and on correctly. Have a blow ( compressor) down the pipes you suspect being faulty…… then plumb them all again…

or you could try taking a jerry can of petrol and a hose from that to the pump and making sure it runs ( then the pump is deafo alright)

good luck.

stick a clear pipe on the pump inlet and put it in a fuel can. add fuel to fuel can (not in this order :mrgreen: )
turn engine over. does it pull fuel though pipe.
if the answer is no the pump is karput
if the answer is yes then your lines are karput.
happy sailing