My car was out in a storm few months back, few days later i went to put petrol in and there was water under the fuel flap and the filler was sitting in a pool of water. I cleaned the drain hole looked like a seed or but had caught in it leading it to block. I cleared it, went to get petrol and on removing filler cap noticed about an inch of water sitting above the fuel flap down in the filler hole. I sucked it out with a straw as I didnt want it in the tank. I put petrol in....and for a day or so no problem. Then the car died on me while driving, shaking engine, no power, missing, and back firing. It hasnt been able to run or go far since, same symptoms.
I have removed the fuel filter, which was full of yellow watery gunk and replaced, and drained the tank in situ with a hose.
I think its obvious i have water in the tank, any more suggestions on what to do apart from what I have done? Somebody suggested put a litre of metho in with the ten litres of fresh fuel i have in there now. Should I blow the line out ?

 

Hi mickvic,

If you drained the tank you may have already removed all the water, but an easy method to be sure is to disconnect the fuel feed hose from the firewall end of the fuel rail and direct the hose into a suitable catch container. If you think you need to remove more than half a gallon of fuel, attach a longer hose of some kind, such as heater hose, to the end of the fuel feed hose, then direct the end of the attached hose into a large fuel can placed on the ground beside the car. Remove the fuel pump relay and install a jumper between terminals 30 and 87 in the fuel pump relay socket. I use a large paperclip bent into a U shape. Now, when you turn the key to position II without cranking the engine, the fuel pump will run and pump out any remaining water into your catch container.

If you do find that the fuel still contained water, it would be prudent to install yet another new fuel filter.

Cheers,

Don

 

Thanks Don, I was thinking of blowing the line out but this sounds better. How is your car going what are you fixing on it lately?

 

Ive jumped the relay....tried a couple of combinations, one makes the fuel pump work but only in a bit of a dribble, should there be a strong flow??? And shes not starting, turned over a bit....but doesnt want to go....fuel pressure??

 

Hi mickvic,

The terminals you need to jump are numbers 30 and 87. If the fuel pump relay socket doesn't have numbers on the terminals, most of the relays do, so just match up pins 30 and 87 on the relay and put your jumper wire in the corresponding terminals in the socket. With the jumper installed and the key in position II (ON), if the fuel pump does not produce a strong stream of fuel at the fuel rail then possible explanations include low fuel in the tank, a clogged fuel filter, a kinked fuel pipe, or a failing fuel pump.

Cheers,

Don

 

Hi don the jumper wire gets very hot...any reason behind that? Dont think any fuel in the tank at this point in time. Will put five litres in it see if i get anything pumped out of the tank, have got fuel line disconnected and open just prior to filter. Been a while hasnt it . Hope you are well and avoiding any nasty diseases over your way. Mick

 

Pop the fuel level sender out and look into the tank. You can also use a suction devise to remove the remainder of the water/fuel in the sump area.

bob

 

Hi Mick!

Was the wire you used as a jumper thin? I use a large paperclip bent into a U and it doesn't get noticeably hot.

Bob's suggestion of removing the fuel level sender is a good one, since you will be able to see how much fuel remains and suction it out via the sender hole.

Thank you for your kind thoughts. We're all trying to do the right things to get through this very weird time. Hope you are doing well too.

Hope to hear good news soon, and not two years from now!

Cheers,

Don

 

lol good things take time...has it been that long? put five litres in still no action from the tank. Will check there is power in lines to the pump for a start tomorrow. Have a new pump just in case. I'll blow out the fuel line with compressed air, empty the tank check pump...what is the best way to check if the pump is working , at the moment looks like its not.

 

dont forget the fuel filter, once water and rubbish has run through it , its FUBAR and needs replacing ,

BB

 

You should be able to hear the fuel pump run a short priming burst if you turn the key to position II (ON) without cranking the engine. If you just can't hear the pump at all, an easy check is to loosen the fuel line fitting at the firewall end of the fuel rail. Use two wrenches/spanners of the correct size to avoid damaging the fittings or fuel rail. If you get drips of fuel but no pressurized spray, lay a paper towel over the fitting and crank the engine briefly, watching for the towel to be saturated with fuel.

 

Remove the relay, 'jump' the 30/87 (3&5) and listen to the pump.

 

Got a mate up the road to help me with electrical diagnostics. Power going to pump, pump not working. Have pulled the tank out then pump out and internal inspection of the tank reveals rust issues, and the fuel pump is thick and clogged with flakes of rust. Wouldnt mind a new tank but dont think they are available after doing research on the net. Fuel pumps are not a problem. May look at do it yourself kits coating the internals of the tank but the large tank baffles inside would seem to restrict access to all internal surfaces.

 

Update: Took the tank to a guy who removes all rust chemically, then seals any leaks and coats the internals of the tank. After a chemical clean ho located a high number of pinholes in the lower tank surface, so the tank is uneconomical to repair. Trying to source a second hand tank now. New ones dont seem to be available. New bosch pump on the way from rock auto