First drive and bad acceleration issues.

[Rissy]

stunned_monkey Wrote:much stiffer (giggity)

LOL!!

My favourite character in Family Guy. Finally, someone with the same appreciation of humour as myself!

[stunned_monkey]

[Chris Williams]

Prefer Brian myself!

[SteveyP]

Right a quick update to this thread. I finally managed to get some time to work on my D (life getting in the way of the important stuff yet again!) The problem had developed from very poor acceleration under load, to a non-starting issue.

So as the fuel pump had not been replaced (and it was obvious that no fuel was getting through to the engine) I plumped for replacing that first.

What should have been a fairly quick/simple fitting job was slightly complicated by the fact the tank had muck and sludge floating around in it, and a fine layer of it lying on the bottom too (not what I expected to see after some major restoration work on the car!)

So I pumped out the little amount of old fuel that was in there. Then paper towelled it dry. Then vacuumed it out and cleaned it with towels and acetone. Finishing off with one final going over with the vacuum.

Well the inside of the tank looked a whole lot better at the end. I put all the fiddly plastic bits back and added fresh fuel, then turned the key. Nothing at all - flat battery. So I hooked up a starter pack and turned the key again......

She turned over and over then eventually started - then died. She repeated this many times. Then eventually caught and idled rough - popping and spluttering for a few minutes. This I was beginning to worry about. Then she suddenly cleared her throat and revved strongly and cleanly. I can only presume that some dirt had been forced through the system by the new pump?

Whilst I was in the tank I could see the non functioning fuel gauge was down to the fuel sender being totally knackered. So I have ordered a replacement from Ed (yes I know they ain't brilliant - but they gotta be better than nothing). I'll give her a proper drive next time, and see how she starts from cold then. Fingers crossed this has sorted the issue. Although I am prepared that fuel injectors may need a sonic clean, warm up regulator may need a re-build and even fuel distributer may require a refurbish too.

Steve

[Chris Williams]

Quote:Although I am prepared that fuel injectors may need a sonic clean, warm up regulator may need a re-build and even fuel distributer may require a refurbish

Some one told me that sonic cleaning does not work very well on our injectors, cant remember why though. If it were me I think I would be tempted to leave everything well alone, nothing should really have got past the filter to these parts anyway. I'm sure you will change that now anyway after cleaning the tank of all it's crap.
Chris

[SteveyP]

Thanks Chris

:oops: Stupidly I hadn't considered that - as I did have a new fuel filter fitted prior to the tank being thouroughly cleaned.

I'll buy another one now and fit it before I run her again then. Are there any preferences between Mahle and Bosch ones though?

Cheers
Steve

[TheOriginalMrP]

Hi Steve.

I'm just over the bridge from you and I'm doing virtually the same job and the muck on my pickup filter was unreal.

She would always start fine from cold but when the fuel level was below 20 litres, it would splitter bad while revving in neutral ( not so bad under load) and restarting when warm was an issue and took a lot of turning over to restart.

I'm just replacing and cleaning everything in the tank. The fuel pump still seems strong so we will see how it goes.

Good luck with sorting it and if you find anything untoward then let me know before I stumble across similar issues!

Ben

[SteveyP]

Ben

One thing I did discover is that the fuel filler neck (metal part where fuel nozzle goes in) was corroded on the underside. And this may have been a contributing factor to some of the dirt/rust particles in the tank being there (certainly there was sediment and dirt in the rubber fuel filler neck when I cleaned that out). So I will take this off the car next week to get sand blasted and re-plated.

Also the rubber gasket on my fuel sender had split. So maybe some dirt was sucked through this gap?

Just a couple of areas to have a look at.

Steve

[steve.s]

hi all

after working many an hour rebuilding my fuel system, thought i would add my 2p's worth!.

things to try:
the old fuel lines into jars and crank over for even fuel distribution in each?.
for a few £££, send for specialTauto fuel system pick up, which takes it directly from bottom of tank.
i assume your cold start valve is functioning ok (runs at cranking then switches off!)
fuel pressure regualtor, can be cleaned...there is a gauze in it that can get gunked up....i still may have a spare if you wanted to borrow it?.
fuel distributor...you can take out the needle and clean it...but be VERY carefull as a false move and it will be useless.

now one thing maybe (has anyone thought) could be just poor fuel/air ratio?. i always struggled to start my car, and it seems lacking in power etc, and cleaned adjusted everything!.
so i tried the bypassing of the fuel air metering system, ie those grub screws, locked them all down, then adjusted the turns (cant remember how many)
low and behold she ran perfect.
it turned out that the car was running but a very poor fuel.air ratio.

for a few quid you can buy a pressure test kit...and i think specialT sell one that can be permanently plumbed in?

Steve

[SteveyP]

As the lumpy idling was not improving I finally bit the bullet and sent the injectors off to KMI for testing. Turns out 4 of them are unstable at start and idle, and 1 is unstable at start. As Chris W already wrote our injectors don't respond very well to being cleaned. Therefore I have the nice opportunity to buy 5 new ones (the remaining 1 has a test result of FAIR :lol: .)
Now I have no issue replacing these (apart from the largish cost of course.) But who's to say that after I install these lovely new injectors, a piece of crud from maybe the CPR or distributer, doesn't dislodge itself and again block one of them up?
KMI have convinced me to send the CPR off to them for testing too. And this may need refurbing as well. But I'm reticent about sending the distributer to them, as this is a very expensive piece to get rebuilt.
What's the best way to try and clean/flush the system through before installing new injectors and CPR? Do I need to remove the accumulator (I have no warm start issues at all, but maybe this is contaminated too)? The tank is now spotless, the fuel filler neck re-plated and 2 new fuel filters are in place. Whilst the injectors are off, do I just jump the fuel relay and force fresh stuff through (maybe with cleaner in it)? Is there anything else I can do for peace of mind here?

[Chris Williams]

Although it's a long shot (and probably a slow one) John @ SpecialT auto claims to be able to do a good job at cleaning them: https://www.specialtauto.com/delorean-p ... ction.html
When I cleaned my fuel lines out from the car having been sat for 14 years, I connected the fuel line that feeds the metering head to the one that returns to the tank and disconnected the return line at the tank. And as you suggested by-passing the fuel pump relay and flushing new fuel all around the system and the waste going into a bucket from the tank return (if that makes sence!)
Chris

[SteveyP]

Thanks for the advice Chris. And yes I did read on John's site that he says he can clean them. 2 specialists have said you can't really. But it is considerably cheaper than buying new ones. So it may be worth a go I agree.

Whatever I do I shall flush the system through as you suggest. Perhaps with a good cleaner in too.

Steve

[Chris Williams]

I know not everyone agrees with it but have you tried simply driving the car with some injector cleaner running through with the fuel? Some people dont like the stuff as they think it pulls crap from the tank Etc into the system but as your starting with a clean tank anyway? I have a load of the stuff (proper stuff not DIY) if you fancy trying it you can have it FOC (just cover postage)
Out of interest how much are new injectors over hear? Specialt's are $60 so £40 ish each.
Chris

[SteveyP]

Chris, they are about the same price over here by the time you add shipping and customs duty on top (KMI quoted £41 ea + VAT). Individually not that expensive but when you need 5 of them then a tad eye watering.

I've only tried off the shelf stuff tbh. And that's obviously not going to shift a whole lot. The tank is spotless now, so nothing will be dragged through from there.

I'm going to send KMI the CPR at the weekend, so I'll be waiting for the report back on that. Depending on whether that is OK or not, is going to make my mind up on the injectors. I don't really want/need the expense of a CPR refurb and 5 new injectors that's for sure.

I'll get back to you on that industrial strength cleaner. I very well may take you up on the offer.

Thanks
Steve

[Chris P]

Dave Howarth, who (like me) has resurrected many a car from hibernation, is a strong believer in ejector cleaner and a good long run to clear a system. (Assuming all the basics are working). Following his lead, it has always worked for me too.

Although I have often called upon the like of Rich H, to make a few basic adjustments, when I have previously disturbed or replaced major components.

( Never bought or cleaned an injector yet.)


just my 2 C P's worth.