89 S5 Vert cuts out on left turns!?

[ROT8TOR]

I've owned RX's for years now and have never seen one cut out when taking left turns.

It dies like no fuel is being drawn in to the pump, so I pulled it out and everything looks fine.

I've also noticed lately, after longer drives, that bad fuel is coming out of the charcoal canister.

What is going on?

[GySgtFrank]

I assume that the car is still injected and not carbureted?

[ROT8TOR]

It is fuel injected and totally stock.

[GySgtFrank]

Fuel slosh in the tank should not be a problem unless you're extremely low on fuel, which you have probably already checked. I would check your tank vent tube to make sure you're not getting a vacuum/over pressure condition in the tank and do a flow test on your pump. Check the wiring to the pump as well. I would think any of these would cause problems at other times than left turns only, but strange things happen. It makes no sense to me that it would only happen during left turns, unless you have a pump wire swinging over and grounding out during that condition. It is a common problem with carburetors as the fuel sloshes in the float bowls, but not with injection.

just throwing out ideas as it sounds like you're at wit's end.

[ROT8TOR]

I've checked all of those before coming on here. You guys are my last resort.

What about the fuel draining out from the charcoal canister?

I can't believe they have to do with one another, but I did notice the bad fuel odor roughly around the same time as the left turn cut-outs.

[RETed]

Check the fuel tank anyways...

Sometimes the fuel pump baffle rusts out, and you essential have no sump.


-Ted

[ROT8TOR]

So, wait... I took the pump out and the tank was empty when I looked inside.

Do you have a picture or diagram of the baffle?

I can't believe I haven't seen what you're talking about, I've done fuel pumps on RX's for years.

Is this on the pump or in the tank?

Would this also cause the charcoal canister issue? Could I be so lucky to kill 2 birds with 1 stone?

[RETed]

Yeah, it should be obvious...

Sorry, I have no picture on me right now.

The fuel pump hangs on a bracket that is lowered into the sump.

Think of it as a "cup" that sits on the bottom.
It's welded to the gas tank itself.
If you shine a light straight down from the hole after removing the fuel pump / bracket, you should see it.
If you don't, see if you spot the welds that broke off at the bottom of the tank.
Try and do this with as little gasoline in the tank; some fuels have dyes which make it hard to see through...

If it's not clear and you cannot see through the gasoline, get a piece of wood (that doesn't fall apart) and prod straight down...


-Ted

[RETed]

Stolen from a quick Google search...

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn241/noodlespank/butters%20FC3s/gastank.jpg


-Ted

[ROT8TOR]

You are the man! Thank you!

Now the BIG question...

How do I fix it?

[N.RotaryTech]

really, the baffle is nonexist in your tank?

When I had that fuel cut during left turn problem. I cleaned my tank. There was 1" or 2" of crap on the bottom. My baffle was still good though. PITA to do but big difference after, think I gained hp.

[ROT8TOR]

No, it is there.

I just didn't know that is what it was called.

So, all I do is clean out the area where the pump sits?

When I removed it last week, I did not see the 1-2" of sludge like you did.

I'm going into it again tomorrow and I'll update you.

Just let me know what to do.

[FerociousP]

with it out... might as well go ahead and change the fuel sock too... I had a "left turn starve" under 1/4 tank which was corrected with a new sock.

[ROT8TOR]

Ok... Sorry its taken so long to get back to you, but I just now had time to f#@k with this.

The tank looked good and the "bowl" in the tank was clean and practically debris free. The sock looked good and also had very little debris.


What do I do or test next?

The pump is out and I'll be awaiting your reply.

[RETed]

Do you have something that can show you fuel pressure?

If so, there is a "dead end" pressure spec for the fuel pump (at full voltage).
That's the easy one to check...

Next, you'd need to be able to watch fuel pressure at the fuel rail, which will usually call for a "T".
Run the gauge to the windshield and tape it there so that you can watch it while you're driving temporarily.

If it is fuel (pressure), it's either going to be a drop if fuel pressure due to a mechanical failure, or an electrical one...


-Ted

[TrianglePower]

I had this issue when I slid mine sideways on a left turn, and there's one other Vert owner I know his does the same from time to time. Curious to see where this goes.