Ran out of fuel and now sometimes doesnt start...

vrracing · 06-21-2011, 11:06 AM

We put a new (used) fuel sender in the car and it apparently doesnt read exactly like the old one and the kid ran out of gas. Even after getting it towed and filled, it wouldnt start so we primed the fuel system and it started; easy peasy.

Next day it started and he went to work. Then in the afternoon he went to get a haircut and it wouldnt start afterwards. I went up there, primed it again it again and it started.

Any ideas? It has a Walbro (to support the Tii conversion) and we replaced the fuel filter several years ago. He said that when it ran out of gas he tried to get it to start in bursts for 3 or 4 minutes total.

Pete_89T2 · 06-21-2011, 01:15 PM

Couple of thoughts here. If he ran the tank dry, and that fuel filter is already a few years old, it wouldn't hurt to replace the filter. Whatever crud that was at the bottom of the tank is likely in the filter now, clogging it up.

Another possibility to consider is that when you guys did the work to change out the fuel sender, it's possible the fuel pump wiring may have been bumped, damaged or distrurbed enough to result in the intermittent hard starts. 20+ year old wiring is likely pretty brittle & corroded as-is, so you might want to take a look at the integrity of the wiring & connectors and check our the fuel pump circuit per the FSM.

vrracing · 06-21-2011, 03:11 PM

Cool, Pete. Thx!

FerociousP · 06-21-2011, 03:33 PM

I agree with Pete that it could be an electrical issue. I had a similar issue (although not exactly the same) and it turned out to be the ground wire going out of the tank.

The ground wire coming out of the tank is the ground for the pump, sender, and sensor for the idiot light. Once I cleaned and tightened the pins in the bulkhead connector my fuel pump worked perfectly and my fuel gauge was more accurate.

http://rotarycarclub.com/rotary_foru...ad.php?t=13948

***TitaniumTT*** · 06-21-2011, 05:11 PM

Ditch the whinebro and put a denso in. Walbro's have a habit of of just dying. Running them dry won't help thier lifespan either.

Something else to consider is - was there any boost present when the tank ran dry? That could easily kill an engine.

Third, I have to disagree with the crude in the bottom of the tank theory. Crud is going to sink, so regardless if the tank is full or empty, it's always going to be at the bottom of the tank. Also, any larger chunks wouln't be able to get through the pre-filter anyway

Pete_89T2 · 06-21-2011, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TitaniumTT

Third, I have to disagree with the crude in the bottom of the tank theory. Crud is going to sink, so regardless if the tank is full or empty, it's always going to be at the bottom of the tank. Also, any larger chunks wouln't be able to get through the pre-filter anyway

True that the heavier, larger particle size crud will sink to the bottom and won't get past the pump's prefilter. But since the pickup is located at the lowest point in the tank, why would any rust particulates suspended in the fuel - the small stuff that can pass the pre-filter easily and give the fuel a rusty color - not make it to the main filter?

***TitaniumTT*** · 06-21-2011, 10:28 PM

That's assuming that the tank is rusting out. If the car was driven regularly (especially if running premix) the tank generally doesn't rust out. It's when they sit that they get the rusty varnishy fuel. But like I said, if you're running it regularly, then you're basically flushing the tank once a week and the fuel doesn't get to that point. Not to mention, if it's suspended in the fuel, it's suspended throughout the level of the tank, not just at the top or the bottom. Water on the other hand..... especially thanks to ethanol, if it sits, will seperate and head straight to the bottom. HUGE problem in the marine industry.

06-21-2011, 11:06 AM	#1
vrracing Rotating Assembly Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: TX iTrader: (0) Posts: 102 Rep Power: 17	Ran out of fuel and now sometimes doesnt start... We put a new (used) fuel sender in the car and it apparently doesnt read exactly like the old one and the kid ran out of gas. Even after getting it towed and filled, it wouldnt start so we primed the fuel system and it started; easy peasy. Next day it started and he went to work. Then in the afternoon he went to get a haircut and it wouldnt start afterwards. I went up there, primed it again it again and it started. Any ideas? It has a Walbro (to support the Tii conversion) and we replaced the fuel filter several years ago. He said that when it ran out of gas he tried to get it to start in bursts for 3 or 4 minutes total. __________________ 90 S5 Vert. JDM Tii with BNR Stage1 turbo. Pineapple Racing street port. Bonez cat-forward. Corksport cat-back with Vibrant UltraQuiet resonator. RTek 2 wZeitronix w/b. HKS EBC. Vis CF Tii hood. 3000GT wing. Ground Control coilover kit with KYB AGX shocks. Red and Black leather RX8 seats. Corksport Odura lip & bumper caps, OEM Tii skirts

06-21-2011, 03:11 PM	#3
vrracing Rotating Assembly Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: TX iTrader: (0) Posts: 102 Rep Power: 17	Cool, Pete. Thx! __________________ 90 S5 Vert. JDM Tii with BNR Stage1 turbo. Pineapple Racing street port. Bonez cat-forward. Corksport cat-back with Vibrant UltraQuiet resonator. RTek 2 wZeitronix w/b. HKS EBC. Vis CF Tii hood. 3000GT wing. Ground Control coilover kit with KYB AGX shocks. Red and Black leather RX8 seats. Corksport Odura lip & bumper caps, OEM Tii skirts

06-21-2011, 03:33 PM	#4
FerociousP I-had-a-bad-experience... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: M'boro iTrader: (2) Posts: 1,046 Rep Power: 18	I agree with Pete that it could be an electrical issue. I had a similar issue (although not exactly the same) and it turned out to be the ground wire going out of the tank. The ground wire coming out of the tank is the ground for the pump, sender, and sensor for the idiot light. Once I cleaned and tightened the pins in the bulkhead connector my fuel pump worked perfectly and my fuel gauge was more accurate. http://rotarycarclub.com/rotary_foru...ad.php?t=13948 __________________ '15 Juke Nismo '06 MX-5 GT SOLD '04 S Silver RX-8 GT Track Day Use SOLD '90 Black TII vert w/ Sprint RE stock port/turbo DD dyno (242.6whp@5500rpm @12psi 8psi@redline) and (250ftlbtq@4800rpm @13psi) SOLD '89 GTUs 6p TII SOLD, '87 sport SOLD, '79 SA stock SOLD '91 B2600i 4x4 w/ Rx-8 LSD SOLD

06-21-2011, 05:11 PM	#5
*TitaniumTT* Test Whore - Admin Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Right Behind you son iTrader: (4) Posts: 4,581 Rep Power: 10	Ditch the whinebro and put a denso in. Walbro's have a habit of of just dying. Running them dry won't help thier lifespan either. Something else to consider is - was there any boost present when the tank ran dry? That could easily kill an engine. Third, I have to disagree with the crude in the bottom of the tank theory. Crud is going to sink, so regardless if the tank is full or empty, it's always going to be at the bottom of the tank. Also, any larger chunks wouln't be able to get through the pre-filter anyway __________________ -The Angry Stig- DGRR 2009, 2011, 2012 & 2013 - Best FC DEALS GAP!! WOOHOOOO!!!!! 2015 Audi S4 - Samantha - Zero Brap S4 2004 RX8 - Jocelyn - 196rwhp, 19mpg fuel to noise converter 2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport - Wifey mobile - Now with 2.5" OME lift and 30" BFG AT KO's! So it begins 1998 Jeep Cherokee - 5 spd, 4" lift, 33" BFG's - Rotary Tow Vehicle 1988 'Vert - In progress 1988 FC Coupe - Gretchen -The attention whore BEAST! I'm a sick individual, what's wrong with you? I'm pure Evil I'm still insane, in the best possible way. I think Brian's idea of romance is using lube. Your rage caused the meteor strike in Russia. The Antichrist would be proud of his minion. You win with your thread. Most everything It's a truck with a steel gate on the back. Just a statement of fact Motec M820, AIM dash, ported 13B-RE Cosmo, 6-spd trans, 4.3 Torsen, custom twin wg fully divided mani, Custom 4" split into 2x 3" exhaust, Custom HMIC, Custom custom custom custom I like to welder stuff.... No Bolt-ons allowed. Dyno'ed @ Speed1 Tuned by me - 405rwhp on WG.... WM50 cuming soon. *-Angry Motherfcker Mode ENGAGED-**

06-21-2011, 10:28 PM	#7
*TitaniumTT* Test Whore - Admin Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Right Behind you son iTrader: (4) Posts: 4,581 Rep Power: 10	That's assuming that the tank is rusting out. If the car was driven regularly (especially if running premix) the tank generally doesn't rust out. It's when they sit that they get the rusty varnishy fuel. But like I said, if you're running it regularly, then you're basically flushing the tank once a week and the fuel doesn't get to that point. Not to mention, if it's suspended in the fuel, it's suspended throughout the level of the tank, not just at the top or the bottom. Water on the other hand..... especially thanks to ethanol, if it sits, will seperate and head straight to the bottom. HUGE problem in the marine industry. __________________ -The Angry Stig- DGRR 2009, 2011, 2012 & 2013 - Best FC DEALS GAP!! WOOHOOOO!!!!! 2015 Audi S4 - Samantha - Zero Brap S4 2004 RX8 - Jocelyn - 196rwhp, 19mpg fuel to noise converter 2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport - Wifey mobile - Now with 2.5" OME lift and 30" BFG AT KO's! So it begins 1998 Jeep Cherokee - 5 spd, 4" lift, 33" BFG's - Rotary Tow Vehicle 1988 'Vert - In progress 1988 FC Coupe - Gretchen -The attention whore BEAST! I'm a sick individual, what's wrong with you? I'm pure Evil I'm still insane, in the best possible way. I think Brian's idea of romance is using lube. Your rage caused the meteor strike in Russia. The Antichrist would be proud of his minion. You win with your thread. Most everything It's a truck with a steel gate on the back. Just a statement of fact Motec M820, AIM dash, ported 13B-RE Cosmo, 6-spd trans, 4.3 Torsen, custom twin wg fully divided mani, Custom 4" split into 2x 3" exhaust, Custom HMIC, Custom custom custom custom I like to welder stuff.... No Bolt-ons allowed. Dyno'ed @ Speed1 Tuned by me - 405rwhp on WG.... WM50 cuming soon. *-Angry Motherfcker Mode ENGAGED-**

06-21-2011, 01:15 PM	#2
Pete_89T2 Lifetime Rotorhead Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elkton, MD iTrader: (1) Posts: 874 Rep Power: 15	Couple of thoughts here. If he ran the tank dry, and that fuel filter is already a few years old, it wouldn't hurt to replace the filter. Whatever crud that was at the bottom of the tank is likely in the filter now, clogging it up. Another possibility to consider is that when you guys did the work to change out the fuel sender, it's possible the fuel pump wiring may have been bumped, damaged or distrurbed enough to result in the intermittent hard starts. 20+ year old wiring is likely pretty brittle & corroded as-is, so you might want to take a look at the integrity of the wiring & connectors and check our the fuel pump circuit per the FSM.