Vapor Lock?

[JSalzillo]

I drove my car to work again today and right after I got off the highway, she died. Although I didn't smell gas, I did smell what I thought was a fuse or wire or ?? I tried to start her but she wouldn't turn over. After calling AAA, he had a can of starter fluid on him so we sprayed that into the carb and she started right up. This is the second time she has done this in three days. Could vapor lock be an issue? I can pump the gas all I want but she is not getting gas, the filter is empty. I don't smell gas at all and the pump is new. Could it be the sending unit? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[Randy in Maine]

I like a plugged jet, poorly adjusted accelerator pump, or a sinking float in the carb myself.

[bluedirtbeetle]

add to that incorrectly adjusted idle and weak fuel pump.

My 77 Datsun pick-up used to like to vapor lock (reconnected the return line and she's all better now) but only on restart after sitting in the HOT sun for 20-90 minutes. It never happened after a long freeway ride and it shouldn't either as the fuel is flowing constantly and shouldn't have time to vaporize. It normally vaporizes when flow stops and it sits in a HOT engine compartment
_________________
1973 Standard Beetle All stock
1969 Standard Beetle All ??

Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.
- Benjamin Franklin

[candymustang66]

deleted
dumb dumb and dumber
_________________
back to jeeps, my true love... I-6's
finding vw parts that are not junk (even new) , is way too hard!
mines done, and selling 68T1 with no paint. (primer)

[DeathTrap]

change the fuel filter

[candymustang66]

Datsun, ?

my guess, (totally worthless)
bad fuel.
_________________
back to jeeps, my true love... I-6's
finding vw parts that are not junk (even new) , is way too hard!
mines done, and selling 68T1 with no paint. (primer)

[JSalzillo]

CandyMustang, my head is spinning. I don't fully follow your response but I appreciate the effort. I think we need to simplify the issue. It is either carb or something else. The fuel pump is new along with the plugs. wires, cap the points. The carb was rebuilt last year. The gas tank, sending unit and lines are new.

[bluedirtbeetle]

Definitely check the carb adjustment and fuel flow anyway bad pumps do exist.

Is your fuel correctly routed?? Is the motor excessively hot when this happens to you?

Also I am glad to see I'm not the only one that has no idea exactly what candy is trying to say or how he manages to answer questions no one ever asked...
_________________
1973 Standard Beetle All stock
1969 Standard Beetle All ??

Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.
- Benjamin Franklin

[candymustang66]

i never knew
a pressure gauge and a flow test. were rocket science..
ok, i believe you.

im selling my bug and getting and X15 from Chuck Yeager
_________________
back to jeeps, my true love... I-6's
finding vw parts that are not junk (even new) , is way too hard!
mines done, and selling 68T1 with no paint. (primer)

[JSalzillo]

Candy, no offense but you have to dumb it down a bit. Some of us are not rocket scientists but can certainly figure out an old VW. I am willing to do some diagnosis on it if there wasn't so much jumping around in the explaination. As I said, I have spark and it turns over, I belieive there is a fuel pick up issue.

[mondshine]

Have a look at this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-QDI74acLY

You might also want to check the pump's output pressure with a "T" fitting at the carburetor fuel inlet to a 0-5 or 0-10 PSI pressure gauge. 2.5-4 PSI is good.
If you have enough hose, you can check it while driving (under load).

Good luck, Mondshine

[candymustang66]

check flow.
_________________
back to jeeps, my true love... I-6's
finding vw parts that are not junk (even new) , is way too hard!
mines done, and selling 68T1 with no paint. (primer)

[Donnie strickland]

You say you've got spark, so do as Mondshine says and check your fuel pressure. Let us know.

[JSalzillo]

Looks like fuel pump. I was able to get the car started and home. Went for a drive the next day and it stopped so I installed the old fuel pump. The car started and I was able to get home. Trying to bring back pump to where I bought it and get credit or exchange.

[Donnie strickland]

Pardon me if I've missed it but -- have you checked the fuel pressure?

[vee dub dan]

[JSalzillo]

Donnie, I did not check the fuel pressure due to the fact that I am not sure how that should be done. I looked at the diagram that was posted and the only thing I could get out of it was......... HUH?

[mondshine]

J-
I don't know how I could have made that drawing more simple.
Right now, you have a fuel hose running from the pump to the carburetor.
Disconnect either end, and temporarily install a barbed "T" fitting on that hose.
Use additional pieces of hose to connect a pressure gauge and the open fitting on the car.
Alternatively, you could just connect the gauge's hose to the pump outlet, (plug the open end) and run the engine on the fuel in the carburetor bowl.

You can cobble the parts together with stuff from a hardware store, or just buy one of these:
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/LIS0/2030...pump+gauge
Naturally, the lower the "range" of the gauge, the more accurate you can be.

The goal is 2.5 - 4 PSI, which you adjust by adding gaskets under the pump.

Good luck, Mondshine

[candymustang66]

$2.36
read the chapter on Fueling..
if that is what it is. and your post never said, it was
or how you tested it. I think you guessed and said it was not getting
fuel, try saying I did this test, and found these results.
or all help here will FAIL.

http://www.amazon.com/Automotive-Technology-A-Syst...Cedition+2
_________________
back to jeeps, my true love... I-6's
finding vw parts that are not junk (even new) , is way too hard!
mines done, and selling 68T1 with no paint. (primer)

[candymustang66]