Fuel Pump

[Captain Neon]

I installed a rebuilt AC fuel pump on my 230, but it still isn't pumping fuel. Any ideas what I may have done wrong?

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[aero3113]

Blow some shop air down the fuel line (just before the pump) into the tank . Maybe there is some blockage in the line.

[Captain Neon]

Any thing else I may need to do?

[Niel Hoback]

I would not suggest this, except I have done it. Make sure you have the lines on the right fittings. In from the tank, out to the carb. I know you know.

[Merle Coggins]

How long have you cranked on the engine before giving up? When I had to change out my fuel pump earlier this year, when the rocker arm pin came out, I cranked and cranked and cranked and thought my rebuilt pump wasn't good. Since I was desperate, being that it was a road side repair and I wanted to get home, I gave it one more good crank and it began pumping. I had even disconnected the line at the carb so I could watch it while cranking. When it finally decided to pump gas I reconnected the line and it fire up. I figured that the gas drained back into the tank with the pump end disconnected and it took a while to draw the gas back up.

Also, be sure you now sucking air on your inlet line.

Merle

[Captain Neon]

I'm not connected to the carb yet to see if I have fuel coming out of the fuel pump. I did fill my fuel tank to the brim when it wouldn't pump right away to see if the added weight of the fuel would assist getting fuel in to the pump. I will blow the fuel line to see if there is any thing to dislodge, but as I am at work to night, I am trying to get a laundry list of things to try once I can get back to the task.

[Jerry Roberts]

Another test would be to bypass your tank and line and run a line into your lawn mower gas can . Also if there was crud in your line when you were cranking , the crud might now be in your fuel pump , someone said that there is a fine screen filter in there .

[Joe Flanagan]

I attached a vacuum pump to the fuel line to draw gasoline up to the pump. Once I had it coming out, I attached the line to the pump and the pump took it from there.

[desoto1939]

Since you purchased a rebuilt pump do you know whenthe pump was rebuild in which year and also did they rebuild it with the newer style diaphram that is compatible with the ethiol based gasoline? If this is an older rebuild it still might have the older type diaphram and this could have disentigrated.

I had an electric pump onmy 39 desoto that was built in 1984 and the newer enthinol gas destroyed the diaphram and when i took it apart there was nothing left of the rubber diaphram. i replaced the electric pump with the newer Airtex 6v electric pump that can work with the newer gasoline.

I would first suggest that you take the airhorn off the carb and check to see that you do not have any crud in the fuel bowel. Then use you compressor to blow air back inot he fule tank. HAve some take the fuel cap off. If the line is clear then you will hear the air bubble in the filler neck. If you do not hear any air bubbles then you have a clocked line or possibly the tank is clogged at the bottom of the tank there is a screen that is used to collect sediment. If the tank is clogged then drain the tank and take it to a raditor or gas tank specilist to get it cleaned out. Then istall the Airtex electric pump as a backup unit. You will then have the unit mount near the tank so it pushes gas to the fuel pump.

This helps incase the mechanicl pump goes bad and also after the car sits a long time you can push gas upto the carb and do not have to grind the engine to the carb Also helps to stop a vapor lock in the gas line. It is the best backup you can buy for around $50-60 dollars.

Go to the Airtex web page I think it is an Ev8011 model 6v. When you hook up the unit the postive wire on the pump get connected to the frame if you still have a 6v positive ground. The other wire is then connected to the power line and this should be on a toggle switch and only work when the key is in the on position.

If you have questins please contact me.

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

[claybill]

i bought that ev pump on ebay for $32.

bill

[Captain Neon]

I shot some carb cleaner down into the pump's out line, filled my in-line fuel filter with fuel, primed the carb, and cranked. It just needed to crank a little longer as Merle suggested.

I'm a bit of a nut when it comes to fuel system maintenance. Always running premium petrol for the detergent additives and lower tendency to gum up. Fuel system cleaner goes in every spring, at each oil change, and before any trip over 200 miles. I also use Sta-Bil every winter.

Since I was going to trailer the car when we moved to Colorado in 2007, I filled the tank with E-85 to dissolve any crud in the tank while sloshing around on the trailer. The car has been running on E-10 since moving to Minnesota in 2002.

[Merle Coggins]

Good to hear that you're up and running.

Minnesota in '02, Colorado in '07, and now in Missouri? You really get around.

Merle

[Captain Neon]

I moved to Arkansas in 2000. My wife is tired of moving, and I don't blame her. She stated in no uncertain terms that if/when we move again, we are hiring a moving company and all she need do is drive her car to our new house and tell the moving guys where things belong.

[Captain Neon]

Further follow-up. Since I had my P15 up on blocks to change the fuel pump, I used the opportunity to install a complete set of 00 gauge battery & starter cables that I purchased last fall.

With the new fuel pump and the new cables, I am once again driving like "da rich peepo." Car starts right up. Accelerator response is quick and I don't need to rev the engine to climb hills. No more feeling like she's starving for fuel while climbing hills. I don't have to pull the choke out ~1/4" while driving in town any more either.

Tomorrow, we are even supposed to get a break from the heat and humidity we have been having too. All systems go for Minnesota on the 9th.