Engine Wont Start: Note to Others about Fuel Inj. System

[h3xt0r]

Yes, another engine wont start thread! Yay! However, it isn't your normal wont start thread... I've already found the cause of the engine failure. I simply want to point out to others why it failed & how I figured it out so that in the future they don't fall prey to the same error. First off, I want to thank Ryan for helping me out and leading me in the right direction.

As everyone else that I know kept telling me, "It's something stupid". I went the entire fuel injection system replacing wires, checking systems, the whole 9 yards. I checked everything! So like Ryan suggested I sat down by the car, with a beer, and the WHOLE 160 page Fuel and Emission Control Systems. Sitting there, drinking my beer, I got to page 110.

Than it hit me...Did I really? I hooked the fuel lines up backwards. Switched them back and low and behold ZOOM ZOOM! Why does it not work the other way around? The fuel rails work in funny ways...(Not really...) You have the fuel pump at the tank that sends it up to the fuel filter (xD Thanks Inodoro) in the engine bay that pressurizes the fuel rails. The fuel comes in on one side than loops over to the other and whats left over gets sent back to the fuel tank. This is a one way system. So if you hook it up backwards no fuel will make it to the injectors and so on.

So the moral of the story?: Get a beer, the manual and read away!

[K_I_R_K_S]

hahahhahahahahahahaha iv done that before... only took 5 min to work out...
the fuel regulator is a one way valve that only opens at a certain pressure..

[Inodoro Pereyra]

The fuel rails work in funny ways...(Not really...) You have the fuel pump at the tank that sends it up to the fuel pump in the engine bay that pressurizes the fuel rails.

Fuel pump in the engine bay?

Sorry H3xtor, but I think you're seeing things.
The fuel line comes from the fuel pump in the tank, to the fuel filter, to the rails, then the FPR, then back to the tank.
That's, unless you installed an inline fuel pump...

[mikeinaus]

i did the exact same thing when i swapped my motor. you should have asked solo_ryder, he knew what the problem was instantly lol.

[ganue]

Guilty here too.....

[Inodoro Pereyra]

A little tip to avoid that problem: the pressure hose (the one that comes from the pump) goes to a banjo fitting at the end of the fuel rail. Instead of removing the hose clamps, remove the bolt in the banjo fitting (be careful not to lose the copper washers). That way, when you have to reassemble everything, you know the hose with the banjo is the pressure hose.

[Ryan]

Or just remember that the fuel filter goes straight to the lines, and the FPR is the last piece before it returns to tank...

So, know how the fuel system works.

[_-Night-Shade-_]

I just keep a mental note that the hose coming from the fuel filter connects to the one closer to the firewall.

[h3xt0r]

The fuel rails work in funny ways...(Not really...) You have the fuel pump at the tank that sends it up to the fuel pump in the engine bay that pressurizes the fuel rails.

Fuel pump in the engine bay?

Sorry H3xtor, but I think you're seeing things.
The fuel line comes from the fuel pump in the tank, to the fuel filter, to the rails, then the FPR, then back to the tank.
That's, unless you installed an inline fuel pump...

You're right Inodoro, it's the fuel filter and not a fuel pump.