Engine Won't Start

[CRCRFT78]

I can't seem to figure out what the problem is so I thought I'd see what some of you think. Its a 78 Malibu with an LT1. Fuel gets all the way to the fuel regulator but won't go passed that point. I replaced it with a new fuel regulator and still no fuel into the fuel rails. There is pressure up to the regulator but not enough it seems to go any further. I don't hear any difference in the fuel pump (which may not mean much) but myself and 2 buddies are stumped. Anyone experience this or have any suggestions?

[GregWeld]

did you crack a line on the output side?? If the motor isn't running == the injectors are all closed so you might have air lock if its a closed (non return) system.

So crack a line to the rail -- or at the regulator and see if you have any luck with that.

[dontlifttoshift]

Isn't the stock regulator on the return side after fuel flow through the rails?

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Jose, was this running before or a fresh build?

you have some plumbing issues i think.

[CRCRFT78]

It was running and then I parked it for a year. Pulled it out, checked a few things and went to start it. The fuel line had a bad leak (steel braided hoses), switched out the feed and return lines to hard line ran along the frame rail. Then ran steel braided line from the motor down to behind the front passenger wheel to the hard line. And steel braided line from the tank to the front of the rearend to the hardline. I have pressure up to the fuel regulator and nothing after that. Would removing the lines, allow air into the system creating air lock at the injectors?

[Vince@Meanstreets]

It was running and then I parked it for a year. Pulled it out, checked a few things and went to start it. The fuel line had a bad leak (steel braided hoses), switched out the feed and return lines to hard line ran along the frame rail. Then ran steel braided line from the motor down to behind the front passenger wheel to the hard line. And steel braided line from the tank to the front of the rearend to the hardline. I have pressure up to the fuel regulator and nothing after that. Would removing the lines, allow air into the system creating air lock at the injectors?

It should bleed out. Certain the lines didn't get crossed? What is the pressure up to the regulator?
Have to ask.

[CRCRFT78]

I will check the lines again but I think the problem may be in the fuel pump. As crazy as it sounds, the pump didn't have the high winding sound when it primes that it used to when I turned the key on. When I disconnected the fuel line and turned the key, it flowed rather slowly into the bottle I ran it to. Not the kind of pressure I would expect from a fuel injected motor. But this is all speculation on my part of course that's why I'm here. I will have to borrow a fuel pressure gauge and check that next.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

I will check the lines again but I think the problem may be in the fuel pump. As crazy as it sounds, the pump didn't have the high winding sound when it primes that it used to when I turned the key on. When I disconnected the fuel line and turned the key, it flowed rather slowly into the bottle I ran it to. Not the kind of pressure I would expect from a fuel injected motor. But this is all speculation on my part of course that's why I'm here. I will have to borrow a fuel pressure gauge and check that next.




With the key cycled on and engine off, it should be between 41-47 (43.5 ideal)

give the tank a tap to see if its got fuel in it. :)

[CRCRFT78]

Theres fuel in the tank. What I think happened (I will know tomorrow), the lines may have been crossed. My buddy and I both were under the car (not at the same time) routing the stainless steel braided lines and I had to pull them out. When I put them back in I believe going over the rear axle and through the frame, the return jumped the feed so when they came through they were crossed and may have been hooked up backwards. :bang: I will double check that tomorrow.

[CRCRFT78]

Well it turns out that the lines were crossed. The fuel filter was connected to the return line all of these years. While underneath the car, I cut out the steel braided lines from the passenger side tire back and replaced it with hard line. When I reconnected the lines I hooked up the return line with the fuel filter to the feed line thinking it was correct. Turns out I was wrong (obviously) so I switched the fuel filter over to the feed line and now it starts.

[GregWeld]

Well ---- nobody would have ever come up with a solution for that problem!!! LOL


Glad you caught the problem!

[CRCRFT78]

Even the guys building these cars for the magazines are human. Lol the only thing funnier would've been a reader catching the mistake when the article came out about the fuel line plumbing and installation and called them on it. All is well now.