80 series dramas ---- HELP NEEDED

[Pesky Pete]

Been having some dramas with the 80 lately. 1HZ Diesel 80 (aftermaket turbo)

Problem 1
I took out the sub tank when I did the ute conversion and just blocked off all the plumbing for the sub tank as I was always going to remount the tank later. Never had any fuel dramas from then. Recently I decided I was never going to put the sub tank back into the vehicle so I removed all the plumbing for the sub tank and have been having dramas since then. I simply ran the main supply line to the supply on the main tank, return to the return and plumbed the vent into the filler neck. At first I had the return and vent mixed up which caused it to run out of fuel real quick. Once working out that I had them the wrong way round, the vehicle started and ran no problems.

I drove the vehicle for about 10kms and never had a drama.
Next morning I got up and the battery was flat (fridge, lights etc etc)
Anyway I push started it. No problems but it ran for 5 minutes then ran out of fuel again. (got half a tank of fuel)

Primed it up with the hand pump on top of the filter and push started again. It started and ran straight away again. Then it ran for 2 minutes before stopping again. This time I tried something different and took the vent pipe off the filler and blocked it with a bolt. Primed it up, push started it and away it went and ran for the ten minute drive home. Stopped it and started unpacking the car and it started stright away again. VERY STRANGE.

It seems like after priming the hand pump and pressurising, it looses pressure. If I prime it again using the hand pump in say 2 minutes, it takes a lot of pumps to get it to pressurise again

Problem 2
Might be a bit more simple. When the vehicle has been running for a while and I stop it and try to restart it. It cranks very slow and sometimes wont start. Battery is brand new. If I let it cool down it starts. I am thinking maybe it is the battery isolator or possibly even the starter motor. When cold, it cranks well and starts no problem at all.

Anyway, I have to sort out these gremlins before the weekend and was hoping someone might have a simple answer to these problems.

[simkell]

no1- sounds like you have a air leak somewhere or a vapour lock on the tank, not allowing fuel to come through.

no2- check voltage drop to starter to ensure it is not leads. but sounds like high resistence due to heat. more than likely in your starter. an autolec should be able to help you out.

[HIGH ROLLER]

yeh i would be looking at the connections on the tank mainly the supply one

[Tapage]

1. Maybe not your case .. but my shot. I have a issue last moth with my 80, I change the filter, prime it and she start fine ( she's Marilu ! ) I let whe rest for abut 4 hours and when I try back won't start.

Prime again ans start easy .. each time that I let she rest for more than Hour .. need to prime.

I change the primer pump with other one that a buddy have as spare and boila !

Wearing in the primer pump ..

2. Batt issue .. it looks fine bout only without load .. check it in a bat center with load and you will se.