Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I have a 89 Sierra. I was driving it the other day when it randomly cut out after leaving it for a while it started again and ran for another 10min only to cut out and not start since.

The zook had just been topped up with petrol but did have 12 month petrol in the tank. I am thinking it may be the filter which has picked up a lot of crap from the stale fuel!?

Diagnosis is it will wont kick over starter motor is fine and the battery is fine i am sure it is a fuel problem it has half a tank in it...is it possible to clear out the old filter? or will i have to buy a new one to put in it?

Cheers James.

try a new one. they are only a couple of dollars. if it is dirty fuel then it may be worth draining the tank, otherwise your new fuel filter will suffer the same fate as the old one.

from what youve described its hard to say it deffinatly is fuel. be sure and check for spark.

Grover-98 wrote: Diagnosis is it will wont kick over

So will it or won't it kick over? *confused*

12 months is a while.

I vote - Drain tank, replace filter, try again.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if the fuel pump has died.

Steve.

Gwagensteve wrote:

Grover-98 wrote: Diagnosis is it will wont kick over

So will it or won't it kick over? *confused*

12 months is a while.

I vote - Drain tank, replace filter, try again.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if the fuel pump has died.

Steve.

It kicked over today idled then died after only a couple of seconds idle...we put fresh fuel in it but didn't drain the tank prior to that

Sounds like you're not getting any fuel up to the carby

Even with the hose between the pump and the carby pulled off, they will idle for a fair while on the fuel in the bowl.

Unless the fuel filter/lines are totally plugged, I'm still voting fuel pump. They seem to start giving up at about that age.

Steve.

So in summery i should drain the fuel change the filter try it with fresh fuel...if that doesn't work it might be the fuel filter!?

Cheers

Gwagensteve wrote:Sounds like you're not getting any fuel up to the carby

Even with the hose between the pump and the carby pulled off, they will idle for a fair while on the fuel in the bowl.

Unless the fuel filter/lines are totally plugged, I'm still voting fuel pump. They seem to start giving up at about that age.

Steve.

how much would it be for a fuel pump?

Regardless, change the fuel filter, they are stuff all.

12 months old fuel, and it wont go hey.

Fuel pumps are about $125 Genuine and similar money for non genuine.

Some people have sourced them via ebay for less than 1/2 that.

Personally, I'd go with genuine - shouldn't have to worry about it for another 19 years then....

Steve.

My 88 sierra did a similar thing today, it was driving fine then it started to surge a bit then just died, the differance is mine will run if i give it some thrittle but as soon as i let off the accelerator it just stops and the oil battery and brake warning lights come on on the dash I was going to ask a similar question but as mine is a daily driver has had a fuel filter changed in the last 5000 kms and been filled with fuel in the last week I will chech the fuel pump.

I dont know if it has anything to do with my problem but it clicked over 200000 kms last night

Bacdef wrote:I dont know if it has anything to do with my problem but it clicked over 200000 kms last night

Easy to check.... wind the speedo back a bit and see if it runs any better

JK

Bacdef wrote:My 88 sierra did a similar thing today, it was driving fine then it started to surge a bit then just died, the differance is mine will run if i give it some thrittle but as soon as i let off the accelerator it just stops and the oil battery and brake warning lights come on on the dash I was going to ask a similar question but as mine is a daily driver has had a fuel filter changed in the last 5000 kms and been filled with fuel in the last week I will chech the fuel pump.

there may be some crap stuck in the idle solenoid thing, take it out and blow some air down the hole.

Ok Im guessing your not to sure how to diagnose the various possibilities that people are throwing around.

First things first. Check that fuel is getting to the carby. this is easy, just remove the hose that runs between the fuel pump and and the carby. crank the engine. fuel should start pissing out the fuel pump. If it does then that's a sign that, either your carby needs attention or you have an electrical problem.
If fuel doesnt come out the fuel pump then it could be your filter or your pump. Gwagon steve is right though. fuel pumps give up at about this age. start with your filter and if that doesnt work then buy a pump.

to check electrical (not recomended once you have got fuel everywhere) remove one of your spark plugs and crank the engine. it should spark.

As already mentioned pull a spark plug lead off and check the spark. I'll almost bet you have a ignition module problem.

I have already checked the filter and pump last night the fuel is getting to the carby so i suspect its the carby. I will drain it as there may be crap in it then try again. If that doesn't work i will check the spark!

Cheers guys!

I'm going with my first thoughts!

I unplugged the hose from the filter to the carby and turned the motor over it idled fine as soon as i plug the hose from the filter into the carby it chokes i did this a few times to make sure timing wasn't just a coincidence. No fuel was spitting out of the hose connected to the filter but i could see the filter fill up.

So after all that i know its not the pump! as fuel is getting to the filter i know its not a spark problem or the carby as the motor turns over (using the fuel in the chamber).

So after all that it is what i first thought it was the filter i will pick one up today and chuck it in. But i think i might drain the fuel first and give it some fresh juice to prevent the same thing from happening.

Cheers guys!

Well chucked a new filter in it and it is now a goer. Now that i have it running im not as excited about it working as i was before it was working...ah well.