Runs fine, change fuel filter, now won't run...

[torquejunkie]

My car is a 88 Carby, 5 speed with 160K on it. I drove it home and it ran like a champ as always. I changed the rear shocks and the fuel filter and now it won't run. It started right up, but died halfway around the block when the bowl went empty. It will run if I dump gas in the carb, but not off the pump. I thought it was having a hard time priming with the pump higher than the filter. So I took the fuel line off at the carb and poured fuel through it into the pump, then I took the line off at the pump and filled the fuel filter and that line up with fuel as well. It started right up and and ran great, but died at the exact same place half way around the block.

Is it just amazing coincidence that the fuel pump decided to go bad right as I change the filter?????????

[roadkyll]

dont take this the wrong way but did you put your filter on backwards?

[jawbraeka]

then instead of pumping the pedal, turn the key to 'acc' and let it fill the bowl itself.

[Team Lightning]

then instead of pumping the pedal, turn the key to 'acc' and let it fill the bowl itself.

It's a carby with a mechanical pump.

[drddan]

Just for its and grins, take a look at one particular fuel line.....
...down at the bottom of the firewall, drivers side,there is a metal fuel line that runs under the car, from the tank to the front of the car, at the firewall.
Here it connects to a SHORT piece of rubber fuel line, to the filter you mention. This fuel line has to make a 90* bend to reach the filter.
With age this line gets soft, and since the carby pump "pulls" instead pushing like an EFI, it can create enough of a vacuum to twist and collapse the short, bent (old) rubber fuel line, going to the filter, and shutting off the fuel supply, It dosent happen often, but it does happen. I know, it happened to me. Drove me nuts trying to figure out what it was, until I had someone rev the engine slightly, and I was under the hood just looking at stuff, to see if I could see anything.
Lo, and behold, I watched as that short fuel line started twisting slightly, and collapsed on itself. Then the car died just as it collapsed.

Its an easy check, and maybe save you some bad words for another time.

I replaced the short line that was 4-5 inches long with a new line about a foot long. Hasnt done it since. I know of at least one other member that it happened to, also.

[FestYboy]

other option: check your tank pickup tube for debris.

[torquejunkie]

Thanks guys! Yep I checked the filter for proper direction and it is a mech pump. I will check the other things.

[torquejunkie]

Well I went out to go to work and it started right up. Get situated and get ready to back out and it dies... Pop the hood and check that little short fuel line from the metal tubing to the "in" sided of the filter and sure enough it was twisted and collapsed. Thanks for all the help!

[1990new]

Great post drdan!
These "from personal experience" kind of posts are the golden nuggets that need a permanent thread of their own.

[Movin]

may have too much suction there, Arty said the tank should be checked and plus 2

Awesome call Dan!!

[Festevil3]

+1 for drddan

nice call

[roadkyll]

+1 for drdan, good call

[torquejunkie]

Good call indeed, THANKS! I changed that line and I am back in business! Cleaning the tank is on my list of stuff to take care of as well.

[drddan]

Good call indeed, THANKS! I changed that line and I am back in business! Cleaning the tank is on my list of stuff to take care of as well.

Oh man! Glad I could help!!!!!!!!!!!

When I was a noob, I asked all kinds of Q's and did a lot of searching.

Now I find myself coming on here to see if anyone has issues and ANSWER Q's!

How the hades did that happen?! LOL