Fuel starvation, '92 TD42.

[yossie]

Hi jff45.

Yes, when we removed the banjo bolt we expected the little mesh filter you referred to. When we couldn't immediately see or feel it, we cautiously went "fishing", eventually convinced there wasn't one there when we put a screwdriver down to the bottom of the well.

Yossie

[yossie]

Hi MudRunner,

There's certainly a difference on occasion in how long she turns over before kicking to life. Half-a-second versus about 3 seconds. But more like if she's been sitting for 20 - 30 minutes.
I checked the air filter today and its in good nick. Not one you'd look at and say it needed replacing.

I fitted a Ryco fuel filter (as recommended by the lads at Repco) last week as a first go at solving this problem. I was reading a post on another forum today, saying that the fuel delivery capacity of the Ryco filter is significantly less than the Nissan-branded filter because of the different micron ratings. Do you have any knowledge or view on this?

Yossie

[yossie]

Hi Rossco.

I am suspicious of the priming mechanism. Is it serviceable, or would I just replace it?

Yossie

[yossie]

Jeeez! Scared me on two fronts! Possible split fuel line and $2000 pump rebuild. I want my problem to be solved by an easily-replaceable $2 o-ring!

[Rossco]

Hi Rossco.

I am suspicious of the priming mechanism. Is it serviceable, or would I just replace it?

Yossie

Good question! I've never pulled one apart or know how serviceable they are. . . Hopefully others will know. .

[Kimbo63]

Hi Rossco.

I am suspicious of the priming mechanism. Is it serviceable, or would I just replace it?

Yossie

Hi yossie
Not a serviceable item but appears to be working ok if you can pump it up and it goes hard should be fine rare to see one on a trol fubar try pressurising the fuel line and check for leaks like mudrunner did but use compressed air or a small pump and block off one end might show up a leak as there is normally no pressure in there

[Cuppa]

As you are able to access both ends of the fuel line - suggest you just replace it. I reckon there is a 99% chance it'll solve your problem & won't cost much.

[MudRunnerTD]

As you are able to access both ends of the fuel line - suggest you just replace it. I reckon there is a 99% chance it'll solve your problem & won't cost much.

That is actually quite a task on a wagon. Most of the lines are steel. I woul take the end off the tank and the other end off the primer, block one end with a plug bolt and stick an air gun in the other end and pressurize the line then trace along with a hose in your ear along the fuel line looking for an air leak. If there is one it sounds like a small one. Mine used to take up to 15 seconds or more to start when it was at its worst, sometimes it would not start without popping the bonnet and priming again

[Cuppa]

That is actually quite a task on a wagon. Most of the lines are steel. I woul take the end off the tank and the other end off the primer, block one end with a plug bolt and stick an air gun in the other end and pressurize the line then trace along with a hose in your ear along the fuel line looking for an air leak. If there is one it sounds like a small one. Mine used to take up to 15 seconds or more to start when it was at its worst, sometimes it would not start without popping the bonnet and priming again

Ah, right. I was just thinking rubber hose.

[yossie]

An update on the fuel problem:

I consulted a fuel injection expert who took it for a drive and agreed that the problem was probably fuel constriction, possibly a blockage; and/or gunge caught in the leaf valve part of the primer pump letting fuel bleed back (like Rossco suggested, above). He thought I should try compressed air blast back down the fuel line, and clean the filter head (as much as you can!). Both of which I did. And it certainly improved the situation. The occurrences of hesitation and "flat" acceleration decreased - but still did happen. And I still had the hiss of air from the filter head after priming (not that my old ears could ever hear it, but the young blokes told me it was there).

So, still suspicious of the primer, yesterday I bought a $5 plastic in-line fuel filter and bypassed the primer/filter head altogether. SUCCESS!!! It's a totally different vehicle. Full-bodied, gutsy acceleration, no hesitation, no jerky flat spots. So having confirmed the cause, I'm now looking for a suitable replacement filter head - and I'm going non-Nissan and forget about the primer altogether.