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Evil self-destructing fuel pump!!!
bluebus - November 22nd, 2003 at 01:41 PM

Aaargghhh!!!!! Just returned home from a drive that scared the living bejesus out of me...

Kombi decided to die on the way home. Thought "hmmm... feels like running out of petrol, but just filled up... shall try to restart car for next few minutes...."

Didn't work. Thought "shall get out of car and check engine bay..." Got to engine bay, heard nasty evil hissing sound. Saw river of fuel run by my feet. Looked under car and saw waterfall of fuel running all over fuel pump and hot bits of car... Thought "holy #@%^!!!!"

Quickly (yet surprisingly calmly!) got fuel line plugging paint-brush and screwdriver that fits fuel clamps. Pulled off fuel line at the filter and plugged it. Dangerous and terrifying waterfall ceased...

Inspected fuel pump. The rotten bastard inlet pipe had just fallen out of the pump! All the fuel lines were clamped on tightly and wonderfully (I had been exceedingly paranoid about this) but the brass inlet line had just fallen out! I had assumed it was an integral part of the pump, not that it was just shoved in. More fool me!

What really scared me was that I had kept trying to start the car, and that the starter motor and the waterfall were so close to one another. I am now going to go and wire all the fuel line clamps to the fuel pump so that this can NEVER happen again! I am still shaky, and my entire upper body is covered in petrol. I even have gravel rash from rolling around under the car at superhuman speed! I'm just so glad I was familiar enough with the fuel system to fix the little bastard!

Here endeth the rant...

Angela.

koolkarmakombi - November 22nd, 2003 at 02:42 PM

Well Done!

You just avoided the biggest bonfire you have ever seen.

Glad you are ok and so is your bus.

Kool karma to ya

kkk

vw54 - November 22nd, 2003 at 03:20 PM

Quote:

but the brass inlet line had just fallen out! I had assumed it



Its best to clamp and also tie wire the clamp to the pump around it with wire so this does not happen.

this is the main cause of fires in VWs

Also do the inlet to the carby as well.

Peter Leonard - November 23rd, 2003 at 11:01 PM

has happened to me too, the brass tube only has some light knurling on it and appears to be a press fit. since then i've gone and gotten an electric fuel pump. but i made it all stay where it should afterwards by sqwishing "knead-it" around the tube and wiring it to the body of the pump. thereafter no more probs, but how scary is it to discover the fuel river:o
go buy a lottery ticket. just because. and if you win, remember who told you buy it :D

Midlife crisis - November 24th, 2003 at 11:26 AM

We are very pleasde to hear all worked out well I am going to wire up my fuel pump today

best wishes