Bluemill
Well-known member
My car has been up on a jack for a week because I had to send the RR wheel in for some refinishing because I kissed a curb. I thought I'd use the down time to do some fuel system testing, longer term. If you have been following this thread you'll know that my car has suddenly developed hard starting issues, like crank it for 10 seconds before it starts, or turn the key twice to the starter position and it fires quickly - the second time you turn the key to start. It used to start instantly, for 35,000 miles prior to this issue. Something is up, and several others have suffereed this mysterious malady without a posted fix.
So far I've replaced the fuel filter (oem, AC Delco), bought a fuel pressure tester from Mid-America, (Very nice and the least expensive I could find!), and replaced the spark plugs with AC irridiums, #41-985. I also took off the funky twin "T" cotton air filter intake system and put back on the stock air cleaner.
This time I attached the pressure tester and turned the key to on, no starter, several times. The initial surge as the fuel pump did its job jolted the needle over 60 PSI, for just a split second. Then it settled at 56 PSI, where it stayed for a minute, to a drop of one PSI to 55. The next minute it dropped another single PSI, then it slowed appreciably. After 50 minutes it dropped down to 48 PSI, which meant it was dropping only about 1/6 of a PSI per minute. Then I retired.
I've read that there is a check valve on the rear fuel feed hose that can leak that might be the reason for the pressure bleed off. When the car starts it's fine, no popping or other indications that anything is wrong.
At nine hours later, the pressure was at 29.5 PSI, @11:30 from shut off, down to 26 PSI. Finally, at 18 hours out the final reading was 17 PSI. There must be someone who this has happened to - who got it fixed. HELP!
So far I've replaced the fuel filter (oem, AC Delco), bought a fuel pressure tester from Mid-America, (Very nice and the least expensive I could find!), and replaced the spark plugs with AC irridiums, #41-985. I also took off the funky twin "T" cotton air filter intake system and put back on the stock air cleaner.
This time I attached the pressure tester and turned the key to on, no starter, several times. The initial surge as the fuel pump did its job jolted the needle over 60 PSI, for just a split second. Then it settled at 56 PSI, where it stayed for a minute, to a drop of one PSI to 55. The next minute it dropped another single PSI, then it slowed appreciably. After 50 minutes it dropped down to 48 PSI, which meant it was dropping only about 1/6 of a PSI per minute. Then I retired.
I've read that there is a check valve on the rear fuel feed hose that can leak that might be the reason for the pressure bleed off. When the car starts it's fine, no popping or other indications that anything is wrong.
At nine hours later, the pressure was at 29.5 PSI, @11:30 from shut off, down to 26 PSI. Finally, at 18 hours out the final reading was 17 PSI. There must be someone who this has happened to - who got it fixed. HELP!
