Help! Vette won't start (fuel contaminated)

[90EXPVette]

Vette ran perfectly yesterday morning on the way to work. That afternoon when I started it started hestitating and missing like it was low on fuel (I believe I have at least 1/4 tank). I get some more fuel and put it in...engine spins but it will not start.

I have it towed to Jim Whitehead Auto they said it has spark and fuel pressure but wondered if it was a VATS issue. I let them know the starter wouldn't engage if that was it.

15 min later I stop by and they say there were just about to call me and they have two plastic soda bottles one with foam (which they say came from the shrader valve) and one with fuel and white sediment on the bottom which they say came from the tank.

They think the next step is the drain the tank (est 7.5 hours of labor). How does this sound? Am I right that the rear has to be removed to drain the tank? Any other way to clean this crap out?

Wouldn' draining the tank by removing the fuel filter suffice or does the tank need to be dropped?

 

[vette079]

Use a hand operated pump device to drain as much fuel through the filler neck as possible.

Remove or disconnect

1. Negative battery cable
2. Relieve fuel system pressure:
A. Loosen fuel filler cap
B. Install bleeding hose with appropriate connection to Schrader valve
3. Fuel filler cap
4. Drain fuel tank
5. Filler door bezel attaching screws (4) and bezel
6. Lift fuel tank filler neck housing and disconnect drain hose from nipple
7. Fuel tank filler neck housing
Clean all fuel connections and surrounding areas before disconnecting to avoid possible contamination of the fuel system
8. Fuel hoses and vapor hoses from fuel level meter assembly
9. Plug or pinch fuel feed and return hoses
10. Fuel level meter electrical connector
11. Fuel level meter assembly attaching screws and gasket (get new one)
Clean gasket sealing surfaces
Inspect attaching screw O-rings for cuts, nicks, swelling or distortion, replace if necessary
Inspect fuel and vent pipes for the above, replace if necessary

Install or connect
1. Position new gasket on fuel tank with NOTCH FACING FORWARD in RIGHT hand corner of fuel tank
2. Fuel level meter:
A. Carefully fold strainer to allow it to fit through opening in tank.
Make sure it unfolds once in the tank
B. Lower fuel level meter assembly (fuel sender assembly) into tank
3. Attaching screws
Tighten screws alternately and evenly to 40 lb. in.

This comes from my ´91 Fsm but should almost be the same for your car.

Sounds like it´s difficult but shouldn´t take 7.5 hours if you ask me.

Do what you want with this info...

 

[jm22876]

just did some of that

I did this 3 days ago. The check valve in my fuel pump was bad. I changed the fuel pump and strainer and attached a fuel pressure tester beforehand to trouble shoot my problem and it took maybe 1 1/2 hours and that included trips to the fridge for beer and some bullsh---ing with my buddy. I didnt take the fuel out of my tank though but I cant imagine that would take more than 30 minutes. after you get the fuel sending assembly out its a pretty big opening so you should be able to do an inspection after removing it. Ive never changed a fuel pump on ANY vehicle and I thought it was pretty easy. My car starts up great now. I did drop the strainer in the tank and had to fish it out and reattach it before reinstall but all in all not that hard to do

 

[Hib Halverson]

The next step, as you say, is to completely drain the tank.

After that you or this shop needs to inspect the inside of the tank to assess how much contamination is left and what kind it is. Obvioulsy you need a bright light and you may need an inspection mirror to view all surfaces inside the tank.

Once you know that, then you can decide whether or not you need to remove the tank for further cleaning or not.

In addition to the tank, you're going to need to flush the entire fuel system, change the fitler and maybe, depending on what exactly the contamination is, have the injectors cleaned and replace the fuel pump.