Project Domes shonky autos - Grand Cherokee departs, Kangoo titivation and 911 dug out.

[SiC]

Carb cleaner is very effective with modern throttle bodies to be fair! It definitely shifts the carbon deposits and crap inside them much better than brake cleaner.

A cheap toothbrush could be handy here too.

[dome]

1 hour ago, SiC said:

Carb cleaner is very effective with modern throttle bodies to be fair! It definitely shifts the carbon deposits and crap inside them much better than brake cleaner.

A cheap toothbrush could be handy here too.

I'll pick some up when I get new fuel hose-there's 2 fuel lines inside the tank which I'll replace when i'm at it. 

[dome]

So, I made some more progress* on this yesterday

Fuel canister cleaned out-compare and contrast to the pic in my earlier post.

The new pump was fitted

And it was carefully pressed back together.

12v applied confirmed it was buzzing away happily.

Back to the car yesterday and the first thing was to drain out the old fuel. I used a little 12v Aldi/Lidl pump. 

Probably not ideal for moving petrol but it did the job fine. I still think they're shit for moving oil around, they're to slow for that.

H&S inspectors look away now...

 Once emptied the tank was cleaned out. It was in pretty good condition thankfully.

In this pic I've refitted the rubber grommet that the pump housing locates into and fitted two new rubber hoses. One takes feed from the top of the pump to the outlets on the bottom of the tank and  the other is the return.

Don't worry, I got the bit of glove out before i put it together,

I then dropped the canister into the tank and fitted the top cap. This was a pain-it took ages to get the rubber gasket lined up and then the lock ring could be fitted. There's a connector on the top of the pump unit that connects here limiting movement of it so it's a faff. No pics though so you'll have to take my word for it.

Whilst this was going on I also dropped the oil and changed the filter-I didn't fancy starting it on 20 year old oil. To be fair it came out looking not bad at all.

With this back together I connected all the fittings and tank straps.

Next up, short out the fuel pump relay and make sure the pump runs. 

It didn't, but did give a big spark.

Fuck.

First thing was to check the wiring to the tank. The fuel pump a wire runs from the top of the tank to the bottom corner of the boot where there's a connector. There's a heatshrunk capacitor/resistor or something near the top of the tank on this cable-this was red hot. As a temporary* measure this was chopped out and bypassed. I believe it might be to do with signal suppression from the fuel pump. I'll look into it further and will replace it in due course if necessary. 

I now checked the fuel pump by applying 12v direct to it-it buzzed away happily. The owner was under the bonnet with the fuel line still detached and reported fuel coming out into my container but not under much pressure? I'm not sure how much pressure there should be to be honest...

There's power at the relay under the bonnet but nothing is getting to the pump connector in the boot-I suspect a broken wire somewhere.

I was running out of time now for the day so to boost morale I thought I'd try and start it by applying 12v to the pump while cranking it over. Maybe it would fire? Spoiler alert-it didn't.

However, after I remembered to connect the coil which I'd removed to build up oil pressure it did sound like it was trying to fire. Just didn't quite manage it

There also seemed to be pressure building up in the tank when we cranked it over. Possible issue with a breather?

Tail between my legs i packed up and left it for the day.

Plan of attack

1. Check continuity between the fuel pump relay and connector in the boot. I'll need to run a new cable no doubt.

2. Change the fuel filter-this may be why there was low pressure at the engine end. I did blow through the pipes from the engine bay to the tank and it didn't seem blocked. I didn't have the required 16mm spanner with me though.

3. Take a plug or two out and see if they're wet-that'll show if the injectors are firing or not.

Any opinions/pointers welcome! Who'd have thought it would be so difficult to start after 20 years!

 

[Rocket88]

Disconnect fuel line relay, fire some sniff into the air intake, see if it’ll fire? 

[Broadsword]

Does the rev counter move when the engine is turning over? Did you replace the fuel filter?

You just have to be systematic I think at this point diagnosing fuel, air and spark. New spark plugs are probably in order anyway.

[dome]

Will check the rev counter today. Definitely a big fat spark though and I've fitted new plugs. 

Are you thinking crank sensor?

Fuel filter not replaced yet, that's today's job along with checking continuity on the fuel pump wiring

[cort16]

If you put a big screw driver or metal extension next to were the injector goes into the manifold can you hear the injectors clicking ?

if it was something like an immobiliser issue the injectors won’t fire .

 

[big_al_granvia]

aye a mechanics stethoscope, i would spray easystart in, i know its shit but if it gets it running then sod it... electronics on a car thats been standing can be a pain

[the judge]

Keep cranking!!! Little bit of ether too.

When I were a lad and a mechanic, we had a customer who went away for 3 weeks every year, and when he came back, first start was always a fecking flood. (Which that sounds like, and obviously lazy sealing on valves etc).  That'll go with some ether methinks...

Thoroughly enjoying the tale thus far!!! Thanks!!! 

[dome]

Ok. Today started off badly. 

Tried to remove the fuel filter only for a very rusty fuel line to develop a leak. Fuck.

Ignored it for a while and tested continuity on the fuel pump wiring. Positive terminal checked ok but negative was dead. 

The internet suggests there's no fuse for the fuel pump-this was checked previously. I followed the wire from the fuel pump relay under the bonnet into the cabin, just beside a fuse box. And what did I find in there? Yep, a fuel pump fuse! Blown, of course.

A new fuse was fitted and by this time my mate who lives next door had turned up and was keen to see it live...

A pipe cutter was employed on the fuel pipe and the rusty section was cut out. I had some fuel hose the correct size in my box of tricks so I temporarily bypassed the filter to see if we could get it to fire. 

Turning over and it was coughing a bit but didn't fire. 

I pulled the plugs Working from the front back back 1 through 5 were dry as a bone. 6 was wet though so at least one injector was firing. 

I gave each injector a tap thinking, why not, and turned it over again. It fired and ran like a champion. Smooth as silk?

I checked and it engaged gears so I reversed it out of the garage and it saw daylight for the first time in 19 years. We let it get up to temp and it seemed fine with no leaks and hot air out the vents. 

I then switched it off while we gave it a wash. Sadly no pics as I'd forgot to take my phone. My mate took some though so I'll bet them up when he sends me them.

I then went to restart it and it ran like a bag of shite? Misfiring, not responding to the throttle and it gave me a code for Fuel Fail 48. This is apparently the ISCV. We also got the car on the exhaust manifold glowing red hot?

At this point we gave up and stuck it back into the garage. Good progress though at least! The battle continues....

 

 

[cort16]

Big step getting it running , well done !

[Broadsword]

Fantastic work!

[dome]

Here she is, blinking nervously in daylight for the first time in 19 years...

And proof that she runs, with a rare appearance from ME IN REAL LIFE. I'm the handsome one. 

 

?

[SiC]

Isn't the V12 equivalent where if a bank of plugs go dead, it'll dump fuel into the catalyst and then catch fire. Maybe you've got a few cylinders not firing?

[busmansholiday]

That sound brings back fond memories of my F reg Daimler Sovereign version that's now a luxury fridge.

Injectors would flood it quite often if you tried restarting it hot. Had to pull the plugs and disconnect the injectors then crank it for a bit before replacing and starting. Got quite good and quick at it.

Never got to the bottom of the abs warning light problems, but fortunately, Maplins did a neat little timer kit that was designed* to replace the abs relay and put the warning light on for just the correct length of time when you started it so it flew* through a few tests.

 

[dome]

15 minutes ago, SiC said:

Isn't the V12 equivalent where if a bank of plugs go dead, it'll dump fuel into the catalyst and then catch fire. Maybe you've got a few cylinders not firing?

Possibly, this has a dizzy though?

[jonathan_dyane]

I’m quite jealous, that’s going to be a lovely car 

[SiC]

28 minutes ago, dome said:

Possibly, this has a dizzy though?

So does the V12. Can loose a cylinder if the cap is a bit duff. 

[big_al_granvia]

nice work mate

[jaypee]

Excellent work dude, ?

[captain_70s]

Looks hard as nails on the black steelies, well done on getting it running! 

[dome]

I went back to this tonight armed with a couple of gallons of petrol. My thinking was the reason it was running shit was because it was low on fuel. 

It had been given a clean so it looked a bit more respectable and refitted the wheel trims. The Mad Max look is cool and all but I didn't want to attract undue attention...

Fuelled up and tried to start it and it was fine. So, I risked driving it home. Only half a mile but I was pretty nervous. At first it felt like it was running rough but I soon realized it was the tyres that were no longer round?

And she's home.

Loving these lights, shame no picnic tables.

The back seat was just chucked in for the journey home. I'll clean and condition it before I put it back in properly.

Have a startup video, after a couple more gallons of fuel have been added.

 

 

The lightning bolt symbol indicates a blown fuse, hopefully this is because I nicked the one for the sunroof to replace the blown one for the fuel pump. 

The last time it was on the road...

 

[320touring]

Great work!

[big_al_granvia]

fukin outstanding mate, got her home now the real graft starts

[Split_Pin]

Sounds as sweet as a nut!

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Result! Looks to have been decent dry storage too, which can have only helped keep the majority of the tinworm at bay? 

How the the PO react when the old girl finally left his place purring under her own steam?

[blackboilersuit]

Smooooooth, that sounds fantastic considering the length of time it's been asleep in the garage. A jag that needed more petrol putting in, no great surprise there. If it'd been a V12 I'm not sure you'd have got home with just the two gallons ?

[Spiny Norman]

Superb work, I loved the old XJ I got off you  a few years back. It was a wee bit untidy here & there but it was a lovely old thing to drive. This one looks like it's in far better nick and should be a real stunner once you get it all sorted.

[Jim Bell]

Absolutely fantastic. 

John Prescott would be proud of you man. 

It looks grade A golf club car park CLASS on those wheel trims. 10 stars. 

[SRi05]

Top darts getting this thing home, great work. Need to get a Poshoshite photoshoot once I get the X300 back from the painters