HELP! Fuel Problems!, Fuel problem Troubleshooting Options

[clay914]

Hello all, I'm Clay in Loveland, CO. I just bought my first 914 on the 5th (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) . It's a 1972 1.7 FI with 91K on the odometer. The previous owner had bought it 2 years ago and had only put about 2 thousand miles on it. My Father and I are familiar with general mechanics having done quite a few restorations on other vehicles, plus my father owned a 914/6 before he had me...bummer I know. I digress....back to the car.

The body is straight, with very little rust (some in typical places but easily fixed), the motor seems to be a bit cold blooded and wants to surge a bit when it is cold but after about 5-10 mins it evens out and runs well. I have noticed that it seems a little weak in the 2000-3000 RPM range.

Now the problem......

After owning and enjoying my new car for 24 hours (no joke) my baby wouldn't start. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Having removed the oil bath filter and using starter fluid proved that I didn't have an ignition problem but a fuel problem. I removed the plug in one of the fuel rails ,turned the key and no fuel and the same before and after the fuel filter in the engine bay. After thinking that over for 10 seconds I realized that when the pump was moved from the engine compartment to the front that whom ever made the adjustment didn't move the filter between the tank and the pump, I will fix this. Having done this troubleshooting I can only believe that the problem lies with the fuel pump located in the front. It hums for a second once the key is turned then nothing which tells me it is on but not pumping. Is there anything else that I can check? Is there a way to test the pump? Please help.

[avidfanjpl]

Might be a really clogged filter. We all have had that happen. Be careful that a line is not kinked as well. Change the filter AFTER clamping the fuel lines into and out of the filter. If there is rust in the tank, and the fuel sock is torn or missing, you will have rust that has to be removed, and that typically mean pulling the tank and getting it cleaned or doing POR15 tank treatment yourself.

If there is no fuel to the rail, either the pump is bad, especially if it is a 3 port, or you have plugged lines.

If you are getting the pump to work when you turn the key but don't start it, then you have a plugged hose.

Or the pump has a bad valve in it.

Go back and see if you can get fuel into a can with someone turning the key for just a split second. The hose off a 3 port is supply to the engine will answer the question (I think it is the port near the aluminum adjuster cap, but check, because I forget without looking, but BE CAREFUL.

GAS work should be done OUTSIDE, not in a garage with a gas pilot water heater.

POR 15 is amazing stuff, but some here dislike it for anything but fuel tanks.

Good luck,

John