75 1.8 L-jetronic, Fuel Pres?, Regulator? Pump? Returns??? Options

[Donaldo88]

Hi again. Second post...again on the 75 1.8, a sort of time capsule car, with only 39K miles, which seems to be plausible, and it still has L-jetronic FI. Virtually no miles driven in the year we've had it, because there's one problem after another. The latest, it quit running, with clearly a fuel problem, but I'm not ready yet to tow it. Using Haynes manual, it recommended checking fuel pressure. I special ordered a guage from Auto Atlanta, but I gave up on it ever coming, and canceled it. Rigged up my own guage, but had no tee, so end-connected it into the fuel line on the left bank, looking for 35#. Got 90# on the guage, and squirted a little gas out the return line on the right bank, so shut off switch momentarily. Called Auto Atlanta to see if they recommended a new regulator, as my Haynes book recommended. The guy I talked to asked George, who said "the regulators never screw up, sounds like the return line is plugged up". Seems like if I had crud in the line, it would plug injectors way before plugging the return line. Do you know...if my left bank distribution was open, does that screw up a feedback signal from the injector, causing the over-pressure? Apparently there's check valves in the returns, because the open left fuel line didn't flood the engine compartment with gas, which would be the case if both banks connect together. I see some braid lines when I look up from underneath, but I don't see the two poly lines which exit the engine and go into the tunnel. It looks like I have to take out the fuel tank to see more or clear the lines.....any suggestions, or experience with this?
Thanks,
Don

[Dave_Darling]

L-jet pressure is higher than D-jet; I think it's about 34 PSI with no vacuum on the line to the regulator? Haynes has the numbers.

Oh, and your post is a much better explanation than my own attempt over on the Bird board.

--DD

[Donaldo88]

Thanks everybody. I found that itty-bitty tee, but having no connector to screw into it, I tried the barbed connection into the rubber fuel line. Gotta cut it and find a barbed tee so I can try it w/o deadheading the pump.

[SLITS]

Thanks everybody. I found that itty-bitty tee, but having no connector to screw into it, I tried the barbed connection into the rubber fuel line. Gotta cut it and find a barbed tee so I can try it w/o deadheading the pump.

You don't screw anything into it. Take a section of 7 mm hose (normal fuel line size), slip it over the nipple and use a hose clamp to secure it. It won't blow off.

Oh, the other end of the fuel hose goes to your guage. If your guage has a 1/8" NPT inlet, you can screw it into the 7 mm hose and secure it with a hose clamp.