I've been doing a bit of work on the Calibra to try and get it up to a standard to sell. Oh how I want to just set a match to it/put on trademe for way too cheap, not running and not legal.
Aaaaannnnyyyyway.. it's been running quite crap and after seeing Chad sort out his issues I decided to replace the spark plugs and change out the fuel pump. I did this and it started up after sitting and ran perfectly! Success, or so I thought.
After a couple of minutes of smooth idling it started missing and just running like crap. I shut it down and pulled the plugs to check what was going on. All looked well (the old ones were near new and very black like it's been running rich). I changed out the idle control valve, which isn't that fun a job. Next I started it up again and no luck, it was just running on a couple of cylinders and being a dog generally.
I was really baffled, and started going through a few checklists. I pulled the dissy down and all looked good. It seems to be getting good spark. So I checked the fuel pressure nozzle on the fuel rail - nothing!
Due to this I assumed it wasn't getting fuel, so pulled the pipe off the pump to clear and air lock and still nothing. I spent ages cranking the pump on a battery (so I didn't need to have the car turning over, because we'd already spent a long time cranking it to try and get fuel anyway) - the spare battery was connected straight to the fuel pump.
I decided it was low on gas or not picking up for some reason, so went and got gas twice, but after sticking 10 litres in thought this can't be the issue. Finally I had to siphon the fuel out of the tank to get it picked up and to the tank - the Bosch pumps are very poor at picking up fuel when they are sucking on air.
Finally it was pressurising and I was getting fuel to the fuel rail! I was almost ready to start it again when I saw fuel pissing out from under it and it appears the pipe leading to the pump (low pressure) is perished and cracked, and pouring fuel out before it even gets to the pump. Excitedly I decided to replace this, but soon realised I need to drop the whole fuel tank to do so.
So, tonight I dropped the fuel tank to replace a simple hose. What a crap design. No access plate in the Calibra, but there is in certain Vectras?! Stupid f**ken thing. I got the pipe replaced, re-attached everything. Got it started and..
Ran perfectly
...for about 2 minutes until it started missing and eventually dropped to a couple of cylinders and stalled after another 10 seconds or so. I checked the fuel in the fuel rail - nothing! WHAT THE HELL!!
I guess it could be the fuel filter next, so I'll replace that I maybe swap back to my other pump considering there is probably nothing wrong with it.
/just needed to vent