[net.auto] help with fuel injected cars

jmb@ariel.UUCP (J.BALKOVIC) (08/12/83)

	My friend has a (I think) 1979 volkswagen rabbit. The car
is fuel injected. His problem started yesterday when he ran out of
gas. He filled up the tank then tried to start it again, but the car
just cranks and it won't turn over. I'm not to familiar with fuel 
injected cars, but someone told me that when the car ran out of gas 
the gunk from the gas tank clogged the fuel lines. Can this happen?
If so, how can this be fixed? I hope we get this fixed fast, I'm 
getting tired of pushing his car around town.
	
				thanks!
				John M. Balkovic
				ariel!jmb

P.S.  Send by personal mail (ariel!jmb) or net.auto.

guidi@pegasus.UUCP (Pier V. Guidi) (08/13/83)

I once had a Datsun 280Z (1978).  BIG WARNING in manual (an afterthought insert
if I remember correctly) that said "DO NOT RUN OUT OF GAS"  The reason?
something about that the fuel system is under pressure (because of fuel
injection) and that once pressure is lost (by running out of gas, braking
a fuel line,...) no fuel would flow into engine, etc.  The car most likely
woul;d have to be towed to a dealer where pressure, etc would be restored
and car restarted!  I've heard similar needs for other fuel injected cars.

seifert@ihuxl.UUCP (08/15/83)

RE: "do not run out of gas with fuel-injected cars"

this depends on the type of fuel injection. The manual for my 320i
says it is self-priming. Gravity feeds gas to the
fuel pump, the fuel pump can then pressurize the rest of the system.
There is suposedly (sp) a small second fuel pump *in* the gas tank
to push gas to the main fuel pump. This was added to cure a problem with
vapor lock. I would expect that it might run pretty rough until all
the air gets out.

The 320i has Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection. I would suspect that
all K-Jetronic systems are self-priming, but check the owners manual
to be sure.

	Dave ("Want to see the sunburn I got autocrossing yesterday?") Seifert
	BMWCCA, Windy City Chapter
	ihnp4!ihuxl!seifert