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  #1   IP: 142.68.47.233
Old 08-20-2010, 06:39 PM
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Fuel Pump Question

Hello,

I have been having some issues with my atomic four dying or stumbling at higher throttle settings. I cleaned the carb and replaced the fuel filter. It ran much better after that. Today it died only this time it will not start. I rewired the fuel pump as the wiring was getting bad but but still nothing. I have spark. I can hear the fuel pump chattering when I turn the engine over. Is this normal? I dont remember hearing it before.
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Old 08-20-2010, 08:23 PM
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hanleyclifford hanleyclifford is offline
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By "fuel pump chattering" I assume that you mean the clicking of an electric fuel pump. This means it is working. Check to see if it is indeed delivering fuel to the carb. If not, trace the line back to the tank to see if there is a restriction. If you have a mechanical fuel pump, the chattering is not good - get it out of there.
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Old 08-20-2010, 08:59 PM
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Al Schober Al Schober is offline
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As hanley says, some chattering from an electric pump is normal. It will keep chattering until it gets the outlet pressure it's looking for - hopefully what you want. If it keeps chattering, it's not putting out pressure or the switch isn't working. Leaking to somewhere, bad valves in the pump, or no fuel to pump. The leak should be obvious. No fuel can be checked by supplying good fuel through a separate line. If that fixes it, correct your supply restriction. If it's bad valves in the pump (or a bad switch), it means a new pump.

Al
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Old 08-20-2010, 10:07 PM
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So it is safe to assume that if it chatters for over a minute and i do not detect gas fumes and it has not stopped chattering the poor thing has died right?
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Old 08-20-2010, 10:32 PM
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Actually there are two types of electric pumps. One "chatters" until it has built up the pressure, then stops and waits for the carb to use the fuel, then begins chattering again. The other type (Facet) keeps running and bleeds excess pressure internally. If the pump never stops or slows down, this means it is not getting any fuel. It is not the pump that is defective; it simply isn't getting fed. This means you need to troubleshoot the system back to the tank. If you could post a picture of your pump it would be helpful.
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Old 08-21-2010, 08:30 AM
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Thank you for the info Clifford, I'm off to take a picute of the pump and to see if it is getting fuel. The sender is reading half a tank of gas.
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Old 08-21-2010, 09:53 PM
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Well the verdict is in. The fuel pump works just fine and my A4 is running again. Turns out that Clifford was on to the right thing. I followed the line all the way to the tank and there was not a single drop of fuel in the line. The sender was telling me there was half a tank of fuel only when I blew in the line I could not hear bubbles. I put 6 gallons in and I got bubbles. Put it all back together and fired it up. So either the sender is bad or the tank is half full of crud
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Old 08-22-2010, 12:02 AM
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Your fuel pickup may also be corroded or broken off halfway up. Take your fuel gauge sender out and take a look. You can measure the depth of fuel in the tank with a stick and move the sender float manually to see how it reads. With a good light and if you have access, or with a mirror, you may be able to see the fuel pickup tube, too.
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