R32 Gts-t Skyline Shite Itself!

[Sports Crazy]

Before the keyboard warriors see this and have a fit yes I've searched. Cry somewhere else.

Brief overview of symptoms:

- Fuel pump makes loud noises

- Car suddenly shut down after running smoothly

- Won't start

- Eventually got it started but hard to keep running

- Revs die with throttle

- Car runs rough and has slight back fire

- RAA dude thinks it's AFM problem

Mods:

GTR fuel pump

HKS Pod filter

3.5" exhaust

12 psi

Book:

I drove to my mates house (about a 20min drive) car was being babied as usual and was running smoothly the whole trip, got to my mates place the fuel pump started making some loud weird noises like squealing, gurgling, and just before the car shut off it sounded like it sucked in a heap of air. I tried to start the car again but nothing, no pumping from fuel pump and no attempt to fire up. I first thought the car ran out of fuel but still had just under ¼ tank left. 2^nd thought was maybe fuel pump died…

Let the car sit for a about 10 mins, try to start the car again this time I could hear the fuel pump nosily pumping, crank it a few times with/without throttle and doesn't start. I leave it for a few hours thinking maybe an overheated fuel pump.

Put in 11L of PULP.

Crank the car for awhile, eventually get it started keeping it alive with throttle, revs just keep trying to die, it runs rough and has slight back fire.. Eventually the revs just drop even with throttle and then shuts down. Go through the same process a few times, thought when first shut maybe the pump picked up some dregs in the tank or air, but after running for about 10 mins I though it should have cleared by then.

Checked under hood if things are all plugged in/ secured properly, all look fine.

Called the RAA

An hour later,

The dude looks under bonnet and checks if things are all plugged in/ secured properly and intercooler piping, all good. Couldn't get it started.

His conclusion, not coil packs, not fuel pump but most likely AFM.

What do you guys think???

Anyone got a good AFM I could try?

[blk94r33]

My guess would be fuel pump/fuel pressure. If the pump itself hasn't died, theres still alot of things that could have gone wrong with it to cause this. I.e. the gauge is faulty, pump runs dry and dies/won't supply fuel (especially with the noise you described), rubber hose that connects the pump to the bracket split/disconnected, fuel sock sucks up muck with the near empty tank and won't let any more fuel through (had a VR Commodore do this just last week actually and did the same thing, and no it's not a fair comparison), reg/injectors blocked etc. But most of this would happen over a period of time, not instantly.

1. Get a gauge and check what fuel pressure/flow you have.

2. If you disconnect the AFM, the computer will go into limp home mode, and it "should" start, or at least change the way it starts/runs and help with diagnosing it.

This is the first time you've had trouble with the car?

[R.3.2.G.T.R]

+1 for fuel pressure check

when was fuel filter last replaced?

[Sports Crazy]

Cheers for your suggestions.

Will try tomorrow.

Keep you posted!

Any other ideas?

[Sports Crazy]

First time trouble since owning, been running sweet up to now.

Edited September 20, 2010 by Sports Crazy

[mad082]

+1 for being fuel related. the fuel pump making noises is a good clue to that. the fuel pump won't start making funny noises if it is something to do with the AFM as the pump would just keep on doing it's thing.

so as people have suggested, check fuel pressure, check fuel pump and possibly replace fuel filter.

fuel pressure issue could be caused by either dodgy fuel pump or dodgy fuel pressure reg, or possibly even blocked fuel filter.

[Sports Crazy]

Deff not AFM.

Just wondering if the R32 has 1 or two fuel filters? I found one under the bonnet under the plenum area... but looks like there is another fuel line but can't seem to find the filter? Anyone know?

Cheers

[mad082]

there are 2 fuel lines, but only 1 is filtered because the second line is a return line, which takes fuel back to the tank.

[Sports Crazy]

Thanks mate

[Sports Crazy]

Had a bit of time to check a few more things the other day..

Lifted the hood, had a quick look for anything unpluged or any corrosion, didn't find any.

Did an ECU check, all was good.

Unhooked the hose from the fuel rail and heaps of fuel flows out (filled 2 ltr bottle quickly) from just the ignition on, if hold thumb on the end of the hose quite tight, it stops the flow.

I think fuel is getting in, when trying to start I also pumped the accelerator a few times and it blew a very fine puff of black smoke and had a strong smell of fuel.

Took coil packs off and checked spark plugs, there is unburnt fuel on them and black (plugs are fairly new).

Edited December 28, 2010 by Sports Crazy

[mystery_kid]

not to sound obvious but it sounds like your fuel pump is f**ked

[89CAL]

You prob need new plugs by the sound of that to

[mad082]

sounds like the fuel pump is ok. the turning it over, etc may have fouled your plugs. try a new set of plugs and see what happens. doesn't explain the sudden cutting out, but may explain the running rough.

if it still runs like arse with the new plugs then i would start looking closer at AFM and injectors and possibly coils and ignitor.

[blk94r33]

Had a bit of time to check a few more things the other day..

Lifted the hood, had a quick look for anything unpluged or any corrosion, didn't find any.

Did an ECU check, all was good.

Unhooked the hose from the fuel rail and heaps of fuel flows out (filled 2 ltr bottle quickly) from just the ignition on, if hold thumb on the end of the hose quite tight, it stops the flow.

I think fuel is getting in, when trying to start I also pumped the accelerator a few times and it blew a very fine puff of black smoke and had a strong smell of fuel.

Took coil packs off and checked spark plugs, there is unburnt fuel on them and black (plugs are fairly new).

You have flow but not pressure, ignition on the pump should supply 70+psi if the hose is completely blocked off. I'd still be looking at a fuel pump issue. Get a gauge, it's an EFI system not a 253 with a carby...

[mad082]

flow and pressure are essentially the same thing. if it was able to fill up a 2L bottle quickly then it obviously has decent flow and pressure, and if you have to hold your finger over the end tightly to stop the flow then it obviously still has decent pumping pressure. enough at least to start.

[mystery_kid]

flow and pressure aren't the same thing really at all

defs be looking at your fuel pump even if you get a fuel pressue gauge somehow and drive around with that to see if you can see a drop

[Chris Rogers]

Deff not AFM.

Just wondering if the R32 has 1 or two fuel filters? I found one under the bonnet under the plenum area... but looks like there is another fuel line but can't seem to find the filter? Anyone know?

Cheers

two if you count the sock on the pump. the other one is on the strut tower drivers side.

when I tore mine down and pulled the pump the sock was FULL of crap and the pump itself was making horrible noises.

look at both.

[Chris Rogers]

flow and pressure are essentially the same thing. if it was able to fill up a 2L bottle quickly then it obviously has decent flow and pressure, and if you have to hold your finger over the end tightly to stop the flow then it obviously still has decent pumping pressure. enough at least to start.

not really. it is was running properly then you should not be able to hold your thumb over it. by rights the pressure should push your thumb off the line. opearting pressure should be 35-40PSIG.

[blk94r33]

not really. it is was running properly then you should not be able to hold your thumb over it. by rights the pressure should push your thumb off the line. opearting pressure should be 35-40PSIG.

+1

Pressure is proportional to flow and restriction, the pump might be able to push the fuel out with no load, but once the car tries to start the pump has to keep pressure up to the injectors to allow them to spray properly. Get, a, gauge.

As I said before, had a VR commodore with the same symptoms, ran like crap hard to start etc. Fuel would come out if you had the line disconnected, but once the gauge was connected in line and the car running, the pressure dropped off till the car stalled after a few seconds. Ended up being the fuel sock on the pump. New pump and all good.

[89CAL]

If it is a fuel pressure problem then drive carefully so you don't have the engine running lean