This afternoon I was driving my car and got to the front of my house. While I was parking the car next to the curb, the car stalled out. I thought it was just my fault because I am not used to the clutch yet. I turn the key and try to restart it...nothing.

My first thought was the fuel pump. However, the fuel pump still primes and shuts off. I further tested the pump and hooked up the fuel pressure gauge. I turn the key and watch the gauge. The pressure is off the charts - it went past 160 psi on the gauge. The fuel pressure should never go beyond your idle pressure setting unless of course the car is under boost. I usually idle at 17 psi. What could cause this?

My thoughts.....
--Clogged return line
--Pinched return line (however the car ran for 300 miles since rebuild)
--Bad Vortech SFMU (Valve is stuck closed and wont let fuel pressure bleed back to the tank)


Anyone else have this problem?


Thanks,
Kurt

Here's an update.

I pulled the fuse for the inline so that only the Walbro HP Intank pump would work. The car started up but idled like crap. I looked at the fuel pressure gauge and it was at 100 psi. This rules out the relay and any of the pumps being bad. I simply can not control the pressure.

Now I think I have it narrowed down to either the Vortech Unit or a clogged/pinched return line. This also seems doubtful as I would have been able to run 300 miles without a problem. I also loosened the jam nut on the vortech unit and moved the adjustment screw in and out (i didn't bottom out the screw against the vortech) hoping that if the valve in the vortech was stuck it would free itself.

Any thoughts?

Kurt

Wow. I can't believe it idled at 100 psi of fuel. I think you are on the right track though. Sounds like a return line issue or a problem with the SFMU.


1996 Eclipse RS / 5-Speed / Aerogear Body / Coated in Magnetic Red Metallic rev.2 / T3 Turbo Intercooled @ 8 psi / More at http://home.insightbb.com/~mgalyan/
Mark Galyan - Indianapolis, Indiana

Here's another update.....if anyone has any ideas please post them as I am stumped.

I have swapped the Vortech SFMU with the Cartech FMU and I still get 90 psi of pressure at idle. I was at least able to start the car and move it into the garage to take a look at the return line. My next solution is to disconnect the return line from the FMU and the tank and try to blow compressed air through it to dislodge anything that is in the return.

Woo hoo!!!!! I solved the problem. About a week ago, I had a small leak at the rubber house that connects the aluminum fuel rail to the return line of the intank pump. I decided to push the hose further onto the aluminum fuel rail and clamp down better on it. When I was doing this, I had to push really hard on the fuel injection hose to get it to slide. I also had to twist and turn it to get it to move furher onto the aluminum fuel rail. Apparently I was pushing so hard that the rubber lining inside ripped on the aluminum fuel return line.


A piece of rubber broke loose from the return line and got stuck in the hard line on the intank pump unit. It was so jammed into the line that I had to hook the hard line up to an air compressor and blow it out. After several attempts, the piece of rubber popped and blew out.


I should be back on the road again tomorrow. I got extremely lucky that this happened right in front of my house and not on a highway. Tomorrow, I will be replacing the damaged fuel injection hose and reinstalling the Vortech SFMU. Thank god it wasn't the Vortech SFMU that went bad. After all my problems, I didn't want to have to spend another $300.



Hope you guys enjoyed my story!!!
Kurt