More stories of the new SD, pick it up with a friend driving the other SD back, good power, driving back home after dropping them off,and the engine starts to die 20 miles from home. Thought it was running out of fuel, but there's plenty in the filters. Start it again, and after pumping the pedal furiously the revs suddenly come back up, and I'm off! back to full power, doing 75-80 then it happens again 10 miles later. Back to doing 5 on the shoulder as the traffic whizzes by. Same thing, working the pedal just to keep it from stalling, then suddenly comes back. Then happens again 5 miles from home (and getting dark), pull off the prefilter, force my face into the I.P. as I blow out the fuel line to try to unblock the tank filter, start it, the revs come up, And I'm so ready to move it was spinning the tires dropping it into gear, and make it home. So go to clean the tank filter and realize I'm getting ready to drain the spare tire well, and remember that the tank is behind the seat on an SD. So how do you get at the tank filter?

240dnewbie,

Just because you see fuel in the filter does not mean the tank screen is plugged. The filters are not sucked dry if they are plugged. The fuel has to be able to freely flow thry them. More than likely, one of the filters under the hood is plugged. Try replacing the inline filter first. If that doesn't work, replace the can filter.

If you have a manual fuel pump there is a way of telling which of the filters under the hood filter is plugged. If the handle of the pump pushes down hard and pulls up easily, the secondary (CAN) filter is plugged and the inline filter is PK and visa versa.

If the tank filter is plugged, the tank fuel strainer is in the bottom of the tank. Drain the tank first by disconnecting the rubber fuel line from the steel fuel line and let the fuel run into a bucket or equilivant container. Make sure you have enough containers to hold all the fuel in the tank.

You should find a plug in the bottom of the tank with a large hex socket in it. Find a bolt head that fits in the hex socket and using a vise lock pliers on the bolt, screw out the plug. The plug has the strainer attached to it.

You don't have to replace the strainer as long as the screen isn't broken. Just clean the screen and replace the plug.

BTW: Pumping the accelerator on a Diesel does no good. Although it seemed to keep you going, it was just a coincidence of enough fuel getting to the IP at the same time you were pumping. Pumping the accelerator only works on carbureated gasoline engines.

P E H

Well, what made me think it is the tank filter is the way it would come and go, especialy when the car pointed up hill, like some crud was floating off and on it. Was really low on fuel also. But If I didn't pump the pedal, it would die, and steady full pedal was going nowhere either, I was not even rolling the power was so bad. I think the variable suction of pumping the pedal was breaking up the clot a little, because it would surge back to full revs with enough power to chirp the Goodyear Eagles on the back. Going to replace all the filters anyhow but do you have to jack the car to get at the tank?

Well, here's the tank filter. It's covered with gelatinous goop that you couldn't scrape off. Ten minutes with a toothbrush and some diesel and it was good as new. The only PITA part was that the goo wasn't letting the rest of the fuel drain, so when I thought the tank was empty it wasn't Getting at it was pretty easy, jack the car and access from behind right back wheel. The next pic is the filler, and the arrow is pointing at where algae is coming up out of the overflow hose like a damp black sponge. I used a bike brake cable with 3/8" of a few of the strands doubled back, letting it push through the spongy mass, then hook it as it was pulled out, and it brought out clot after clot. So if you're looking for some unexplained power drop, maybe do check the tank filter, but check the easy stuff first. And as you can see, you can't use the big bolt trick on a 126 filter

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Filler

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240newbie,

Its time for some Diesel Doctor.

P E H

Before everybody starts thinking I'm a total dirtbag, I bought this car this week, limped it home, and am taking these kind of pics to put together an SD picbase for other new owners of things to looks out for. Here's how I prefer them...

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more

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Guess which engine goes where?

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