I'm willing to believe that scenario but I am skeptical. If I assume that
the sender and gauge are vaguley accurate, there should be what, 2.2 gals at
the top reserve mark. I was not below that mark prior to making the long
curve of the exit ramp. I then came to rest on level pavement (a very bouncy
bridge). I then put 2 additional gallons of fuel in and still did not have
fuel pumping sufficient to start the engine. When I inspected the filter at
the time, it had fuel in it both before and after adding 2 gals of fuel. I
wasn't able to watch it and crank the engine so I couldn't see if fuel was
moving throught it.

I have been thinking about this and wondering if it is inherent in the FI
system that it can become airlocked? I look at the bottom of my tank and see
that it is flat if not convex. Is the strainer and pickup fitted in the hump
you speak of? I'm trying to visually remember if I've seen a cut of this
tank assembly before.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mark Drillock <mdrillock@cox.net>
Date: Dec 6, 2006 11:16 PM
Subject: Re: Fwd: Stranded - my first heartbreak
To: mordo <helmut.blong@gmail.com>
Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com

No, there was no air lock in the FI system. The problem was the air lock
in the line before the fuel pump, inside the tank. The fuel line INSIDE
the tank has a hump in it. If you run out of fuel you need to add a lot
of fuel to the tank before the fuel level is high enough reach over the
top of the hump and supply liquid fuel to the pump. The pump is not
designed to pump air or fumes, it is designed to pump fuel.

Removing the bolt from the fuel rail tee allowed air out of the line so
the pump could have an easier time priming itself without pressurizing
the air in the line as it struggled to suck fuel up over the hump and
down to the pump. It is not good for the pump to be run dry. Raising the
fuel level in the tank high enough would have made it's job easier and
not risked damaging the pump running it while it was dry.

Mark

mordo wrote:

> The collective wisdom and experience of the list prevails - the failure
was
> due to airlock in the FI system. As advised here, I bled the air at the
> tee,
> jumped the battery I ran down trying to start it and when I cranked it
> anew,
> she started immediately.
>
> Thanks to all that replied.
>
> mordo
>

--
mordo
1990 Carat