THE PORTAL HUB - Pinzgauers, Haflingers, Volvo 303s and more!

OK so most know I installed an EFI kit on my pinz. Truck has been running great once I figured out a few minor issues.
Now last Friday things started happening that caused problems.
On the way up to the gold panning location we went to, I found the truck would sputter and pop when starting it up cold. It would take about 5-7 minutes before she would run fine. This happened all weekend as we drove around.
Then on the 150 mile drive home 4 times it started doing the same thing on the freeway and then would die. while still coasting down the freeway I would turn the key off and back on and she would snap back and run great again until the next time.
Figuring it was probably a loose wire or something, when I got home I went through and checked all the connections. After checking them I started the truck up again and found it sputtering and popping again. I then pulled a multimeter out and started checking 12 and 24 volt wires. While doing this, I left the ignition on but had not hit the starter button. Then all of a sudden I started smelling gas and looked under the truck to find gas leaking out of the header pipe to heater box connection.
quickly I turned the power off and after a bit it stopped dripping. Next I checked wire connections to the injectors and then thought I would try turning the engine over. I quickly turned on the power and tried the starter button to find it would not spin at all, it also started leaking gas again. At this point I just stopped.
So I assume I need to pull the plugs, suck the gas out of one or all of the cylinders and then???
Any ideas on what I should do?

1. Pull the spark plugs, turn engine over manually (by hand) to expel most of the gas. than suck it out or use air to blow it out / dry the cylinders.
2. Check your oil for gas contamination you may need to change it.

3. I'd be finding a fuel injection expert. Jim ya listening?

Than if it were me id change back to carbs (being that I don't know crap about fuel infection) if I had to guess I'd be guessing you have a problem with the computer, on freeway turn key off, turn key back on I'm guessing would reset the computer and purge the flaw temporary.

OK now that its obvious I don't know anything about fuel injection. however I stand by points 1, 2, and 3.

Hopefully some one will chime in that knows fuel injection.

Remove your plugs and see if they all smell of gas or just one. Could be a bad injector, which would be an easy fix. Otherwise you're into controller territory.

audiocontr wrote:Remove your plugs and see if they all smell of gas or just one. Could be a bad injector, which would be an easy fix. Otherwise you're into controller territory.

could/would one bad injector cause it to die on the freeway?

like I said I don't know FI systems.

Like Ed, I know nothing of FI, but could it be the mechanical fuel pump? Air lock caused by hole in fuel line?

I have a friend more familiar with aftermarket EFI systems used on air cooled VWs. He indicated he would stop by the house next week and look at it. This weekend I need to replace the trans shaft seal and bronze bushing on my Haflinger. With Levenworth fast approaching I need it in tip top shape.
I will however check all the plugs and oil before he comes over.

I am running a new german fuel pump capable of 200 psi. My regulator has the fuel pressure to the rail set at 40 psi which is what the EFI kit recommends.

Most likely a bad or sticking injector, that or the fuel reg has failed. Also check crank sensor lead for chaffing, it takes an electrical signal to open the injector

Turns out it was grounding issues. A bad ground, and a grounding loop in all the wiring.
Cleaned the gas out of the cylinders, changed the oil and away she goes.
Happy happy happy

Happy Happy Joy Joy

Glad this turned out to be an "easy" fix, good trouble shooting.

Good stuff!