Dedicated Gas Ute Starting Problem???

[Ronza]

OK heres a tough one for me im stuffed if i know the answer i have 2 au utes now my 2nd one is my current project a series 2 2000 model dedicated gas 5 speed manual ute when i bought it would only roll start well i got it home changed the battery and it fired and started 1st time every time now that was until a couple of weekes ago the ute will not fire it cranks and has spark and gas but will not fire and our repair manual said its definetly not a smart lock problem so now i have no idea and a ute that wont start any ideas would be a big help i love me AU Utes but yeh this is a bloody annoying problem!!!

[Mechan1k]

Sounds like you have flooded it ... when this happens ... it can be a pain in the butt to get it starting.

First of all ... make your you battery is up to cranking for a good few minutes ... you need to clear the system out.

Here's a trick I learnt from an NRMA guy ... when cranking you need to keep your foot on the accelerator lightly ... before the throttle lock kicks in and stops the cranking ... it's a very gentle press on the pedal .... you will hear the engine crank over a bit quicker with time and then it will sound like it is coughing and splutter into life.

I suggest if you don't have a decent cranking battery (I have a Optima Yellow Top deep cycle battery) ... I suggest using jumper leads off another battery to aid this.

It can take a few goes ... and it can be a pain to get it to catch as well ... once you do give it a few good revs and allow it to idle for a bit.

Have fun ... it takes a bit to get used to.

The cause from this I have found is the pre-prime solenoid on the Vialle converter sticks open and flows way too much LPG through flooding the engine .... What I did was disconnect the connecter to it ... so it takes about 1-2 sec longer to start ... but starts first time everytime.

Another cause is when trying to crank it over you don't hold the key on START long enough and doesn't fire ... this is another way of flooding the engine as well.

[Ronza]

cheers mate your a legend started straight away tried a couplr of other things while doing it and its definetly the centre solinoid in the row of 3 so il just bypass it for now big thanks mate cheers!!!
also anyone know of the dedicated gas converters 2nd hand cheap wanted to grab one for a spare just in case cheeers...

[Mechan1k]

I asked Darren at Ferntree Gully Autosalvage ... as he had an AUII EGAS ute in not too long ago ... and I think he wanted about $175-$200 for it.

I know you can get a rebuilt like new converter from Boral Alternative Fuels for about the $400-$450 mark though.

Ford want double that price though.