75 Ascona starts but won't stay running

[Mr Clifton]

Hello. I have a 50,000 mile original 1975 Ascona. It ran fine before I decided to work on it. I replaced all of the original fuel line to the fuel injection. This includes the fuel line back under the car. Now the car starts and runs very rough and dies. It will not rev up. It replaced the filter with an original Bosch.

I pulled the fuel injectors and replaced the seals and sprayed inside with carb cleaner. I put in new plugs and still it starts but will not rev up. It runs very rough. I did a search or five and have checked the red wire from the battery, the ground wires and the solenoid wires.

The tank is clean.

All check okay and the problem remains. Please help! Thanks.

[OpelJim]

Originally Posted by Mr Clifton Hello. I have a 50,000 mile original 1975 Ascona. It ran fine before I decided to work on it. I replaced all of the original fuel line to the fuel injection. This includes the fuel line back under the car. Now the car starts and runs very rough and dies. It will not rev up. It replaced the filter with an original Bosch. I pulled the fuel injectors and replaced the seals and sprayed inside with carb cleaner. I put in new plugs and still it starts but will not rev up. It runs very rough. I did a search or five and have checked the red wire from the battery, the ground wires and the solenoid wires. The tank is clean. All check okay and the problem remains. Please help! Thanks.

Could be the dual relays stopped working ???

[Mike Preble]

Though you have changed all the hoses and filter do you know if you have fuel pressure to the injectors? Check to see if you have adaquate fuel pressure as fuel injection system require higher pressure then a carb system.

Mike

[Gary]

Are the harness wiring connections near the thermostat housing correct? I had reversed them one time and it caused all kinds of problems.

[West Coast GT]

Make sure your filter isn't backwards.

[Gary Sullivan]

Are you sure you don't have air leaks at the connections or any cracks in the hoses? There is a great book on fuel injection which I have found really helpful. It is from the Metric Mechanic and is titled BMW Fuel Injection: An Enlightened Approach.
I find this an excellent source. It cautions against general replacing of parts and taking a methodical, approach to fuel injection which usually is more about adjustment of many f.i. parts rather than replacing them. I strongly recommend that book if you are doing your own work.
Good luck,
Gary Sullivan

[Mr Clifton]

Thank you. Yes the arrow is correct on the filter. I never unplugged the connectors to the EFI. I now have unplugged and sprayed with contact cleaner. Still not starting and running. Runs very rough.

[Gary Sullivan]

I would go back and carefully check engine tune up, points, all the plugs and timing. I have a 75 and it runs great, but I go through points and often when I have suspected fuel problems, it has been ignition instead.
I would make certain I was getting juice at every plug. Then I would make sure the ignition system is good. Check to see the coil is getting spark. If your ignition is good then you might have a fuel mixture which is too lean and the air flow meter needs calibration. Your fuel pressure regulator may be defective or the brain box (computer for the injection) is bad.
If you have the manual for the 75, there are some checks you can make to make sure the various components are operating correctly.

[opelwasp]

Then get a Pertronix and forget about the points forever!

[Mr Clifton]

Yes I have a Pertronix on the way. I have all new wires, cap and rotor also.

[guyopel]

A fuel pressure test is the best and first place to start with this fuel inj. sys. dia. Your car was running fine before you replaced the lines ( rubber ) maybe you have trash in the inlet screen of the injectors .
These injectors are prone to rust damage on the tips and will clog or stick open also run some of the fuel into a clear container to inspect for water or trash . HTH

[Gary]

Check this one out: Bosch L-Jet Manual

[2 Fast 4 U]

Forgot a vacuum line some where? I forgot the vacuum line on my LPG evaporator, car would start and run on high rpm's but wouldn't idle.

[Mr Clifton]

Thanks again. I will keep looking. It sounds like plugged injectors may be the best source of the problem. I should replace as they are 32 years old. They are about $180 per set. I will check fuel pressure first. Thanks Gary for the L Jetronic manual. Neil

[Sportwagon75]

A 32 year old fuel pressure regulator would also create such a problem if it were sticky. Also...there are tiny little micro screens on the inlet side of each injector. If they get a large dose of crap...they can plug up. I used to run straight carb cleaner and B12 Chemtool though my used injectors (in both directions) to clean. I've owned 4 injected Opels and have had pretty good luck resurrecting old injectors. But I agree with others...check your fuel pressure first. Quickest way is to just remove the tubing that goes to the cold-start injector and put a pressure gauge there. If you have good fuel pressure...the next place I would look is the EGR circuit. (if it's still installed)What you've described sounds alot like what I've experienced when there was a vacuum leak somewhere or when the EGR was partially stuck open.

[Gary]

Originally Posted by Mr Clifton Thanks again. I will keep looking. It sounds like plugged injectors may be the best source of the problem. I should replace as they are 32 years old. They are about $180 per set. I will check fuel pressure first. Thanks Gary for the L Jetronic manual. Neil

Neil - Check out Auto Parts Giant Injectors ~$39.00 ea , Pressure Regulator ~ $60.00

[Mr Clifton]

How do you run cleaner through the injectors in both directions? Do you use air or do you electronically activate them?

Hey Sportwagen75 was that your Manta I almost bought on EBay a few months ago?

[Bill Hoffmann]

One thing that comes to mind is the large diameter suction side hose between the tank and the pump. I find it challenging to find a length and bend in that hose such that it doesn't kink.

Bill

[Sportwagon75]

Originally Posted by Mr Clifton How do you run cleaner through the injectors in both directions? Do you use air or do you electronically activate them? Hey Sportwagen75 was that your Manta I almost bought on EBay a few months ago?

I activate them electronically. I use a running engine. I pull the plug off one injector on a running engine and connect it to an old injector that I hold in my hand. You don't want to run the engine too long like this because that cylinder will be running dry. But short term won't hurt. I'm told you can use a raw 12 volt signal to activate an injector but I've never tried it. Besides...I like the fast on/off cycling to free up old injectors. If you want the procedure I use...shoot me your e-mail and I have it in a MS Word document.

Yes...that was my Manta you almost bought. It now lives in Georgia.

[David McCollam]

Check the fuel pressure at the fuel rail first. I have owned four fuel injected Mantas. This is the key to diagnosing the system. Once I had a car that gave me fits and I changed everything before I check the fuel pressure. Using a fuel pressure gauge and checking that pointed me right to the problem. Get a fuel pressure gauge and a '75 service manual supplement with a trouleshooting flowchart. It is very helpful.

Good luck.

Dave

[Mr Clifton]

All good advice. Please email that document to mrclifton5@comcast.net Thanks. Neil

[Opelkurt]

Since you were in a hose changin' mood, did you happen to replace the large vacuum line to the auxiliary air valve? If memory serves, there's a metering valve hidden in the original hose that's easy to overlook / throw in the garbage....

-Kurt

[Mr Clifton]

I only replaced the corroded clamps on the two formed hoses to the auxiliary air valve. I did replace the hose from the deceleration to throttle body valve. I hope there was no valve inside of that.

Does someone have the Bosch part number for the fuel injectors? OGTS is out of them and I may buy some after I verify good fuel pressure. I'm borrowing a fuel pressure gauge tonight.

[Opelkurt]

Originally Posted by Mr Clifton Does someone have the Bosch part number for the fuel injectors? OGTS is out of them and I may buy some after I verify good fuel pressure. I'm borrowing a fuel pressure gauge tonight.

0 280 150 105

-Kurt

[anastosmotors]

You said car was running good before you replace fuel
lines. Did you install lines wrong? Supply for return and
return for supply.
Pete