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WBraun
climber
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Jan 25, 2013 - 06:37pm PT
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If it's a carbureted and not fuel injected you can drive without a fuel pump by gravity feeding the fuel into the carburetor.
Just disconnect the fuel line and punch a hole in the bottom of a container and stick a small rubber fuel line in it.
Seal it with seal all.
connect the hose to the carb fuel intake and away you gou.
I've done this and is the redneck fix to get going again.
Hooo Rahhh .....
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Jan 25, 2013 - 06:42pm PT
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Hopefully VB is less terrified of redneck repair than I!
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Jan 25, 2013 - 06:45pm PT
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This is too good to be true.
Better be a helluva TR after all this!
Take pictures!
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KP Ariza
climber
SCC
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Jan 25, 2013 - 06:58pm PT
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Happy, read my original post. Perfectly reasonable advice for someone in there predicament. Quite frankly though, it seems ridiculous to me that somebody who apparently spends a lot of time road tripping wouldn't have thought of that in the first place. Better yet, why not enroll with AAA before hitting the road at all. They could give better advice and service than you will be able to.
These folks are grown adults, they should be able to navigate a bit of car trouble w/out posting a f*#king "Rambler" alert on line.
So yes, the whole thing seemed a little suspicious to me. BTW, since you've resorted to name calling, you're the sap. Go put on your nuns garb and reel 'em in sister.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Jan 25, 2013 - 07:01pm PT
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KP - I don't believe I called you a name? I said I - me - would rather be a sap, than guilty of posting sarcasm.
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Jan 25, 2013 - 07:07pm PT
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Oh yes AAA is the best buy in the world, next to REIs return policy. I get the doubble gold membership..... Towed the Kids blown up car home....from Baker CA.
If I had to pay for that tow it would have cost about a $1,000 ....
Any-way.... a bit of bad luck can be over come with the help of the ST TRIBE.
And Werner..... To make the fuel pump you describe work even better. Use the fuel container from a coleman white gas stove. The pump gives you fuel pressure.... that way your passenger can keep it pumped up while you drive.
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Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
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Jan 25, 2013 - 07:12pm PT
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In my old Land Rover field repair manual it suggests using the windshield wiper fluid pump as a make shift fuel pump. Several years ago my fuel pump took a dive in the Saline Valley and I was able to get into Bishop using this trick. Just hit the wiper fluid switch every 30 seconds or so and it worked like a charm.
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jstan
climber
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Jan 25, 2013 - 07:16pm PT
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4:16PM
Called them up. They have successfully gotten to Walmart. Now it is just a matter of doing the diagnostics.
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Jan 25, 2013 - 07:23pm PT
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Go get a can of "starter spray" ..... crank engine - spray a bit and see if it fires up on the spray. If it does, fuel pump is most likley the root cause.
I think you have a mechanical fuel pump in that van. Pretty cheap and easy to fix.
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verticalbound
Trad climber
Anchorage
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 25, 2013 - 07:29pm PT
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yeah so we got a tow to the yucca valley WalMart,thanks for the calls and replies our van isn't the greatest it cost $600 and for all the possibilities that could go wrong it making it 1400 miles and this being the first break down, I am happy. There will be a big TR but really this is not a trip, this is a life change after to many years or working and doing everything your supposed to( school, work, etc) I was tired of being perpetually unhappy and made a short notice decision to move into a van and do what I want to be happy, climb! While a bit short sighted and whimsical it made a lot of sense to me. I've had severe depression and borderline personality disorder since I was 12( 12 years) that a long with an alternative view of society and ours particularly here in the US led me to be certain I would be happier homeless and living more simply. Having the wonderful partner I do she agreed to brave the huge step outside her comfort zone & come along, that being the gas I had to spend a substantially larger amount of my budget on creature comforts ie; more insulating, a bed in the van, solar power for her laptop & camera charger etc. Leaving us with a lot less for mishaps and problems, after being shorted $500 on my last check that has pretty much left us broke but not without avenues for future food&gas. Those that have helped thus far have done substantial justice to reaffirming my faith in human decency, anyone with negative comments can kiss my ass. In summation we are just trying to be happy, and I am just doing my best with what i have.
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couchmaster
climber
pdx
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Jan 25, 2013 - 07:48pm PT
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Guy said: "my 2 kids have blown up 3 of my cars!" You didn't explain about putting oil in the car after the first one? LOL.
ps, I've found that by having kids at least you know where your tools are when you go get them....someplace else, to be determined.
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verticalbound
Trad climber
Anchorage
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 25, 2013 - 08:21pm PT
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Haha well then you'll love my 37th post... Cause I didn't include that one of the gentleman that helped us while in Calabasas gave us some alcohol( yay free alcohol) which included a 1981 bottle of crown that contributed to me tripping and breaking my nose on our rear window! Ill include a picture of all the blood once we have laptop battery.
Also bought starting fluid fired up so it is either dead fuel pump or the wiring!
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Todd Gordon
Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
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Jan 25, 2013 - 08:23pm PT
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I'm in joshua tree and I will be around most all weekend.....call me up and tell me what you need;...I'll help you out any way I can....(760) 366-9395......I live here in town....but was at work all day or I would have responded earlier.......
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Jan 25, 2013 - 09:59pm PT
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Dude rough! If it fired up than it ain't the wiring because if it was you wouldn't get spark. Sounds like you found your fuel issue. Probably the pump. maybe a clog?
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Jan 25, 2013 - 10:34pm PT
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Well, I did find them out at the Walmart, and yeah, the starter fluid fired it up. The guy (I forget his name already!) thinks wiring but....
I told them about my fuel pump story and how the pirate mechanic diagnosed it after spraying starter fluid(fired right up). He yarded on the gas tank with a 2 x 4, and then said "Crank on it" and it started again...He said "It's your fuel pump." hahah
But he didn't seem ready to run that diagnostic. Anyway - they are safe at WM, we had a beer(well, I had no alcohol, but thought they could use one) and some food, and tomorrow he is going to see what he can see, about why it won't go. Sounds like he is mechanically inclined, which puts him many steps ahead of me. But his van seems to be acting just as mine did when the fuel pump went.
Oh! One thing they mentioned. They heard the humming sound of fuel pump the other night - but when the van was OFF, no key in ignition and had been sitting. I guess that is why he thinks wiring, but could the fuel pump have "kept going" or something after it was supposed to shut down (hence the hum), and worn out?
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bergbryce
Mountain climber
California
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Jan 25, 2013 - 11:45pm PT
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this settles it...
I'm moving to Jtree and opening a garage.
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verticalbound
Trad climber
Anchorage
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 26, 2013 - 11:44am PT
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So when I've said the wiring, I mean the wiring to the fuel pump, the van has an electric pump cause its a throttle body injected motor. Not quite sure how to easily test the wiring so probably going to drop the tank, remove the pump and test it if that's the problem we are hoping an individual from Sacramento doesnt flake on buying some stuff so we can replace the pump, otherwise its a cardboard sign again until we get our tax returns. Thanks for everyone's advice and assistance.
-Andrew
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verticalbound
Trad climber
Anchorage
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 26, 2013 - 11:45am PT
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And we never got free weed, except from a guy selling bootleg movies outside WalMart in Sacramento lol.
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WBraun
climber
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Jan 26, 2013 - 11:51am PT
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On a huge lark just try and open the gas cap and see if it starts ......
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Jan 26, 2013 - 11:56am PT
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On a huger lark , drop a M-80 down the gas tank...it might save you some money in the long run....?
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