Check Valve Installation For DeLorean

Edit:  Please read update at the end of post

Apparently, there is an issue with the new fuel pump (#10700) for the DeLorean that can cause a hot start problem.  This happened to me a few times and I had no idea what was going on. Now that I know what it is, I can get it fixed. Lucky for me, it is an easy fix.  All I have to do is get the parts and fix it

The good folks at DMCTalk have discussed this in depth.  The problem is a potential fail of the check valve in the pump system.  This causes lost of pressure in the fuel line during start up.  No fuel, no start.  The solution, install an inline fuel pressure repair kit.  I got this one from Amazon:

SUR&R Fuel Pressure Repair Kit

You will also need two hose clamps, which you can easily find at your local hardware store.  This was a simple project.  How simple?  It only took me about ten minutes to do it.  So fast and easy, I totally forgot to take photos during the process.  It took more time for me to clear the trunk and get to the fuel line. 

Basically, you cut the line leading to the engine and install the unit with the supplied fittings.  Secure the fittings with hose clamps.  The check valve is directional, so make sure that the arrow points with the flow of fuel.  That is it.

Fuel pressure repair kit in stalled.  It was that easy.

Then I noticed that the screws that hold various access panels were rusted.  Some had worn out heads, a few were missing.  I decided to replace all the screw with shiny new ones.

Look at all those rusty and worn out screws

Bag of new screws

I replaced 24 screws.  This took way longer than installing the check valve.

Look at my new screws

Only eight of these screws can be seen when my hood is open.  The other sixteen are covered by the bonnet liner and everything else I keep in there.  Now to put everything back in.  This includes the spare tire, Shock Tower Brace, Luggage Rack, Car Cover, and various tools.

Those new screws really pop

Wow, you can totally see the new screws in the picture above.  Maybe I should have painted them black before I screwed them in .

Hopefully, the installation of the check valve will solve any start up issues I may have.  Speaking of fuel, I need to fill up sometime in the next few days or I will have another fuel/start-up problem.

UPDATE, 29 September 2013

I got a message from a fellow DeLorean owner, Jeff (aka jmpdmc), this morning.  He informed me that I am using  the wrong kind of clamps.  I will be the first to admit that I know very little about cars, especially the internal working parts.  I am pretty good at changing light bulbs and making custom non-moving parts.

Anyway, after reading Jeff''s message, I immediately walked down to the local auto shop to pick up some proper fuel injector hose clamps.  Clamps that are made for the pressures of the fuel pump.

Regular hose clamp versus fuel injector hose clamp

So the process of getting to the check valve began.  One thing I noticed, when I removed the hose from the check valve, a little fuel leaked out.  It did not do that last time, confirming that there was a lost of pressure with the new fuel pump and with its internal check valve.  Gasoline smells kinda good, probably bad for one to inhale.  But once in a while, I like the smell.

New clamps installed

Swapping out the clamps was an easy procedure.  Again, this took very little time and simple enough even for me to do.  Plus, I got black ones so they look all stealthy...not like anyone is going to see this.  Although, I am glad that someone like Jeff saw my previous attempt and corrected my error.  So, thanks Jeff for pointing out my mistake.

Thanks to the DMCTalk community and special thanks to jmpdmc

Update #2, 27 October 2013

This is to answer Adam's question in the comments. 

How does the valve piece together? I bought one and could not for the life of me figure out how to attach the metal cylinder with the screw on top?

This is very easy.  Your check valve comes with two brass collars.  You will not need the nylon ones for this project.  I realize that the 'product picture' at the top of this post is slightly different from what I have installed, it should be the same process.  This is the way I did it. 

First unscrew the top and place one brass collar in the chamber.  Replace the top, hand tighten it.  The smooth end of the metal tube should slide right, stopping at the first ridge at about half and inch. 

Take two wrenches and tighten the top with the metal tube sticking out.  Make sure that the tube does not fall out.  Tighten it good.  There should be a point where it will bottom out.  Repeat that on the other side.

Once you cut your fuel hose, you just shove the unit bridging the hose.  Make sure direction of arrow is facing the correct way.  It may take a little effort to get the rubber hose past that first rib of the metal tube. That rib also helps with the clamps.

Hope that answers your question, Adam.  Thanks for stopping by, good luck with your project.

Quick Review of DeLorean Fuel Pump

This will be a quick review of the new DeLorean Fuel Pump/Sender Module (Part# 107000).  As stated in one of my previous posts, I have had this for about nine months before finally having it installed by DMC-California.  Well, I just went through the first tank of gas, so here are my first thoughts.

The pump is much quieter than the original fuel pump as it does not have that distinct hum.  While the sender unit lets the fuel gauge give you a better reading on your fuel level.  With the original unit, the level would fluctuate a quarter tank.  If the tank was at half, it could give a reading anywhere between three-quarters to a quarter, depending on if I was accelerating/braking or going up/down a hill.  The new unit takes a larger sample (around three minutes) of the tank before registering the fuel level.  Now, I know pretty much how much I have in the tank.

The DeLorean tank holds about 13.2 gallons.  This morning, the fuel light went on.  Usually, this means I have about 4-5 gallons left with the old unit, as I fill up about 8-9 gallons.  That gives me a safe amount of time to drive around before I refuel. Well, as I filled up this evening, I put in 12.938 gallons.  That is way too close to the 13.2 mark.  I would hope that a low fuel warning light would give me at least a gallon or two of cushion, I had less than a liter.  Maybe the pump I was using was not calibrated, in which case I got screwed a few dollars.

Anyway, this is my first tank with the new fuel pump and sender module.  I really have to be careful and watch my odometer until I figure out the readings I get.  The good news is, it seems that the fuel gauge gives off a better reading.  When the light came on, the needle was reading at about 97% empty, which is about how much gas I need to top off.

I will update this as I fill up a second time to see if this is an issue.

Update:  Looks like the fuel light goes on when there is about half a gallon left. Today, I filled up with 12.468 gallons, about 95% empty.  That half gallon or so will not get me anywhere.  So, when that light goes on , I really need to find a gas station, immediately.  I need to find  a way to adjust this somehow so the light goes on when I am about 85-90% empty. 

It also seems that I am getting a little better gas mileage than before.  I may or may not have something to do with the new pump.  At least I know about how far I can travel before I need to start looking for a place to fill up.  Longer trips are now a bit 'safer' with this knowledge. 

DeLorean Maintenance - 2013

Not sure how other states (or provinces) deal with vehicle smog.  Here in California, one needs to smog their car every two years.  Cars older than 1975 (I think) are exempt.  Well, it is that time, again.  I  need to have the DeLorean smogged in order to register the car.  I leave that task to the good folks at DMC-California.  They will do their magic on the car and makes sure it passes.

As goofy as it sounds, I was waiting to get my smog summons...just so I can take the car to DMC.  For I have a lot of work I wanted to be done on the car.  Recently, I have had issues with the car not starting.  There are a number of upgrade parts that I wanted to be installed in the car.  This includes the new Fuel Pump/Sender, Front & Rear Performance Shocks, Rear Lowering Springs, and Lower Strut Support Bracket.  These are projects that some owners can do on their own.  But who are we talking about here?  Some of this stuff requires the tools, facility, skill, and knowledge that I just do no have.  Better leave areas like the fuel tank to the pros.

I dropped the car off two weeks ago, on Saturday, and picked it up on Thursday.  Here is what they did.

New DMC Performace Shocks and Springs

Finally, the rear of the car has been lowered to match the front.  It had been 'ass up' for two years.  Now, the car is level.

Height before the rear was lowered - 27 inches

Height after installation of new shocks and springs - 25.5 inches

This was that I tried to do myself, twice.  I had trouble getting the spring compressors at 180° from each other.  Not a lot of room to maneuver in there...and not a lot of experience on my part.  Something about strong metal strings under tremendous amount of tension.

Installed Lower Strut Support Bracket

Years of closing and opening the doors puts a lot of stress on the lower strut support.  In the photo above, you can see that the strut support is at 90° to the B-pillar.  Before the support bracket was installed, it was cocked at an angle.  In fact, the driver's side had fiberglass damage.  Not only was the joint misaligned, it had cracked the fiberglass, and was about to complete break off from he B-pillar.  The passenger side was not as drastic, but still misaligned. Now that the support brackets are in, I will not have to worry about not being able to lift the 90 pound doors.

Of course, I finally got that Fuel Pump installed.  It had been sitting in the box for nine months.  Having it installed also completes my quest to have at least one part from every DMC vendor installed in my car.

Obviously, there is always le problème dujour.  There were three additional things that needed to be done.  Well, two that needed to be done and one that was a cosmetic issue.

- Coolant hoses were not looking that great.  So yeah, I would want that to be taken care of.  What, did you expect me to do that, myself?  They have the car apart anyway, let them do it.  Besides, I am not equipped to deal with hazardous materials.

- Torn boot on the left axle.  Yeah, do not want dirt getting in there, nor do I want grease to ooze out.

New headliners for the doors

 - The headliners were getting old and could use a refresh. Oh hell, why not.  Not only was the fabric itself getting old and sagging, the foam behind it was getting crusty...like the clown.  I must say, new headliners do make the cockpit look so much better.  Plus, I do not have to deal with it sagging on my pretty hair.  This was also one of the more costly (parts and labour) items on the invoice.

New headliners

Other 'minor' stuff done to the car include (and I am just reading off the invoice) a routine oil change with oil filter, adjusting fuel mixture, alternator belt, drive belt, some o-rings, smog check.

So, how much did this cost me?  A lot.  About double of what I thought it would be.  But, at least I know it was done right and not by some hack, like me.  The parts installed should last and I will not have to worry about them for a long time.  Who gets more money from my paycheck, the government or DeLorean Motor Company?  Well, I got a good bonus check, and the government took about half....the other half went to DMC, still a few hundreds dollars short.

Oh, the problem with starting was solved by the crew at DMC-California.  There was a loose connection in the fuse box.  The fuse was good, but the wires leading to the fuse were not.  I would never have found that.  Now, we are good to go.  I should have no problems.  Although, I do want to do some other stuff to the car now.  Stay tuned, this should be happened within a few weeks.