EFI Fuse Blowing -- Ideas?

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clownmidget said:
Not that this relates to Doug's problems, but I was successful in discharging a .22 rimfire in a barn door hinge using a tack hammer in my youth. It killed a yound boar directly and the casing did indeed "fire" backwards out of the hinge but didn't do anymore than assist us in ruining some good underwear...
Click to expand...


I'm sure Doug is having fun in a casino in Vegas right now watching showgirls or indulging in a seafood buffet (OTOWA :D ), so we can highjack a tad...

so, inquiring minds need to know: how did that happen? the boar was standing right under the hinge somehow?
 
Big_Moose said:
Doug,

The vapor density of the gasoline in the fuel tank is generally in a state above the upper explosion limit / upper flammable limit (too rich to burn), therefore would not ignite / explode.
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Joe,
I am very interestd in your reply. Could you elaborate?

Seeing that picture of a short in a wire that is in a 25 gallon tank of petrol sitting directly under my 2nd row seat got me a little paranoid. I planned to yank out the fuel pump and check mine just in case. Maybe unnecessary ? ? ?

-B-
 
I remember along time ago some one throwing a lit match in a 3 gallon bucket of gas and it just went out.
 
Beowulf said:
Joe,
I am very interestd in your reply. Could you elaborate?

Seeing that picture of a short in a wire that is in a 25 gallon tank of petrol sitting directly under my 2nd row seat got me a little paranoid. I planned to yank out the fuel pump and check mine just in case. Maybe unnecessary ? ? ?

-B-
Click to expand...

Mr. B,

Gasoline is a Class IB flammable liquid, which produces an ignitable vapor with flammability characteristics that are based on the boiling point, flashpoint, and vapor densities. As you know, it is the vapor that is flammable rather then the liquid directly, so gas or other flammable liquids have definable Upper & Lower explosion limits - also called flammability limits.

The upper explosion limit is defined as a vapor density that is rich in fuel source (gas) and poor in oxygen, or an environment that is too rich to ignite.

The lower explosion limit is defined as a vapor density that is rich in oxygen and poor in fuel source, or an environment that is too lean to ignite.

Get gasoline vapor density (correct mixture of gas vapors & oxygen + ignition source) within those limits and Kaboom!

The vapor layer within our gas tanks is well above those limits, and therefore would not explode. Even when the fuel level is low the vapor density is still way above the upper limits. This is why welding on an empty gas tank is so dangerous because the vapor density is in the correct proportion with oxygen / air, with welding providing the ignition source confirming Darwins theories.

Unnecessary regarding explosion exposures, but necessary for piece of mind when out on the trail. I would check to see if the wire is located close to the support bracket or if there is any noticable wear.
 
landtank said:
Doug, why do you need a bracket for a wiring issue? Is there some sort of insulation missing or worn through?
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Yes, the wiring on the bracket was worn through. It's suspected that it was due to contact with the pipe next to it.

attachment.php


In this pic, the wire was twisted a bit to expose the chaffed area.
The wire was replaced and rerouted to as to not come in contact with the bracket.

Since they were in there, they replaced the pump and associated bits.
 
So Doug-Does that mean you are home? If so, welcome back. Did you make back the coin on the slots as many predicted?
 
Cruiserdrew said:
So Doug-Does that mean you are home? If so, welcome back. Did you make back the coin on the slots as many predicted?
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I stayed away from the tables...once I start, I have a hard time pulling away (unless I've won big :)).

Yes I'm back. FWIW, I think it's an easier drive to Vegas from Sacto via I-5 or Hwy 99 rather than I-95 through NV.

10 hours on the road Wed. and 10 hours on the road yesterday -- wooooohoooooo! :rolleyes:

:D
 
Doug,

What did the Lexus dealer say about the prices they were trying to charge you compared to the real world price from cdan and other dealerships? $700 for a fuel pump is just wrong!

I am,glad to read you are safe back home with your rig and hopefully Lisa is not as mad as she was before.;) also hope Shelby is feeling better from her ear infection.

Amando
 
i4c4lo said:
Doug,

What did the Lexus dealer say about the prices they were trying to charge you compared to the real world price from cdan and other dealerships? $700 for a fuel pump is just wrong!

I am,glad to read you are safe back home with your rig and hopefully Lisa is not as mad as she was before.;) also hope Shelby is feeling better from her ear infection.

Amando
Click to expand...

No good explanation/justification. Just the prices they wanted to charge.
Just a bad service tech monkey. They're not all that bad.
The guys who actually did the work on the rig were pretty cool. I got a chance to talk to them for a few minutes before they were scared away by someone in a Lexus suit. Most of them seem to be into 4-wheeling and apparently had not seen a built 80 before.

Shelby's better...her hearing is a bit more selective than before we went on the trip -- I don't think her estation (sp) tubes have cleared yet. :frown:
 
NorCalDoug said:
Yes, the wiring on the bracket was worn through. It's suspected that it was due to contact with the pipe next to it.

attachment.php


In this pic, the wire was twisted a bit to expose the chaffed area.
The wire was replaced and rerouted to as to not come in contact with the bracket.

Since they were in there, they replaced the pump and associated bits.
Click to expand...

I just noticed in thie picture you can see where the wire was most probabaly rubbing. The bracket that the pipe curves around seems to have a nice sharp lip. I'm willing to bet this is what the wire chaffed on.
 
NorCalDoug said:
EDIT:
Here's a pic of the offending wire -- the green one.
Click to expand...

Ok, so here is the stock setup when I pulled mine. Looks like yours may have had the wire wedged between the tube and the bracket???
 
Last edited:
clownmidget said:
Ok, so here is the stock setup when I pulled mine. Looks like yours may have had the wire wedged between the tube and the bracket???
Click to expand...

No, looks to me that they're in the same place. Just could be that mine was resting against the tube while yours was farther away. The vibration of 130k miles would be enough to rub through some insulation I'd think.
 
Doug,

I am very happy that this saga is over for you. I am only sorry we could not have helped you more.

I have seen many great pictures of our trip and look forward to the next adventure with everyone.

-David
 
Ok. I thought somewhere it was mentioned the wire had been moved in that pic of yours and it looks like that wire could have been routed on top of the tube and that would have chaffed the insulation over time like you surmised. The other thought is the little rubber insulator that sits on the bottom of the fuel pump. That pic of mine is at around 150K miles FWIW...

NorCalDoug said:
No, looks to me that they're in the same place. Just could be that mine was resting against the tube while yours was farther away. The vibration of 130k miles would be enough to rub through some insulation I'd think.
Click to expand...
 
The wiring is part of the bracket.
 
The wiring is part of the bracket. They were able to fix the wire on the bracket. Ordering a new bracket with new wires attached would've resulted in wating 2 more days for the repair to be completed.
 
Jeez, I hope so - I willingly cut that wire in half on mine :hillbilly

NorCalDoug said:
They were able to fix the wire on the bracket.
Click to expand...


So are you and truck back home and happy with no residual issues? :beer:
 
clownmidget said:
Jeez, I hope so - I willingly cut that wire in half on mine :hillbilly




So are you and truck back home and happy with no residual issues? :beer:
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Residual issues? Got lots of dust inside still :D

Yeah, we're finally home. No issues since.
 
Back to the Top

Before I get into the nitty gritty, I just want Doug to know that I owe him at least a pitcher of beer for the help this thread gave me.

So, the story--

Coming home from the Rubithon, between Needles and Kingman, AZ (can we say hot and miserable?), truck just dies on I-40.

Pull over and try to start her up again. No dice. Semi's blasting by me at 90 mph, I venture out and pop the hood. Check the battery connections--good; oil--good; coolant overflow--kosher. Fuses--EFI 15A is shot. Ok, put a new one in. Start her up--blows the fuse again. This gets me thinking--I need an electrical wiz.

Quick call to Alia176 to check the EWD. He says this sounds suspiciously like Doug's misadventure documented in this thread.

Ali says pull your access panel (thank god I made one in my drawer system--thanks Ali!) and pull the fuel pump. I pull it out and lo and behold--the entire bracket is bent because my gas tank got seriously crushed on the Rubicon (so did the rest of my truck--but that's for another day).

With the pump bracket getting crushed, the darkish-greenish-grayish wire going to the pump got chafed on the metal shorting out the EFI fuse. I taped up the best I could the wire and ziptied it away from the bracket. Connected the electrical connector, put a new fuse in, and gave it some power--bingo! Put pump back in place and the rig started up no problem and allowed me to drive the rest of the 650 miles home.

So, if your gas tank is crushed near the front, I would check your fuel pump to see its condition.

Now, the fun begins--new fuel tank, new fuel pump and all of the bits, and I gotta convince Lance to make me a fuel tank skid plate before next year's Rubithon trip!

Safe cruisering everyone and much thanks to Ali for the phone call trouble shooting and to my old friend Doug.....

:cool:
 
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