85 fuel pump wiring concern
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
85 fuel pump wiring concern
I just bought a new fuel pump today, and I noticed that all the pump wires are connected by clips. I expected the wires to be sealed to prevent sparks in the event a wire broke. Anyone else have this concern or know of a sending unit where the bare terminals are not exposed to the gas or vapors inside the tank, or am I just being overly concerned about nothing.
Thanks
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,973
Likes: 341
From: Adelaide South Australia
its just the way they are and they dont seem to blow up,
it would have been interesting to be at the meeting when an engineer first said "Im sure if we put all the electrical wiring in the fuel tank for the pump it will work great !"
and the reaction of the other engineers !
it would have been interesting to be at the meeting when an engineer first said "Im sure if we put all the electrical wiring in the fuel tank for the pump it will work great !"
and the reaction of the other engineers !
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 7
From: Chewelah Wa
I think the best way to explain it is like this. The tank does not allow a proper environment for ignition. The air/fuel (vapor) ratio has to be perfect and the ignition as well, as a hot enough spark is required to light a particular mixture. Kind of like a car engine, when it is flooded, will not start, even though you have a 40,000 volt ignitor. Don't get me wrong, this still gives me pause when I think about it, until I realize the billions of miles driven with such a system in place and the amazing lack of exploding cars.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
I was hoping someone might say " use this type of sealant to cover the wires"....
I realize the chances of anything bad happening are slim, but I really do not like the KaBoom factor.
I appreciate the feedback, and while I am not totally comfortable, at least I am not doing something totally stupid
I realize the chances of anything bad happening are slim, but I really do not like the KaBoom factor.
I appreciate the feedback, and while I am not totally comfortable, at least I am not doing something totally stupid
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
its just the way they are and they dont seem to blow up,
it would have been interesting to be at the meeting when an engineer first said "Im sure if we put all the electrical wiring in the fuel tank for the pump it will work great !"
and the reaction of the other engineers !
it would have been interesting to be at the meeting when an engineer first said "Im sure if we put all the electrical wiring in the fuel tank for the pump it will work great !"
and the reaction of the other engineers !
Well my dad showed me that if there is fuel in there it would not catch fire and threw a match in it
... well it went out as soon as it hit the fuel 
He then drained the fuel and blew some compressed air into the tank, as soon as the match went in flames rushed out for a second or so..... he was saying something like air fuel ratio
Something i remember from way back so i am not bothered by the fuel pump and connectors in the tank, fuel pumps and wiring in the tanks is commonplace even with modern cars.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Got my fuel pump installed today, wiring was a bit tricky as it was not like for like. Started it up ( did not blow up) and the car ran better than it had for a while, other than the idle was high. I figure I will turn it down a bit and it should be good as new.
Thanks for the comments, now for the next project, I will need a new cluster. Going to shop on ebay unless someone has a line on a good vender.
Thanks for the comments, now for the next project, I will need a new cluster. Going to shop on ebay unless someone has a line on a good vender.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
The ECM controls the idle, so that is not possible.
You need to do a minimum idle adjustment:
http://www.batee.com/corvette/dcrg/r...cuss_sim5.html
If that does not solve the problem then you need to find the vacuum leak.
You need to do a minimum idle adjustment:
http://www.batee.com/corvette/dcrg/r...cuss_sim5.html
If that does not solve the problem then you need to find the vacuum leak.
Last edited by Cliff Harris; Aug 22, 2013 at 03:38 AM. Reason: Fixed missing L at the end of the link.
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
I tried going to the link, but it did not work. Not sure if I need permission to visit that part of the web site. I did find other information on the net that described adjusting the idle, so you put me on the right road
.
On a positive side, while I was tinkering around the battery, I found a vacuum leak around the cruise control, which, surprise surprise, fixed my high idle.
Thanks for the post, it got me thinking, and I probably would have mucked up my idle,TPS and "stuff" ( technical term for crap I have yet to learn)
. On a positive side, while I was tinkering around the battery, I found a vacuum leak around the cruise control, which, surprise surprise, fixed my high idle.
Thanks for the post, it got me thinking, and I probably would have mucked up my idle,TPS and "stuff" ( technical term for crap I have yet to learn)
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Spokane WA
I just bought a new fuel pump today, and I noticed that all the pump wires are connected by clips. I expected the wires to be sealed to prevent sparks in the event a wire broke. Anyone else have this concern or know of a sending unit where the bare terminals are not exposed to the gas or vapors inside the tank, or am I just being overly concerned about nothing.
Thanks
Thanks
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
The clips are submerged in the gas, at least when the tank is full. While this seems to be the standard, it kind of gives me the creeps. So far every thing is working good, but I will let you know if my vette blows up whenever I try to start it ;-)
Last edited by Bryan B; Aug 22, 2013 at 12:25 AM.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Spokane WA
Oh thanks it could be worse i had an image of some cheap alligator/roach clip that you win from the carnival that has feathers attached to them. I won a bunch of them when I was 7 and the carny asked do you even know what these are for? I just shrugged my shoulders.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
An "L" was missing from the end. It should be "html", not "htm". I'll edit that post to fix it.
That procedure has been posted in multiple places. I have it on my web site and it was also posted here. Google "minimum idle adjustment lars grimsrud". It originally came from a web site that Lars Grimsrud hosted. That site no longer exists.
...or go here:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cliff_har...djustment.html
That procedure has been posted in multiple places. I have it on my web site and it was also posted here. Google "minimum idle adjustment lars grimsrud". It originally came from a web site that Lars Grimsrud hosted. That site no longer exists.
...or go here:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cliff_har...djustment.html