We have had several people break in at work and steal the fuel from our box trucks. Thiefs don't bother with siphoning fuel anymore. They just punch a hole in the tank and let it drain into their gas can! Such a pain in the A$$.
1990 ryder box van
- Thread starter Penstarpurist
- Start date
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We have had several people break in at work and steal the fuel from our box trucks. Thiefs don't bother with siphoning fuel anymore. They just punch a hole in the tank and let it drain into their gas can! Such a pain in the A$$.
Penstarpurist
Well-Known Member
What?!? Are you serious? That's seriously messed up to pop a hole in a person's gas tank. It's not bad enough that at $3.50 a gallon and more for diesel your screwing someone. But now a guy has the cost of a new tank and labor to get back on the road. As realistically how many people have the skill or ability to drop their own tank, wiring, pump swap, if it's in tank, fill neck, etc. Sure, we guys can get it done. But we are a small percentage of people. I'm going to crawl under there tomorrow morning and check that out. I would be lucky if that was the case, at least then it can be repaired easily enough. Its a 35 gallon tank, awesome capacity really. As I doubt that I would ever go more than a couple hundred miles away from home with it.
Penstarpurist
Well-Known Member
Well got a break from the rain and checked out the box van. I tried going direct with the starter, no go. Tried at the starter solenoid. No luck with that. So I will drop the starter out and ground test it to make sure I didn't do something wrong on my screwdriver attempt as getting access to the start terminal isnt the best with this rig. The gas tank hole was definitely an intentional attempt to get gas out of the tank. And then they tried to repair it with a screw and rubber washer.
diymirage
HP@idle > hondaHP@redline
I was helping a friend try to get a 327 going the other day, and it wouldn't crank...not even with the screwdriver jumper
Turned out whoever dropped the engine in put zero grounds on it
(I'm sure you have grounds, but are they good?)
Turned out whoever dropped the engine in put zero grounds on it
(I'm sure you have grounds, but are they good?)
Penstarpurist
Well-Known Member
I am going to replace the ground wire today. But I did bypass it all and used the ground wire from the jumper cables to the battery then to the starter chasis itself. Got lots of sparks, but no attempt to start. I figure that I will pull the starter and take it with me to the auto parts store to be tested while I am buying both ground and power cables.
ramenth
Gratis persona
I wish someone had tried that with my Ramcharger and the plastic tank. Hammer would have wound up in his forehead.
Penstarpurist
Well-Known Member
Well I got the starter pulled out, while I was unbolting it from inside the cab through the doghouse access I glanced under the front seat and saw another starter laying there. I tested both of them on the ground using the van battery which I had charged up and no go. Took them both down to the parts store and they did the exact same test (using there machine) and they both tested perfect. Wtf? I'm guessing my battery is either weak, the cables iffy or I'm more incompetent than I realize. Anyways i'm going to test my battery and throw it back on the deep charger. Reinstall the starter, put in a new solenoid and both new battery cables. Cross my fingers and pray for a better result. Beyond that I don't know. I don't expect it to actually start right up as the guy said the ICM needs replacement. But it should at least turn over. Right?
ramenth
Gratis persona
Just for ***** and giggles have you made sure the engine turns over by hand?
Penstarpurist
Well-Known Member
Yeah, it turns over by hand.
Penstarpurist
Well-Known Member
Progress has been made!!! Put the starter back in, new starter solenoid and battery cables. It turns over with spark. Heck yeah, now just getting the fuel put to it.
Penstarpurist
Well-Known Member
It's ALIVE! The box van is able to start and run. I only ran it for 45 seconds and shut it down. I'm going to grab up a new filter and oil for it before I go any more with it. Still have to fix the gas tank issue. Right now I have the hose from the pump going into a gas can. But runs really smooth and idles good.
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