Fuel leak to accumulator

[jwrayth]

Debugging my first DeLorean problem! One of the lines leading to my fuel accumulator has a split, meaning a fine spray of fuel is leaking out of the car.

Unfortunately the best picture I could grab of the leak has the secondary drip. It's spraying off the hose from the fuel pump onto the one that is dripping here. In the second picture you can see it cleaned up showing the type of fuel hoses that have been used.

1796317964

I'm not replacing my accumulator, but using the guide on this site; http://jason.kitcarmagazine.com/delorean/fuelaccum.htm as a reference it is line 1 that is leaking. It's spraying out of there inside the chassis, and then also dripping off down underneath the car. There is also a slight drip near the fuel tank cover plate, but I believe that to be fuel running forward down the chassis since the car is on a ramp.

Now looking on the DeLorean schematics, it looks like this is normally a rubber hose that connects to other elements and leads back to the fuel pump. However, as you can see from my attached images, I appear to have braided lines instead of rubber tubing.

Now I'm going to remove the center console to try and get a better look at this from the top as I believe I can see further connections from this line to the accumulator, if my reading of the schematics is correct.

Now if I could get a sanity check on the following from the more experienced, I would be very happy;


Any idea what type of braided fuel lines I have? I can't see exact matching ones on vendor websites
Does taking apart the center console to get a look at the rest of the connections seem the correct steps?
If it is indeed this line, can I replace this myself just with the center console apart and the car up on ramps?
I believe the part I require is http://www.delorean.eu/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=19_25_48&products_id=48004, is that correct? Should I replace connecting bolts and clamps at the same time?



Thanks for any help!

[DMCMW Dave]

Don't bother with the console. As tight as it looks it all happens from underneath. Carefully cut the hose off. Do not attempt to unscrew the fitting that goes straight up; you will link the line between the body and frame.

[jwrayth]

So cut the line off at the accumulator (without unscrewing the straight fitting), drain the fuel in the hose. Cut the hose at the other end inside the chassis, fit a new fuel line and clamp it down at either end.

I was under the impression if I removed the center console I could access the end not at the accumulator much easier (See the elbow on the right (http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z251/matclarke01/Accumulator8.jpg))? I'll take another peak underneath, but I doubt I can reach this one through the fuel accumulator and properly cut the line?

Not trying to contradict, just want to make sure I understand fully :)

[David T]

All work in this area has to be done from underneath. Disconnect the hard line and drop the accumulator. Once you do then you can figure out what is going on. Take care to not damage the hard lines. They are difficult/impossible to replace with the body on. Use a wrench to "hold back" to avoid bending or kinking the lines.
David Teitelbaum

[jwrayth]

Understood! Just need to order a hose of the right bore to fit along with clamps and I'll start further investigations.

Thanks for the input chaps!

[SS Spoiler]

Maybe you need small hands like Jim Reeves from MN. He's the guy who crawled through his window!

[Bitsyncmaster]

Understood! Just need to order a hose of the right bore to fit along with clamps and I'll start further investigations.

Thanks for the input chaps!

The hose also must be rated for 100 PSI or higher.

[jwrayth]

Got this all fixed today and running like a charm!

Thanks for the input everybody :)

[David T]

Keep an eye (AND a nose) on it for a while to makes sure you have no leaks. There should be NO smell of gas or any drips. After any repair always keep a watchful eye on it to make sure it keeps working. Any problems tend to show up soon after a repair if anything was done incorrectly.
David Teitelbaum