Collins Bantam 2007 Bus Resident seeking Fuel Pump advice

[tsukiandsophie]

Nice to meet you my name is Sophie my puppy is Tsuki and we live in a 2007 Collins Bantam short-ish school bus named Genesis Soleil. before having the bus we were living in a tent in the woods (homeless) and it is no understatement the bus has saved our lives and protected our heart from any further trauma of having no place to go.

we have been livin in the bus for about a month and fixed an electrical battery drain initially and since then it has been working fine. The bus had stopped running on the highway, and sounded like it was out of gas but I know it wasnt and I had put some in right before that. ive been having to fill the tank partially most of the time and sometimes running it all the way low to where it wont start due to lack of fuel. So the old sludge from the gas tank may have been getting sucked into the fuel line/pump with the fuel (according to my friend)

The highway patrol had to bumper push me off the highway into a neighborhood where I may stay parked temporarily. I am interested in replacing/cleaning the fuel pump on my own and sincerely hope this will restore functionality so I can head to my next destination. There is plenty of gas in it and i really hope this can get it fixed because i have grown very accustomed and comfortable to living in this thing.

So what I need to know is what kind of fuel pump this would be? And perhaps just a image of the fuel pump in a similar engine so i can proceed with attempting a repair / to identify the pump, and locate a video or guide from a similar fuel pump configuration for guidance? i know it has a chevy engine, and i still need to determine the type of engine since it doesnt have a manual. I need to be on wifi to access the internet so it is hard forme to have much time to look into this at all but my time is very limited.

I would say this bus is my home i have grown very attached to this thing. my heart is filled with fear at just the notion of thinking it might dissapear suddenly. Its no understatement that my fate and safety depends on getting Genesis Soleil running again, please any encouragement or advice is very appreciated :bow: :Thanx:

 

[tumblewd]

Hello and welcome, sorry to hear of your problems. The engines in 2007 Chevrolet's were 4.7 and 6.0 liters for that year. The fuel pump is probably in the tank. Do you hear the pump humming when you turn the ignition on, if not then I would check the fuel pump fuse 1st. You may have to get some one else to turn the key while you are under bus listening for pump, also may feel it vibrating with hand on bottom of tank. If it is working and still will not start, I would replace my fuel filter next. should be in the frame rails with fuel lines going to it and out of it. I dont believe they moved filters to inside tank till 08.. If there are any auto parts stores near you, they can show you on their computers the diagrams and locations of your items. These are the things I would do 1st. .. Good luck

 

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

if the fuse is good and the pump still isnt running look for an inertia switch.

 

[Carrier6]

My guess would be a bad fuel pump. From what you said about running it low on fuel a lot of time. The fuel in the tank cools the fuel pump. Try and keep it above half and as much as possible. That being said I would also suggest doing the list of trouble shooting as listed above. Listen for pump, check fuse, and change fuel filter.

Good luck on your fix.

 

[kidharris]

Sophie, what they are telling you is correct as far as fixing a no start because of fuel goes. Parts changers such as my self usually start with the most likely cheapest part first and work our way up to the most expensive part last. Good mechanics diagnose the true cause of the condition and just have to change the broken/bad parts.


One cause that happens a lot that no one has mentioned so far, is that keeping the tank empty a lot of the time means that there is a lot of empty space in the tank for atmospheric water (humidity) to condense into the fuel when it gets cool at night. Modern vehicles use a percentage of ethanol alcohol mixed in with the fuel. Ethanol absorbs water and this lowers the octane which causes problems with the engine while it is running. The computers running the engine can compensate for the octane reduction to an extent.


If there is enough water sitting at the bottom of the tank (fuel is lighter than water, so water sinks to the bottom) that it is getting sucked up by the fuel pump the engine will not run because water does not burn. Modern cars and fuels suck. A lot depends on how the fuel system is vented. You need some one who really knows what they are doing to diagnose what is wrong so you don't waste a lot of time and money. Or get lucky.


Enough mechanical talk. I hope that the bus is no longer blocking those businesses or the problems will escalate. find some local help if you can. A church or charity might be able to help. You might be able to exchange labor for help. A local parts store or garage would be a place to start asking questions about the bus problem. Keep talking, you never know who is listening



There are some good people out there although it does seem that most are out to take advantage of who ever they can. Don't allow yourself to give up, keep asking for help till you get it and don't get desperate. Rats and bureaucrats can smell desperation. Not to mention, desperate people do desperate things


Good Luck