HELP: Swings but does not start after fuel filter replaced

[dj92]

"except that maybe i've flooded it by trying to start it for so long"
What do you mean by this?
The cylinders?
Take out the spark plugs, wait some time (depending on the environment temperature, maybe about 1...2hrs) and then put them back and try to start it again.
You don't have any diagnostics stuff, do you?

[REV 2 11]

Originally Posted by dj92

"except that maybe i've flooded it by trying to start it for so long"
What do you mean by this?
The cylinders?
Take out the spark plugs, wait some time (depending on the environment temperature, maybe about 1...2hrs) and then put them back and try to start it again.
You don't have any diagnostics stuff, do you?

thanks for the reply.

Yes, as in by swinging it for so long, I've possibly injected too much fuel into the cylinders. Will remove the plugs now.

I have a vci cable for diagnostics...but it doesn't seem to be picking up any errors...

[REV 2 11]

Ok, so I checked the repair manual again.
It said that if you remove the fuel suction filter (mesh strainer) from the fuel pump, then you must not re-use the fuel pump and fuel suction filter.
And yes, I did separate the suction filter from the fuel pump.

Can someone maybe enlighten me as to WHY you cannot reuse the fuel pump once the suction filter is removed off the fuel pump? It just does not make sense to me.

You can clearly hear the pump running, and I have confirmed more than 3 times that fuel is being pulled through the outlet pipe on the filter housing...in which case there can't be a major blockage, so why does it only swing and not start?
If it is the suction filter (it is quite dirty, but the car was driving ok with it like that before the fuel filter replacement), then why is petrol exiting the tank...surely this indicates that the even if the suction filter is dirty, it is still pulling fuel through. This would also eliminate the pump as a problem.

The fuel suction filter is not orderable by itself here in South Africa...and the only way I can obtain the suction filter is if I order the fuel pump. The pump costs around ZAR3500 / US$350 from Toyota. Thankfully, there is a Bosch replacement pump and strainer for ZAR500 / US$50. I am going to put this on today, and pray that the car starts.

Incidentally, the car 240 000 kms on it. The fuel filter, fuel pump, and fuel suction filter have never been replaced. So maybe it does need a new pump and suction filter.

But I still can't understand why it started and drove fine (except for the intermittent shuddering / struggle to accelerate) before replacing the fuel filter.