Prins VSI vapouriser fault

[jalfrezigazee]

Car has been a bit poorly for a couple of weeks. Looked at it today and the pipe that comes out of the centre of the vap is pumping out gas all the time the car is running on gas. This is making the car run really rich obviously. You can smell gas when the car is idling and the fuel trim is way off

So I assume the vap needs an overhaul. If I am right is this something that I can do myself? The reason I ask is that all the gas people around me are quoting 3 weeks plus to look at the car. I have the Prins interface to plug into the car so I can set the gas pressure after the vap is reinstalled. And also where can I get it from?

[rossko]

Sounds like a cracked diaphragm, if you mean pipe that comes out the middle of the round bit rather than out the side.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=prins+vsi+repair+kit
There are early and late type reducers with different kits ; I'd guess you'd have an early one

[jalfrezigazee]

It is the pipe on the side shown her on the right with the rubber hose attached



The nipple on the top used to have a hose on it. When the guy serviced the car last time he kept on swearing about that pipe as it was difficult to refit in place. Guess he threw that one away. Should I put a new pipe on the top nipple and run it down to the front of the car as well?

And how do you know which version of the Vap you have, A-E or F onwards?

[rossko]

Nipple with hose on is for vacuum reference applied to diaphragm, usually only found on turbos. No gas should come out there unless diaphragm faulty.

Nipple on top by main gas-out elbow is pressure relief valve. Gas may squirt out there only under overpressure fault conditions. That can be left open to atmosphere so long as the gas has an escape path - e.g. open bottomed engine bay. Sometimes it is piped to manifold for engine to eat vented gas. Sometimes it is routed somewhere safe by a length of open-ended pipe.

Version of vap is first letter of serial number on foil label. If there is only numbers 45678 it is "A" , else it looks like D/12/84/678
Early types have a visible gasket under the bracket-side big round endplate, later types no gasket visible.

[Notts_astra]

Hi

I noticed you have Prins setup

If you don't mind me asking...how much did you pay? And have you had any issues?

Thanks

Neil

[Notts_astra]

Sorry of course you've had problems...anything else other than this

[jalfrezigazee]

Rossko, notice you are in Wiltshire. Not too far from me. Would you be able to fix the vap for me please? I can't see any foil label but vision around the unit is a bit impared until i take a few more covers off

Notts Astra. The car was converted 5 years and 145k ago. I had the vap rebuilt at 82k and it needs ot again. this may be because the system is what was available at the time and not the right system for the car. The car is a 2 litre turbo running at 2 bar overboost and 300bhp. So this diaphragm gets stretched a lot when i am running the big power. The only other problem was recently on the fuel tank, the solenoid failed but that is nothing to do with the Prins as the tank is Stako

My other car is another 2 litre turbo but with the newer turbo setup on. this runs at 2 bar overboost and runs fine. This car has 83k on in 3 years and has had a new map sensor and a set of injectors

I value the Prins over other systems as it can run big power and give longevity. Cost was just over 2k for each car

[rossko]

Rossko, notice you are in Wiltshire. Not too far from me. Would you be able to fix the vap for me please?

We are Prins agents, we do have a rubbers kit in stock 01666 838838

I had the vap rebuilt at 82k and it needs ot again.

There was a period where rubbers were of short-lived black material, you may have been unlucky enough to get a set of those last time, that would tie up with a diaphragm leak - which are otherwise rare.