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Get a small amount of air pressure on the fuel line and look for leaks. Best to disconnect the line from the gas tank and plug it both ends before applying pressure. Say about 3 to 5 psi. Be careful that the line does not break out of the tank if it is rusty.

That's certainly one way to test a fuel line. My own preference is, instead of using pressure, to use vacuum. I disconnect the fuel line at the tank and at the pump. Attach a vacuum gauge at one end and a vacuum pump with a valve at the other. Pump to pull a vacuum of 15 or so inches of Hg, and valve or otherwise close the end, and check the residual vacuum the next morning. If you held the vacuum overnight you can have high confidence the line is tight.

Everyone's suggestions have been quite good, especially those to help you diagnose the problem.
Has the car sat for a long time? could the gas have gone bad? What I'm getting around to is to say I'd be suspect of the fuel pump. I've had a couple of cars in my shop that the valves in the pump have become sticky due to bad gas. They either stick closed or simply stick some of the time. The old diaphragms start to leak and will loose vacuum ability with little damage evidenced to the eye. With the new fuels, this problem is more common.

So, if you check the line and it is OK, my bet is on the pump.
Good luck.

Take an old inner tube and cut out the valve with a circle of rubber about 6" diameter. Clamp this on your gas filler neck with a hose clamp. Now you can pressurize your gas tank. Not too much, 3 to 5 pounds is plenty. If the rubber bulges up you have pressure.

This should show up any leaks. It will also allow driving a car with no fuel pump.

Quote:

Husband to Wife: "Honey, we got a big ol' hill coming up, so get the tire pump and get ready!"

Ha ha ha Well it's better than making her push ha ha ha.

Quote:


No, I was driving the car every day. It only sat maybe 3 weeks. I have always had problems starting it after it has sat for a few weeks. I figured that the gas had evaporated out of the carb. Usually after cranking for a wile and a few pumps of the gas peddle it would start. Later on I had to use starting fluid. That would work but it would die as soon as the starting fluid was used up. The more I think about it the problem seems to be that the pump just won't pick up the gas when everything has dried out.

Not home right now. Will check the fuel line for leaks maybe next week. BTW the vacuum leak down test seems to be a good way to check it. I have a couple od vacuum gauges that read up to 50 inches of water.


Thanks.