Fuel coming out of the air filter

[jimmy1182]

1990 8v Digi

Went to start the car today and nothing apart from a clunk from the engine.
Have taken all the spark plugs out and tried to turn it over without the fuel pump connected and it turns the engine fine.
So connected it all back up, tried to start it again, and nothing but the clunk.
After continuous messing i noticed that there was petrol coming out of the air filter.

Any thoughts guys and girls? ECU perhaps?

I'm stumped!

[rubjonny]

takes much less effort to spin an engine over without plugs in, perhaps your battery is a bit flat?

[jimmy1182]

Yeah i thought that so i used my mates, which was brand new, does the same.
If i take the fuel pump fuse out, it will turn the engine over no problem.
As soo as i connect it it turns a coupme of times, then the clunk noise again, i'm baffled.
You think it's worth just calling out the RAC and seeing if they have a clue

[rubjonny]

sounds kinda like its filling the bores up with fuel due to a blown ecu, but if you had cranked it with the plugs out then it would have sprayed fuel everywhere!
does the pump prime on 1st turn of key or just run continuous

[danny_p]

as you've hydrolocked the engine a couple of times,   compression test would bve an idea.

then new earth strap and ecu

[jimmy1182]

Yeah when i turned it over with the plugs out fuel did spurt out everywhere. I just did it quickly to test whether it turned.
The fuel pump primes as it should.
I'm thinking blown ECU, have got a spare one somewhere i think so goingto try and change it over. And give the earth strap a good clean up, will it be the one going to the gearbox which would cause most problems?

Cheers for the help guys

[rubjonny]

just do em all, including earths to the side of the head, cant hurt eh

[jimmy1182]

True, job for the weekend i think