I just broke down

[ferny]

The Moggy just cocnked out on me - the first time I’ve ever broken down when driving a car.

The other day when I was driving along the A505 the car faltered and carried on. As if the fuel supply was interrupted. The engine was just getting warm as I’d driven a couple of fast miles. Afterwards it was fine and I was sitting along at 55mph. The car had gone from Luton to Leighton Buzzard a couple of hours earlier without any issues.

Twice this week mum has started the car and within the space of 10 meters the car has died. I’ve been called out and got it started again. There is no fuel smell so it’s not a case of inexperience with chokes.

Just now I was driving along in a 60mph zone accelerating and doing 50mph. I’d only driven about a mile. The car faltered and I couldn’t get it to pick up so I put it into neutral to see if I could rev the engine to bring it back to life but when I did so the engine died. I pulled over and after a short time managed to get it to start.

Thinking it might be a bit of crap in the pipes and seeing the amount of muck in the float chamber I fitted a fuel filter yesterday. I couldn’t spot a piece of flexible pipe before the fuel pipe (it’s the standard electronic SU pump to my eyes) so fitted it after the pump. That way I would also be able to tell if there was fuel after the pump if the car died again - to try and narrow down what the problem was. When the car died today there was fuel in the filter so the problem is the pump or before the pump.

My logic says it’s unlikely to be crap in the lines because once it’s died and been brought back to life the car runs fine. So it must be electrical but again it’s odd that it’s fine afterwards. Unless the problem has just started and is going to get worse over time.

These fuel pumps have points don’t they? Possible those wearing out or in need of adjustment?

Each time I get the car started again I hear the fuel pump do a lot of clicking. It’s not until it does this that the car starts again and it does start instantly. I’ve assumed this is the pump priming itself or doing something similar which is why I initially though it was a blocked pipe before the fuel pump.

I’ve yet to look for another fuel filter in the car as I’ve not had the chance. Maybe there is one someone else has put on and that’s dirty. I’ll also look for a bit of flexible pipe on the car to fit one before the fuel pump.

[Orkney]

Yes fuel pump points main suspect.

[alex_holden]

It's almost certain to be the fuel pump points. Take the dust cap off and try cleaning them with a bit of fine emery paper. If the contacts have burned away completely they will need replacing.

[chickenjohn]

Agree, sounds like classic fuel pump points problem. BTW, these should be service item, every 12,000miles or once a year, inspect and clean the fuel pump points (if excessively worn, replace). If they are serviced, the fuel pumps are much more reliable.

[rayofleamington]

Each time I get the car started again I hear the fuel pump do a lot of clicking. It’s not until it does this that the car starts again and it does start instantly.

Agreed with above - when the fuel pump points are burned the pump becomes unreliable and will stop altogether. After a hundred metres (approx!) you then run out of fuel.
With vibration the pump might self start - I had one where the clonk of opening the bonnet was enough to restart the pump. If that fails to work then give the body of the pump a firm whack with a screwdriver handle or something similar. When the pump restarts it will run quickly to refill the carb. After filling the carb it should stop running quickly. If it continues to run fast with the engine stopped then you have a different problem!

The points should be inspected at least once a year, and replaced when they show signs of severe pitting or heavy wear. The original points would last a good 100,000 miles.
I'm told that the replacement points with twin contacts don't last any longer than the single ones, and modern parts rarely last as long as the high quality originals, so I'd not expect to get new points to last any where near as long as the old and if the car is doing a lot of miles, it may be worth to replace every few years and/or carry tools and some spares just in case.

I would normally carry a spare (working) fuel pump if going on a long journey as that can be changed in a few minutes. I wouldn't want to try rebuilding a pump at the side of the road!

[ferny]

Thanks all. I just had a quick look at the points and they look crap. I gave them and the ones in the dissy a quick clean and it goes much better now. Some new ones will be on order later.

[StaffsMoggie]

Glad you sorted it, the points are the usual culprit.

By a strange coincidence there is a thread on this subject on the Club Triumph board!!

I put a reply on there earlier..

[dalebrignall]

there is a filter in the pump its self.if you feel underneath the pump you will find a nut undoo it ant pull the small gause filter out and see if its grubby.if it is just clean it in some petrol or some form of sprit and put it back in 5 minute job,i had this problem and broke down outside the ace cafe well worth a visit .

[ferny]

Glad you sorted it, the points are the usual culprit.

By a strange coincidence there is a thread on this subject on the Club Triumph board!!

I put a reply on there earlier..

That might be because I made it? ;)

No harm in asking to get as many opinions as possible.

[StaffsMoggie]

Glad you sorted it, the points are the usual culprit.

By a strange coincidence there is a thread on this subject on the Club Triumph board!!

I put a reply on there earlier..

That might be because I made it? ;)

No harm in asking to get as many opinions as possible.

Quite right, thats the idea of these forums, there is always someone who has had the same problem..

IncaSpit

[ferny]

Just an update. I'd say it was the points for sure!

http://fernys.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/ ... -oh-fudge/