Dodgy fuel pump?

Post by **Bretta** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 3:05 pm

Hi All,

I'm wondering if I've got a dodgy fuel pump after my moggy embarrassingly cut out out on my on three separate occasions and held up all the busy Sunday traffic this afternoon.

First time I was cruising at 30mph and it just cut out but starting again straight away. Second time I was pulling out of a junction and wouldn't start for about a minute. Third time I was doing about 25mph in 3rd and wouldn't start for about two minutes.

It's a hot day down here today, and although the car has used/lost some water the car didn't seem to be hot or steaming when I looked in the rad. The car also has new plugs and points fitted about a month ago so don't think it's electrical, but I'm no expert. BTW, the fuel tank was full of fuel at the time.

Does this sound like a fuel pump problem or something else?

thanks in advance.
Bretta

Post by **PSL184** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:23 pm

Next time it cuts out listen for the pump ticking. If you can't hear it then it is faulty. If the pump is still ticking then you will need to look elsehwere which we can advise you about once we know more details....

Post by **Bretta** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:36 pm

Thanks for the reply. I'm a bit too scared to take it out again if it's behaving like this as it conks out in the most inappropriate of places, and it all gets a bit frustrating when everyone around me is losing their temper with me.

regards
Bretta

Post by **PSL184** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:42 pm

Just leave it running on the driveway or road - If it is the pump it will pack up regardless of where you are.....

Post by **Bretta** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:48 pm

thanks, I'll try that.

Post by **Bretta** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 7:08 pm

The pump only ticks when the engine is running and no ticking at all when just the ignition on.

regards
Bretta

Post by **MarkyB** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 7:18 pm

That sounds about right, the pump will only tick when it's replace fuel being used by the engine.
Was there a sudden burst of ticking before the engine could be restarted?
This would suggest the pump needs some attention.

Post by **Bretta** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 7:42 pm

Hi Marky,

I've noticed that when I'm waiting at traffic lights it has a sudden burst of clicks.

regards
Bretta

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:00 pm

Sounds like fuel vapourisation - the fuel is getting too hot in the feed line, and some pumps are (seemingly - never happened to me!) not able to suck the fuel up - and so rapid useless clicking until the pump gets some fresh liquid fuel to play with!
Various remedies - don't use the car in hot weather/lag the fuel feed line /adjust the pump to give it a slightly longer stroke/clean the pump fuel filter - and finally -(this definitely works) reposition the pump much lower down so it doesn't have to suck the fuel upwards!

Post by **Peetee** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:00 pm

Exactly the same thing happened to me today. I was most put out [polite mode] because I spent a good two hours on the pump just last week and refaced the contacts as they were badly pitted. Todays problems started after about 5 miles. I 'fixed it' by closing the points up a bit. That saw me through another 40 miles and got me home without another problem.

Post by **Bretta** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:11 pm

bmcecosse wrote:Sounds like fuel vapourisation - the fuel is getting too hot in the feed line, and some pumps are (seemingly - never happened to me!) not able to suck the fuel up - and so rapid useless clicking until the pump gets some fresh liquid fuel to play with!
Various remedies - don't use the car in hot weather/lag the fuel feed line /adjust the pump to give it a slightly longer stroke/clean the pump fuel filter - and finally -(this definitely works) reposition the pump much lower down so it doesn't have to suck the fuel upwards!

Thanks for the excellent info, I might just go ahead and get a new one and fit it in a lower position. At least I'll have more confidence in a new pump.

regards
Bretta

Post by **Bretta** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:13 pm

Peetee wrote:Exactly the same thing happened to me today. I was most put out [polite mode] because I spent a good two hours on the pump just last week and refaced the contacts as they were badly pitted. Todays problems started after about 5 miles. I 'fixed it' by closing the points up a bit. That saw me through another 40 miles and got me home without another problem.

Have to say the air turned blue in my car too.

Did you have a host of angry drivers behind you? I did! Don't really want a repeat experience of that.

Post by **tonym911** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 1:16 pm

Mine has started misbehaving too. Misfiring when picking up through the gears which seems to get worse the longer I keep going. Revs in neutral (ie not under load) but splutters while doing so. Petrol pump ticks OK before startup and I'm not aware of any bursts of clicks. Car has electronic ignition. I looked at the distributor cap this morning, there was a small amount of grey deposit on the centre lead terminal (the one from the coil) so I scraped that stuff off and replaced the dizzy cap with a new one. While I was in there I noticed what looked like a tiny bit of scorching on the tip of the rotor arm. I gave it a rub with an oily thumb and finger.
Don't know if this is connected but this misfiring problem seems to have coincided with the arrival of erratic starting – both lights come on but then there'll be just a 'kerlunk' and no engine startup. Eventually (and quite randomly) it will decide to start. Car then runs OK-ish but as I say it starts to misfire within a few miles. Test run with new dizzy cap doesn't appear to have fixed anything (didn't think it would, the existing one looks quite new).
Could it be the condenser? Coil? Faulty elec ignition module? Checked fuel filler cap, it's a lockable one, seems ok, no hiss of escaping gas when opening it.
Would be sorry if the only fix really is not to drive in warm weather! Especially with the rally coming up.

Post by **cormorant** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 1:26 pm

This happened on my van and the contacts were very dirty and burnt inside the fuel pump, easy to remove the cap and have a look. When it conked out, if I flicked the pump cap sharply with my finger - result - lots of mad clicking! And the car would start again. I didn't have a lot of money at the time so used to keep leaping out and whacking the pump.

Possibly better to buy a new pump if it all looks a bit grim inside.

Post by **tonym911** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 1:30 pm

Thanks for that, I'll have a look at the pump.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 3:10 pm

Sounds more like a problem with the ignition - fuel pump failure usually results in complete stoppage - not just splutters. That's the problem with electronic ignition - difficult to trouble shoot it! But do have a look at the coil connections - and check the spark plugs.

Post by **tonym911** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 3:32 pm

I'm so far from being mechanically adept it's not true, but I thought it must be electrical. The SU pump isn't that old and seems to make all the right ticking noises. The only slightly inexplicable bit is the spluttering seems to get worse as the journey continues.

Post by **Declan_Burns** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 3:53 pm

I had a similar problem and it turned out to be the condenser. Maybe worth replacing as they are very cheap.

Post by **tonym911** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 4:03 pm

Thanks Declan, I was wondering about that, I've got a spare one, is it a bother to fit? Looks a bit fiddly in that dizzy dept.

Post by **tonym911** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 4:07 pm

Plugs all look ok and coil connections are good.