Continuous Ticking

[gucu]

Hi

I bought a car on Sunday and I am trying to iron out some of the issues. Trying to work out the order to sort them out as well!

So the latest issue is the car has the continued ticking sound made by the petrol pump when we go up hill. If I am gentle on the throttle and very carefully drive up hill I can make it to the top. If I try to accelerate up the hill I run out of petrol and have to wait or if the hill is steep enough go back to the bottom. The petrol gauge doesn't work but I filled the car up and have done about 20 miles in total.

How do I go about working out what the problem is please?

Thanks

Rich

[myoldjalopy]

Sounds like the pump is struggling to provide enough fuel for uphill acceleration. First check that the little removable filter in the bottom of the petrol pump isn't clogged up. Have a cloth underneath to soak up any fuel that comes out when you remove it. You need a suitable size spanner to do this.

[geoberni]

The pump is ticking continually because the system isn't working as it should. There's a few possible reasons.

When working correctly, the pump clicks as it sucks fuel from the tank and puts it in the float chamber on the side of the Carburettor. When that is full, the float cuts off the inlet to the Chamber.
The flow not cut off, the pressure builds up until the pump diaphragm can't move.
Once the Carb has used some fuel, the float chamber valve opens and the fuel pump can top it up, so recommences clicking.
Repeat sequence.

So you need to investigate what is going wrong, you're clearly not getting enough fuel where it's needed.
Perhaps the pump filter is blocked?
Assuming it is an SU pump, the filter is under the 3rd fitting on the casing.
It could be the float chamber not working properly, which can allow fuel to leak from the carb.
It can be a leak if fuel between pump and carb.
It can be the non return valves in the pump not keeping fuel in the pump body.
It can be the pump sucking air instead of fuel. This one seems quite likely.

So you need to investigate. Disconnect the Coil so you don't damage it from leaving the Ign switched on and not running.
Then turn on and see what's going on.
Take the line of the carb and pump fuel into a container, is it a good flow.

if you close the end of the line off, does the pump still keep clicking?
I suspect either an air leak or the pump needs servicing.

[svenedin]

All good advice about checking the fuel pump and filter. Personally, I find it easier to clean out the filter by removing the fuel pump from the car. You can then squirt some carburettor cleaner into the pump and make sure it is clean. Re-installing the pump is a further check that the inlet and outlet connections are secure.

Once you have checked over your fuel pump and you have made sure it is pumping fuel into a bottle as Berni suggests let us know if the problem is sorted. If not we can offer further advice.


Stephen

[olonas]

"You need a suitable size spanner to do this."

3/8" Whitworth ring spanner, or at a push a 18mm ring spanner.

[myoldjalopy]

Thank you, 'olonas'. I know I have one, as I have done this very same job before, but couldn't remember off-hand its exact size. I knew it was a spanner and not a screwdriver though!

[oliver90owner]

It is fairly obvious a fuel issue between tank and carburettor. Is there an in-line filter fitted between pump and carb? That should result in the pump stopping, mind, but could be “the straw that is breaking the camel’s back” along with the pump issue. My first check (after checking tightness of fuel line to the pump) would be to check the flow from the pump. That should give some indication - bubbles but little flow or just not much flow at all.

[myoldjalopy]

There is, of course, a filter in the tank as well as the one in the pump and any possible in-line filter. But certainly worth checking the pump filter and the fuel flow and seeing if there are any leaks in the float chamber or pipe fittings first, as others have suggested.