Fuel pump problem

[Deadfast]

Didn't think I've have a problem on the first full day of ownership, but there we are...

Car started fine this morning. Re-started a little while later. An hour or less later I went back to it. Battery was pretty well drained. Car wouldn't respond to the key fobs. Got out the jump leads, alarm sprang very noisily into life. However, nothing I tried could get the car to start. Called out GF. Tested the fuses and it seems there is power to all of them but there is no noise from the fuel pump. The car will turn over but will not start.

Could the fuel pump be draining the battery? Any advice on fixing this? Any advice on a good garage in West Cornwall that can trace electrical gremlins? It's a long way to Dulfords for a fuel pump...

I think it's going to take a while to get used to TVR ownership again.

Thanks guys.

[Gerald-TVR]

Hi Matt

Fleabay is your friend or http://www.worldcarparts.co.uk/tabid/144/CategoryI... If your stuck I've got a ciuple of S/H ones

Norman

[Deadfast]

Thanks. They're coming back tomorrow to relay it, but they didn't test the pump itself, so I'll get them to do that first. If there is power to the pump then it has to be the pump? How easy is it to replace? The whole thing is covered in waxoyl and such like. What with the complications of "modern" cars I haven't been tempted to pick up a spanner for a while. SH's bible hasn't arrived yet either.

[Gerald-TVR]

Not too bad to change just in front of O/S rear suspension

[Deadfast]

Thanks again. Situated next to the petrol tank I've noticed. Covered in gunk. Might be a bit much for me! We'll see what they say tomorrow.

[tvrgit]

Are you sure the alarm / immobiliser is off?

OR - car turns over but doesn't start... let me see... where have we heard that before kiddies? (You won't have, if you're new to these cars, but half of the others on here will now be going "yellow connector!" in unison).

There is a yellow connecter under the steering column, that connects the car to the ignition switch, and it's really not man enough for the job, so that the "live" has a tendency to burn out and melt.

Easy check (assuming immobiliser is disengaged) - switch ignition to "on", see if the oil and battery warning lights come on. Other ignition-controlled circuits (like indicators / wipers) should also work. If they don't, 10 to 1 it's that connector.

When you turn the key to "start" it's a separate feed, so the starter could be turning but the car has no spark, so will never start.

This was exactly the cause of the first (and so far only) breakdown of mine - took me 30 minutes to work it out and fix with a kitkat wrapper. I replaced the connector later with a 4-way higher amperage one.

If the ignition DOES come on, listen for the fuel pump - it buzzes for a second or so while it primes the fuel system - if everything else works but you can't hear the pump, that's the culprit.

Worth checking through before you jump on pulling the pump to bits.

ETA just read the bit about you checking the fuses - in which case it's probably not the yellow connector at all. Sorry!

So I'd check the immobiliser and then the pump.

Edited by tvrgit on Sunday 18th July 18:49

[ketvrin]

Also don't overlook the fuel pump relay. The big yellow one under the dash
You should be able to hear iy clicking...
Does the pump prime when you turn they key to ignition ?
Good luck
Don't lose heart... She,s just testing you
K

[ketvrin]

Actually while you are invetigating the relay check the general condition of
Connectors for verdi-ste ... Do a waggle test and look at the red to red connector as that's
The supply to the engine run sensor red relay and if that's bad
You will not be able to go anywhere
That said, my money is on the immobiliser

K

[Deadfast]

Not giving up yet!

Everything else does work, just can't hear the pump prime.

So, if the relay is stuck that could be draining the battery? Could it burn out the pump? Where exactly under the dash is the relay? I want to try and avoid a 120 mile tow to Cullompton!

Thanks for the help!

Edited by Deadfast on Thursday 22 July 14:01

[ketvrin]

The fuel pump relay is the yellow one in this pic.



If you want to test the pump for sure, run a live direct to it from the battery and make sure you have a good earth from it to see if it turns...

Hope that helps

good luck

K

Edited by ketvrin on Monday 19th July 08:49

[Deadfast]

Great, thanks.

I'm getting the car recovered to a local garage, where I discovered this morning a guy who works there has a V8S! Fingers crossed!

Matt