TVR Tuscan fuel starvation problem

[sockfish]

I seem to be suffering an atypical fuel starvation problem.

To cut a long story short, my 2000 model-year Tuscan loses revs and eventually dies when the fuel tank gets down to about 14 litres (it is definitely not empty so it doesn't look like a fuel sender problem).

This has happened three times now. The last time it happened I just asked the very kind RAC man to try putting some more fuel in...and then it started first time and got me home fine. When this happens, by the way, I get the usual EFI warning message.

The car was recently serviced and was fine shortly afterwards on a round-trip to Devon (500 miles). If the fuel pump was on the way out, wouldn't this starvation problem happen regardless of the level of the fuel in the tank ?

Anyway, I am confused and wondered if anybody has suffered anything similar and what the resolution was !!

[OJ]

Haven't got a clue about TVR's, but In a Caterham this is usually down to the height of the Fuel pick-up in the tank which can be adjusted. Could it have shifted?

[BGB autosport]

Yeah the pick up may well have dropped off. Pop the pump out and check.

[sockfish]

Cheers guys. I guess I am going to have to get this checked at a garage as I have no idea where to start, to be honest. But your comments might help me get them pointed in the right direction.

[sockfish]

....assuming I can get to a garage that is. This is getting weirder. I can start the car from cold and it idles fine at about 700rpm up to operating temperature. Then, as soon as I put it in gear and put any load on the engine it just dies and doesn't want to start again. I get an EFI warning come up but it disappears straight away before I get a chance to even see if there's a letter code. Oh, and there is 37 litres of fuel in the tank. I am at my wits end.

[nelly1]

Sounds like there is a physical restriction in the fuel line.

The first port of call would be to check / change the fuel filter.

If that's not the problem, get the fuel volume flow checked at the engine - I think the pump is rated at 1.8 litres/minute.

Check the electrical connections to the fuel pump while you're under the car too.

Edited by nelly1 on Sunday 23 November 08:45

[fraxton]

hi, was the breathing hole on the filler cap blocked by any chance?

[Chewitt]

could be a wonky fuel cut out switch?

[Daston]

I thought the "EFI warning" was the code....... or am I being a Doosh?