Fixed it, but what have I done??

[Coopstar]

On way to work tonight car cut out as it had a while back. Its as if I ran out of fuel.
Anyway, last time it restarted after 3 attempts, ran fine ever since. This time tho'. it wouldnt start. It would fire then die immediately.
About to call the AA when I remembered a thread(s) about some identical relays in the passenger footwell.
I swapped them over, and hey presto it worked.
Question is, is it coincidental and what exactly have i swapped?
Thanks.

[andy-w]

One of these relays is for the fuel pump...it could have come slightly loose or dirt on the connectors...swapping them over would be enough to clean the connectors and complete the circuit or one of the relays is a bit dodgy.

[chim666]

andy-w said:

One of these relays is for the fuel pump...

IIRC the other one feeds the injectors, ECU or something, so it permits the car to start, but will not run very well....so it could be either one!

Might be worth just replacing both for what they cost (about £8 each).

Part no. Bosch 0732014112 according to this www.parkersteve.dsl.pipex.com/chimaeraparts.asp

>> Edited by chim666 on Sunday 9th October 20:43

[andy-w]

THE OTHER CONTOLS THE ECU?????

Your joking???

My car is at the garage at the moment and they think my ECU is not working and have sent it off to be tested.
Could it be that my relay is faulty as the car starts but runs very bad / rich???
I shall be on to the garage and suggest they try the relays first before i get a new ecu...

[chim666]

andy-w said:

THE OTHER CONTOLS THE ECU????? Your joking???

I may be talking bollox, but some time ago a fellow PH-er 'TheHobbit' had one of his relays go duff.
When he swapped them over initially, no whirring noise came from the fuel pump.
When he swapped them over again, the pump worked, the car started ok but wouldn't run smoothly.


Edited to add this post... www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=150356&f=8&h=0&hw=relay+faulty|www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=150356&f=8&h=0&hw=relay+faulty

read the bit from Peter Humphries "There should be two metal cased Bosch relays on flying leads. One is the main power relay for the ECU, the other supplies the fuel pump and lambda sensors. "



>> Edited by chim666 on Sunday 9th October 21:13

[andy-w]

Just had a look in the bible at the wireing diagram...cant see from that as it doesnt show the ecu or the relays!!!

More trial and error i think, but it does make sense IF the second relay goes to the ecu.

[chim666]

If you have the second edition bible, there's a diagram of the ECU circuit on page 84, and there's references to the relays throughout this chapter.

....where's Steve when you want him!

[andy-w]

Cheers...found the diagram and am now wondering if this really is the problem.
going to phone the garage first thing tomorrow and get them to check this out.

Could have saved me a few quid here!!!

[LeedsMatt]

This happened to my car recently. I turned out to be corroded electrical contacts on these relays and not the ECU. They replaced them and the problem's not returned since.

Matt

[parrot of doom]

Sounds like a relay is on the way out. Best buy 2 new ones, and keep a 3rd spare in the boot.

[Vipers]

Back in 1977 I brought a new Audo 100 5GLS, nice car in its day. Just over 3 years later I was returning from a drive and the engine died, luckly yards from front door. so pushed it to driveway.

Took plugs out, they bit me, so I knew the spark was OK, lots of fuel, so wasnt that, my neighbour also had an Audo 100 5GLS, we swapped circuit boards, fired first time, whatever it was on that board, wasnt working. Put old board back in, nothing, brought new one (then 80 quid) worked fine everafter.

So relay does sound the likely culprit, surprised its not the first thing garages check.............. but then I supose they would make much money out of you.

[Coopstar]

Thanks for the replies chaps. Sounds like a cheap fix!