Fuel Pump not priming - help needed in T&Y Washington

[tesstickles]

Dear All,

For the first time my Chim 500 didn;t start. the fuel pump is not priming. the engine cranks fine, just non of the familiar whirring noise before the engine is started.

I've checked and rechecked all the fuses, disconnected the ECU and also tried re-setting the alarm to re-set it in the hope that the alrm had thrown a tizzy. The only thing I have left to changing the relays for new ones.

I'd appreciate it if some-one could help me to get it started again, even if it's just to hotwire the pump so I can get it to Hexham HHC.

Hot tea and biscuits await.

Thanks in advanced.

Kim

[ray_von]

tesstickles said:

The only thing I have left to changing the relays for new ones.

No help but that'll be the problem. The silver Bosch ones that lie on top of the battery or around there. Get them from Andrew Page in the Arnison Centre. Also join the AA or RAC

[Cider Andy]

It is most likely to be the relays ray_von mentioned as they do tend to fail over time. Try flicking them - they can stick - and swap them with each other: they're identical.

Andrew Page do them at a reasonable price (about £6 each) and it's worth having spares. If that doesn't fix it, it could be one of a number of other things, like the connections at the pump or even an immobiliser problem. You can 'hot wire' the pump straight to the battery but the safest way would be to include a fuse in the lead.

[JonathanT]

have you checked the inertia trip switch that is behind the glove box?

[Ribol]

Have you tried cleaning the electrical connections on the pump itself?

Well worth a look before you get too involved elswhere.

[andy-w]

If you can remember where i live i have a couple you can have.

If that doesnt work i can come round your house tomorrow night and have a look for you????

[YTE]

I had a similar problem (95 Chim) have you checked that the alarm / imobiliser is working OK, I reset and reprogrammed the alarm module and the fuel pump fired back up again. Not really sure what caused it to fail the alarm and key fob all worked fine but the fuel pump would not run at all.

[Cider Andy]

JonathanT said:

have you checked the inertia trip switch that is behind the glove box?

A good point. If it has tripped, the 'i' indicator to the bottom left of the speedo should be lit.

[chimalsu]

i had this problem last week give the pump a knock or two with a hammer or something, worked for me did all the usual checks and nothing ,taped with hammer and pump primed straight away

[GreenV8S]

If you can't get the pump to run then hot wire it direct from the battery. If it runs like that you know you have an electrical fault. If it doesn't, you know the pump is dead.

[tesstickles]

Hello,

Sorry, for not replying sooner, I've been in London for the last couple of days and only just arrive back, but many thanks for all the advice and help.

I'll be buying some new relays tomorrow assuming H**f**d have them. I did try swapping them over, but it still didn't work. Not even sure if I heard any relay click. I just find it odd that Saturday it's running well, not a hiccup, going shopping and several starts, then Sunday NIL!

Andy: - I don't remember where you live. I'd very much appreciate some physical help all the same if this fails. However I'm busy until Saturday. I realise this is eating into family time, but it would be appreciated. Last time I saw your wife she was still pregnant and just about to 'drop'.

Thanks in advance to all.

Kim

[Aussie John]

The fuse for the pump in the griff is on the wiring loom near the ecu and not on the fuse board, maybe worth a look, John.

[andy-w]

tesstickles said:

I'm busy until Saturday. I realise this is eating into family time, but it would be appreciated. Last time I saw your wife she was still pregnant and just about to 'drop'.

She did drop...and now i have this little monster that thinks it is cool to spend quality time with me from 11pm till 5am for the past couple of nights!!!!!!

Saturday will be fine.

and as said above there are a couple of 20a fuses on lose leads with the relays as well. Check that they are ok....actually pull them out and re-sit.
I had an issue with one of them being lose and was blowing every now and then...

[bhpjon]

Ribol said:

Have you tried cleaning the electrical connections on the pump itself?

Well worth a look before you get too involved elswhere.

This took me over 2 years and £600 in expenditure to find that two loose connections and a dodgy connection in the fuse board were at fault, i tried everyhting else, now by-passed the fuse board and crimped terminals onto pump, end of problems!!!!!!! (fingers crossed)Let me know if i can be of help!

[tesstickles]

Hello all,

Thanks for the advice. H**f**ds don't stock the relays so no luck in that score. I won't have a chance now until the weekend to do something or poke around. The fuses close to the two silver relays didn't automatically jump out at me, so I may have overlooked them. I'll have a look if I can tomorrow morning.

Hoping I can get it fixed this weekend. One way or another it will growl again! Besides there are two Subarus in the neighborhood. Got to have something that's more melodic.

Kim

Edited by tesstickles on Wednesday 28th November 21:01

[Ribol]

bhpjon said:

Ribol said:

Have you tried cleaning the electrical connections on the pump itself?

Well worth a look before you get too involved elswhere.

This took me over 2 years and £600 in expenditure to find that two loose connections and a dodgy connection in the fuse board were at fault

I would have told you that for half the price

[bhpjon]

Ribol said:

bhpjon said:

Ribol said:

Have you tried cleaning the electrical connections on the pump itself?

Well worth a look before you get too involved elswhere.

This took me over 2 years and £600 in expenditure to find that two loose connections and a dodgy connection in the fuse board were at fault

I would have told you that for half the price

You told me about the starter motor problem for free!!!!!

[tesstickles]

I looked for these two much fabled 20A near the ECU. They don't appear to be there, or they have a cloaking device on them. So still no luck for now.

Andy: - YHM. Hope to see you on saturday if you're free; most appreciated. let me know what time you intend to arrive, so I can get the kettle boiling and the biscuits ready.

Jon: - YHM. If you wish to come along let me know what time, much appreciated. Will need to try and tie up with Andys' time or vice versa.

Many thanks in advance

Kim

[spend]

I've heard of early Griffs having them in the fusebox instead (very unlikely in your car!), and some Chims having them 'tidied up' to go behind the glove 'pouch'. Generally they should be on the big umbilical cord that goes to the ECU.

Dave

[tesstickles]

spend said:

I've heard of early Griffs having them in the fusebox instead (very unlikely in your car!), and some Chims having them 'tidied up' to go behind the glove 'pouch'. Generally they should be on the big umbilical cord that goes to the ECU.

Dave

Hello Dave/Spend,

Been there done that, felt all along the length of the ECU umbilical cord. So unless they're the insulating tape they're not obviously there. I did find two fuses under the dash, one 25A and the other 5A. Will have a look in the glove box area, but they again they didn't seem to be obviously there either. I was also looking for the isolation switch, but couldn't even find that! Either I must be missing something/s or I've got my dark specs on. I'm hoping it's the latter.

Thanks

Kim