She let me down for the first time tonight!!!
Discussion
On the way back from a 320 mile round trip today, my trusty old girl conked out 5 miles from home....phew!!! It just died as i came off a roundabout....fuel starvation i think. i had my 3 year old with me, so luckily the Mrs came and collected her whilst i waited for the relay truck to take me home!!!
It seems like the feed to the fuel pump or the fuel pump itself has gone tits.
When i turn the ignition on, i dont get the buzz from the fuel pump, but the ECU clicks as if it is telling the fuel pump to switch on.
So tommorow i'll get underneath to see if the leads to the fuel pump are okay, then it'll be off to the garage for some work.....it's booked in for tuesday for a service anyway, so the timing is quite good!!!......
anyone else had a similar thing?
It seems like the feed to the fuel pump or the fuel pump itself has gone tits.
When i turn the ignition on, i dont get the buzz from the fuel pump, but the ECU clicks as if it is telling the fuel pump to switch on.
So tommorow i'll get underneath to see if the leads to the fuel pump are okay, then it'll be off to the garage for some work.....it's booked in for tuesday for a service anyway, so the timing is quite good!!!......
anyone else had a similar thing?
Not sure this will help, but in my 2 years of Chim ownership I too was let down once, about 5 miles from home; fuel pump relay (Bosch; about £5 each).
Kind Mr AA man put a temporary fused link across the relay connections in order to get me home; might be worth a try if you know what you're doing ?
Mike
Kind Mr AA man put a temporary fused link across the relay connections in order to get me home; might be worth a try if you know what you're doing ?
Mike
mongoose said:
Nick P said:
cheers, i'll try the relay tommorow as the next step.
Does sound very much like it,i had one go in this way.Make sure you replace with the proper Bosch one,not just any 5 pin relay.I always carry a spare these days.
i've got a pack of fuses and relays in the boot, but didnt think to try this!!! *note to self* carry torch and TVR bible in car in future!!
****UPDATE TIME!!!****
well buggar me with a plastic fist. I went out just now and she fired up first time.
Tried it several times on the trot and no sign of a failure. Fuel pump fires up every time.
In the bible is shows 1 relay for 'ECU and Ignitions'......i took that out and its a small black seimens one.
and to add to the story.....i took this relay out and turned the ignition on....and guess what?......it started
I do also have a small cluster of bits and bobs (fuses and small relays) in a tupperware box to the right hand side of the main fuse panel which is on the same loom as the ECU.
Anything there could be a fuel pump relay?
Just to clarify.....it's an early 94 Chim with the non trip-meter tacho.
well buggar me with a plastic fist. I went out just now and she fired up first time.
Tried it several times on the trot and no sign of a failure.
Fuel pump fires up every time. In the bible is shows 1 relay for 'ECU and Ignitions'......i took that out and its a small black seimens one.
and to add to the story.....i took this relay out and turned the ignition on....and guess what?......it started
I do also have a small cluster of bits and bobs (fuses and small relays) in a tupperware box to the right hand side of the main fuse panel which is on the same loom as the ECU.
Anything there could be a fuel pump relay?
Just to clarify.....it's an early 94 Chim with the non trip-meter tacho.
Edited by Nick P on Monday 20th November 09:26
On mine, a 97 Chim, there are two of these Bosch relays (one for the fuel pump, one for the ECU? ... can't remeber). They are not mounted on the fuse panel. They plug into female connectors that are wired straight into the loom, i.e. they are free to flop around on the end of some bundled cables. On mine the ECU is just tucked down the side of the battery box, and when you ease it out into the footwell, the bit of the loom with the relevant relays flops off the top of the battery into the footwell too.
ATG said:
On mine, a 97 Chim, there are two of these Bosch relays (one for the fuel pump, one for the ECU? ... can't remeber). They are not mounted on the fuse panel. They plug into female connectors that are wired straight into the loom, i.e. they are free to flop around on the end of some bundled cables. On mine the ECU is just tucked down the side of the battery box, and when you ease it out into the footwell, the bit of the loom with the relevant relays flops off the top of the battery into the footwell too.
this will be the stuff that is ....erm...stuffed into tupperware box!!!
i'll go and look again. but it seems odd that it starts fine today.
it had plenty of time to cool down last night whilst sitting next to the A46
yep.....these will be the two smallish silver relays that are in my tupperware box!!! along with other assorted fuses and bits. They are working....when i hold them they click is synch with the fuel pump.
When i removed one of them , the fuel pump stopped working as per my fault last night.
Looks like i may have had a sticky relay perhaps?
I may just change it and see if the faults re-occurs.
When i removed one of them , the fuel pump stopped working as per my fault last night.
Looks like i may have had a sticky relay perhaps?
I may just change it and see if the faults re-occurs.
Nick P said:
Looks like i may have had a sticky relay perhaps?
I may just change it and see if the faults re-occurs.
I would be inclined to change it also.I'm going to change mine every other service from now on.If you want to source them cheaply,look for your local Bosch agent,this is where i get mine from I may just change it and see if the faults re-occurs.
.ok....update 2.
went for a drive to get a new relay...had the relay tested...they are fine.
went back out to car and it did it again
however car started after 2 or 3 attempts when the fuel pump started up again
I then limped home to scratch my head........
immobiliser playing up? it all appears to work correctly............the mystery continues.
went for a drive to get a new relay...had the relay tested...they are fine.
went back out to car and it did it again
however car started after 2 or 3 attempts when the fuel pump started up again
I then limped home to scratch my head........
immobiliser playing up? it all appears to work correctly............the mystery continues.
Nick P said:
ok....update 2.
went for a drive to get a new relay...had the relay tested...they are fine.
went back out to car and it did it again
however car started after 2 or 3 attempts when the fuel pump started up again
I then limped home to scratch my head........
immobiliser playing up? it all appears to work correctly............the mystery continues.
You could have corroded terminals on the pump,or the pump could be sticking,this is a known symptom of a tired pump.A tap can sometimes free a sticking pump,but replacement is obviously the way to go in this case.Hope this helps-Mikewent for a drive to get a new relay...had the relay tested...they are fine.
went back out to car and it did it again
however car started after 2 or 3 attempts when the fuel pump started up again
I then limped home to scratch my head........
immobiliser playing up? it all appears to work correctly............the mystery continues.
I had a similar problem when overtaking a car on the way to work, pulled out and the car stuttered and stopped. I coasted into the works car park and left the car. When I went out at lunch time to sort it, it fired up first time. I went down the end of the road, turned right and it cut out. Very peculiar. I did the relay and fuse check and everything looked OK-ish. I then had a closer look at the fuse and there was a bit of corrosion and a small gap which must have opened every time lateral g was put on it. It may be worth checking/replacing the fuse too.
I have recently installed a plastic container in the foot well for the electrics to stop them from getting wet (again).
I have recently installed a plastic container in the foot well for the electrics to stop them from getting wet (again).
Bob the Planner said:
I had a similar problem when overtaking a car on the way to work, pulled out and the car stuttered and stopped. I coasted into the works car park and left the car. When I went out at lunch time to sort it, it fired up first time. I went down the end of the road, turned right and it cut out. Very peculiar. I did the relay and fuse check and everything looked OK-ish. I then had a closer look at the fuse and there was a bit of corrosion and a small gap which must have opened every time lateral g was put on it. It may be worth checking/replacing the fuse too.
I have recently installed a plastic container in the foot well for the electrics to stop them from getting wet (again).
I have recently installed a plastic container in the foot well for the electrics to stop them from getting wet (again).
i've already got the 'Tupperware upgrade mod'
which fuse are you referring to by the way?
I'll get the garage to check the fuel pump and connections tommorow.............
this seems to be turning into a labour of love.........
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