Fuel Pump Cut Out Then Didn't Prime

[Obey_R 23]

Had a search but the only thread that seems to apply was never finished with an answer

 

Basically was going round the roundabout last week and lost all power, would just about idle but cut out about 100m past the exit. At the time I thought I was out of petrol so topped up from a Jerry can and still nothing. Then realised I couldn't hear the pump prime on ignition. Fiddled with a few wires by the pump, nothing, then where I'd chopped the brown multiplug out and it primed and away we went.

 

Only problem is I've got a fairly long and important journey to make on Wednesday and I can't really risk not getting there!

 

Is this likely to be just a loose connection, because it was so easily fixed, or could it be the relay on it's way out? The car ran for about 1.5 hours after this happened with no other problems so I don't think it's the pump, also means not the fuse.

 

1992 1.6 GTI

 

Any ideas?

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

If it is fuel pump then I would get hold of a new relay. Also check the earth point behind the N/S tail light- this is where the fuel pump earths.

 

However, the symptom of no power but the engine idling sounds exactly as I have experienced with a dead AFM- the thing keeps running but will not respond to throttle.

[Obey_R 23]

Sorry didn't mention it was running twin 40's, so no AFM. I'm pretty sure it was the fuel pump because it was hunting badly on idle and only lasted about 30 secs before it cut out. I'll try get hold of the relay but not sure I'll be able to before Wednesday! I'll have to go for a long drive tomorrow to check it's behaving itself.

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

If you cannot get a relay, get a length of wire with a pair of suitable spade terminals and a inline fuse. If it plays up you can pull the relay, and wire a direct fused live with your length of cable. This will at least get you where you are going. You will also need to power the ignition feed.

[Anthony 1,003]

Another vote for the tachymetric relay.

 

The carbs will keep running for a period after the fuel pump stops as there's still fuel in the float bowls, but as that fuel drains, they'll run worse and worse until it cuts out - and if you're unlucky, sucks a load of crap through blocking jets etc.

 

Thick piece of wire linking the thick brown (main 12v feed) and on of the thick white wires (74 - fuel pump) will bypass the relay to provide constant power to the fuel pump. You might just find that it's a dry joint on the relay if you pop the top off it, and if so, is easy to repair providing that you've a good quality soldering iron.

[mhyphenl 10 1 Cars]

If you bridge the fuel relay with wire should the pump run even with the ignition off? Sorry to hijack but its kind of relevant, ive just rebuilt my car and got to the point of trying the engine to find it turn over but not start, ive got sparks but when i bridge the relay the pump doesnt budge!

[Anthony 1,003]

Yes it should - the brown wire is a permenant 12v feed from the shunt box.

 

A multimeter is your friend for working out what's going on...