engine trouble....... fuel pump? what could it be? -updated

[bighairymuppet 0]

could someone please tell me the symptoms of a dying fuel pump? in particular a valver.

 

I have no idea whats causing my car to behave like a kangaroo but here are the symptoms i have.

 

Car runs fine in idle

car runs fine for wee bit say 1- 2 miles.(sometimes more its random)

car starts to hunt midway down acc pedal

put foot to floor hunts a bit more then becomes normal then hunts again.

No noise from engine

same symptoms as too low a revs for gear

gears go in fine +

sometimes it will run fine for a bit then hunts for a bit then its as though it clears itself

oil temp fairly high 92

 

mfa shows 12mpg!! dropped to single figs! at one point!!! wtf

 

fuel gauge in cars stoped working.

 

additional info

wasn't starting too well before this.

fuel pump has been buzzing for a while.

 

EMM help?

 

any other ideas?

[vr6storm 0]

IIRC the valver has 2 fuel pumps................one in the tank and one "outside" of the tank.....perhaps one is dying?.......i take its recently had a fuel filter to eliminate that?

[Joe M 0]

Sounds to me like its the lift pump in the tank thats died which means the pump under the car will be struggling to suck the petrol out of the tank causing the buzzing. If its the main pump that failed then I doubt the car would run at all. This is good as the in-tank pump is cheaper.

92 degrees on the oil temp sounds about right, I wouldnt worry about that at all.

[bighairymuppet 0]

does the symptoms sound right?

Haven't had a chance to change filter yet, not sure when it was changed.

[vr6storm 0]

does the symptoms sound right?

Haven't had a chance to change filter yet, not sure when it was changed.

 

well there is the outside chance that it might just need the filter...........and tbh if u were fitting a new pump you'd be as well changing the filter anyway................so change the filter 1st and see if it makes a difference :wink:

[bighairymuppet 0]

Sorry i menat do the symptoms i descirb in the first post soiund like this may be the cause ie pump??

 

... anyway im off to bed tired.. gonna try not worry about it too much till tommorow

[Joe M 0]

If the running problems started at the same time the fuel gauge gave up then yeah, id say the in tank pump has problems. Other things to check are vacuum pipes for leaks, especially the ones right behind the airbox, could try cleaning the isv and as Roddy says the fuel filter, always worth changing that on a 16v anyway if you dont know when it was last done.

[bighairymuppet 0]

how easy is the tank pump to change? whats it involve apart from losing any fuel in the tank :( where in the line is the filter is it in line with the secondary pump? an how much do they cost roughly?

also anyone know where you can get these parts cheaply around these parts im in dundee.

 

oh yeah and im skint but car now has full mot :oops: :roll: :cry:

suppose i should be happy about that.

 

anyway gtg

 

cheers guys for info so far

[bighairymuppet 0]

Update - car still having issues

due to money constraints i havent been able to do anything but pootle around and try and figure out definetly what it is.

now that i have money i havent time, argh!!!

Iwanna drive (throws toys outa his pram)

 

have found so far

1. starts fine if you prime the pump a few times (ie turn ign on , off 3 -4 times before trying to start it)

2. arch pump is definetly whining but suspect working.

3. still don't know why it doesn't do it all the time.

[Skimask 0]

have found so far

1. starts fine if you prime the pump a few times (ie turn ign on , off 3 -4 times before trying to start it)

2. arch pump is definetly whining but suspect working.

3. still don't know why it doesn't do it all the time.

 

BHM

 

1. Looks like fuel starvation -'priming' the pump wouldn't help if it was vacuum related.

As advised previously look at your fuel filter chances are it will be old, and renew that first. Quite cheap!

If it still does it then look at the lift pump in the tank - check its getting a good electrical connection first (Fuel gauge not working). If its not that then probably the pump itself is shot.

The reason its not doing it all the time points to blocked filter/impending pump failure.

Filter sometimes fuel gets through sometimes it doesn't. Same with the lift pump it may work then stick - then work again, not lifting enough fuel for the main pump.

 

2. Vacuum problems - easily checked, I pulled the vacuum pipe off the instrument panel. Its quite obvious its sucking air in on tickover, its loud. When you put your finger over it the suction keeps it there and sticks, hence no leaks elsewhere. (if there was a leak in the system it would not have stuck!)

You could test the suction on the pipe in the engine bay.

 

3. Earths!, check the engine, battery and chassis connections are clean!

Hope it helps. I changed my fuel filter a few weeks ago and the engine felt more lively after renewal!

[bighairymuppet 0]

Thanks a lot for that extra information this is helping me out no end.

 

1. will be changing fuel filter then lift pump (more than likely) , will check electrical connections too.

2. will doublecheck vacum hoses.

3.dunno much about electrics and earths though i should be able o see if they are corroded loose etc..

 

thanks again

[willmason 0]

I had the same problem on my valver and I changed lift pump it didnt cure it turned out to be the fuel pump relay was faulty but intermitent try your relay before you spend money on a pump

[Skimask 0]

Good Call Will!!

I just remembered when I had the instrument panel out, all the relays pushed in a bit further, almost as if they had gradually come out!!

[bighairymuppet 0]

cheers guys will check today (once i sober up a bit more dont go near car with hangover somethings bound to get broken)

[mantaraman 0]

While this thread is running, I seem to have something almost similar but not as bad, involving ease of starting the car. Sometimes (rarely) it starts 'on the button', almost always it takes 4 or 5 seconds of cranking before it starts. I'm reckoning on the fuel filter needing replacement, and hopefully nothing else. The car runs fine with no misfires or starvation etc.

Where is the fuel filter and how easy is it to change?

[bighairymuppet 0]

rear drivers side beside arch in front of tyre .

 

see this thread:

 

http://the-corrado.net/.archive/forum/viewtopic. ... highlight=

[bighairymuppet 0]

Tbh im getting to the stage of annoyance my car is still not up and running due to lack of time and no parts...

oh well.

 

 

Due to time constraints i may end up selling my corrado would be around £1500 dont want to though :cry: