catty s2 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2008 I think my pumps dead. R.I.P It's got the ticking ok but there's no fuel getting to the carbs. The pumps not that old having only pumped a couple of thousand miles of fuel. Having read some other threads i see that these can be prone to failure quite early and they only come with a years warranty which is nice Im a bit pissed because she was booked in for an MOT today now ive got to fork out about seventy sheets just to get her there! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matk 17 2 Vehicles Report post Posted January 28, 2008 If it's ticking it's normally working. Have you tried changing the fuel filter in case you have a blockage elsewhere? Quote Regards Mat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
molemot 520 1 Vehicles Report post Posted January 28, 2008 Normal SU fuel pump failure mode is due to the internal contacts...then it stops ticking and delivers no fuel. As Mat says, if they're ticking they should be working..how fast does it tick? To start with, they should tick quickly, sort of BRRRRR sound which slows down and finally stops when the pressure has built up. You can get an electronic switch as a direct replacement for the contact assembly...it even has the same ticking sound built in!! Quote Scientists investigate that which already is; Engineers create that which has never been." - Albert Einstein Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matk 17 2 Vehicles Report post Posted January 28, 2008 If there's a blockage it will tick quickly and then slow to a stop as the pressure builds. If you have no fuel reaching the carbs, but the pump runs continuously I'd be very scared as the pressure is not building up in the system. If petrol is not reaching the carbs it's got to be going somewhere! You do of course have petrol in the car don't you? (many apologies but it's always useful to check the obvious first?) Incidentally this is completely out of left field but I had similiar symptoms on an Exel. Turned out the atmosphere vent pipe on the fuel tank had become pinched and then blocked. This mean't that as the fuel pump pumped petrol out of the tank it created a vacuum in the tank as no air could flow back in to replace the petrol. As the vacuum pressure increased steadily in the tank it reached the point where the pump couldn't overcome it and voila, no more petrol to the carbs. Only way I sussed it was one day trying to fill up the petrol cap wouldn't come off, and when I eventually got it to release there was a large sucking noise as the vacuum released. As I said left field but you never know? Quote Regards Mat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andydclements 660 2 Vehicles Report post Posted January 28, 2008 The S3 SU pump packed in while unused for a year or so, no ticking, so I tried the usual universal tool (smallish hammer on the outside casing) it then started moving, but not as it should, so I blocked off the pipes, removed the motor side (leaving the pipes and diaphragm sections). I lubricated the motor slide section slightly, and cleaned the contacts one had to be tightened as the rivet had become loose), all's well. It's worth pulling the SU pumps off and checking them through, there's nothing that complex about them, the actuation arm moves as it reaches the maximum displacement it breaks the circuit and the arm returns fully the other direction. Take the pump off (seal off 2 petrol lines and catch the fuel in a bucket) and check it works, but don't run it empty for more than about 20 seconds continuously. Andy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iainskea 29 1 Vehicles Report post Posted January 28, 2008 SU pumps have pulled me up twice - in the most embarrassing places, at traffic lights in the city. I now have the upgraded 'hall effect' SU pump - with no contacts. The pump still taps away with the main solenoid action, but no chance of rusty contacts etc. A good upgrade. I have found that the pumps give the impression of working when they are on their way out, and can also effect the tune of the engine. It is common to suspect the pump, then do nothing, then end up replacing the pump at the side of the road in a few days time! Many a sad story like this... Iain Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buddsy 1,494 1 Vehicles Report post Posted January 28, 2008 Iain Where can you get the upgrade from? SJ? Buddsy Quote "Belief is the enemy of knowing" - Crrow777 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iainskea 29 1 Vehicles Report post Posted January 28, 2008 Buddsy, I got mine from Steve Taylor at The Elan Factory, Melbourne Australia: http://www.elanfactory.com.au/pdf/product_...rit%20parts.pdf Iain Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
philleech 53 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 Try here burlen.co.uk Phil Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
catty s2 0 Report post Posted January 30, 2008 I disconnected the fuel hose at the carbs and the pump was pumping fine. Reconnected the hose and it seems to have sorted itself out. No sign's of contamination in the fuel filter or jar i collected the fuel in. Could have been an airlock? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
