mickw
Rover Rookie
Posts: 8 
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Post by mickw on Oct 2, 2013 10:17:20 GMT
Hi All
Could do with some advice please!
I have recently bought a P5 which has had an electric fuel pump fitted by the previous owner as, presumably, the old mechanical one was shot. I have started to get a few running problems which I think may be down to the pump getting very hot due to its positioning in the engine bay, bolted to the n/s inner wing. It is quite close to the exhaust manifold and also, (and this is what I think is causing my problem) it is receiving occasional blasts of very hot air from the Kenlowes that have also been fitted. I think this 'perfect storm' of the combination of heat sources, is causing the pump to get hot enough to vaporise the fuel inside it, which then leads to a vapour lock and a stopped engine. The pump can actually get too hot to touch in this scenario (yes, very dicey I know!)
The only way to get going again is to remove the pipe from the in line filter and put my finger over the end of it which usually gets the petrol to start flowing again. This only works once the heat has dissipated and the pump cooled down.
This overheating theory is just that - a theory - so could I be wrong, but I would like to hear whether you guys think this is a plausible explanation, and if not, do you have any other possible explanations for the sudden loss of fuel flow? I know a blockage of some sort would be a possible cause, but the problem only seems to occur when the engine is warm.
If my theory is correct, then presumably the answer would be to relocate the pump which leads me to the next question "where is a good place to locate it?"
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Post by norvin on Oct 2, 2013 16:46:49 GMT
It is a P5B you have, the electric pump works well in the the engine bay on these cars but it needs to be as low as possible, this is my electric pump that I have fitted is it like this?  |
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gollop
Rover Fanatic
Posts: 108
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Post by gollop on Oct 3, 2013 5:55:29 GMT
Ah ha! I've just had the exact same problem. After a truck exploded in Western Sydney and I was sat on a hill for a prelonged period. Mine was bolted to the passenger side wing and was very very hot. I've just moved it to the back of the fire wall but it's still up pretty high in the engine bay. I'll report how it fairs. It is now protected but the big fan pipe so hopefully that might help... Slightly?
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Post by johnwp5bcoupe on Oct 3, 2013 7:47:53 GMT
I personally wouldn't fit an electric pump in the engine bay for several reasons one being heat  and certainly not without an impact cut out switch I fitted mine as below with the protected Stainless covering and it has another clip  the fuse holder was removed in the final fitting replaced by a crimped waterproof cable joiner. There is a lot on this if you use search  |
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mickw
Rover Rookie
Posts: 8
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Post by mickw on Oct 4, 2013 9:12:30 GMT
Hi All Thank you for all your replies - so it seems that excessive heat is indeed the problem! I like the idea of mounting the pump on the gearbox as it is well out of the way - just wondering how easy/difficult it would be to do this. Is it possible to do it from inside the car? If not I may have to go with under the bonnet as low down and far back as possible - something to mull over. Btw I did a search on the words 'fuel pump' and it didn't return anything - if anybody knows of a thread where this has been explored in greater detail I would be grateful for a link  Thanks again for all your comments/advice. Kind regards MickW |
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Post by johnwp5bcoupe on Oct 4, 2013 10:04:52 GMT
The bracket is easily done from under the car and uses an existing mounting hole and original pipework so the reserve is still available correct fuel pipe and no sharp bends  |
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Post by enigmas on Oct 4, 2013 11:23:29 GMT
Your making me nervous with that tailshaft flange John...no bolts in one picture and loose bolts in another.  |
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Post by johnwp5bcoupe on Oct 4, 2013 14:10:15 GMT
Your making me nervous with that tailshaft flange John...no bolts in one picture and loose bolts in another. One pic was taken 7 years ago Vince the other well I was trying to save on bolts |
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Post by norvin on Oct 4, 2013 20:51:49 GMT
But not very easy to get at fixed to the gearbox, I can only say that I have not had any trouble with my pump fitted in the engine bay, but now I have said that it will pack up next time I use the car, it looks a very good job John.
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mickw
Rover Rookie
Posts: 8
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Post by mickw on Oct 5, 2013 8:14:05 GMT
Yes all things considered I think I will go for relocating it inside the engine bay but lower down and as far back as possible. Might be an idea to construct some kind of a heat shield as well just to give it some protection on hot days (not too many more of them to come this year! Also back there it will have more protection from a side on shunt...does any one know where I can obtain an impact cut out switch mentioned by John? |
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Post by Phil Nottingham on Oct 5, 2013 8:29:27 GMT
Europa Spares or Ebay/Scrap yards. They are called intertia switches. if low down there is no need for heat protection at all - certainly I have no problem
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Post by barryr on Oct 5, 2013 19:53:07 GMT
Intertiar Phil? Does that mean you get three of them?
Lol
Barry
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gollop
Rover Fanatic
Posts: 108
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Post by gollop on Oct 10, 2013 6:31:32 GMT
Better to bad to worse! It's 39degrees today in Sydney and I'm waiting for a tow  . Looks like my relocation of the fuel pump inside the engine bay (back of the fire wall) wasn't the best idea. Whilst driving to a meeting in west Sydney earlier the fuel pump started to make a knocking noise then promptly shat itself. So with no fuel heading the way of the carbs I rolled into a service station and here I wait for the pre-mentioned tow. On the plus side next door is an auto parts store so I've bought a new fuel pump and once back in the cool of my lockup I will be locating the little fella In gearbox land. God it's hot! But at least I've got a access to ice lollies! |
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Post by norvin on Oct 10, 2013 7:45:34 GMT
39 is I think 106F, we do not have heat like that in the UK, but I still think if you fit the pump at the very front of the engine bay (see my photo) low down it should be OK as you will have some cooling from the engine fan and normal airflow.
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gollop
Rover Fanatic
Posts: 108
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Post by gollop on Oct 10, 2013 8:48:45 GMT
Good idea still stuck I actually tried a different pump but the combination of heat and position still means I'm stuck on the M2 |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2013 9:35:13 GMT
Jaguars XJs had inertia switches,they often turn up on ebay or in scrappers.
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gollop
Rover Fanatic
Posts: 108
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Post by gollop on Oct 12, 2013 4:01:08 GMT
Argh just fitted a new universal pump under the car and it's soo noisy. Any suggestions?
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Post by norvin on Oct 12, 2013 7:21:56 GMT
Argh just fitted a new universal pump under the car and it's soo noisy. Any suggestions? Look at the pump in the photo that I posted, this is a Facet 40105 and this is a very quite pump all pumps will make some noise but some pumps will make more then others, but I still think fitting it in the engine bay should be OK. |
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gollop
Rover Fanatic
Posts: 108
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Post by gollop on Oct 14, 2013 2:34:07 GMT
My pump looks very similar looking to yours Novan and Johns mine is mounted right beside the reserve tap. Now I installed it and it was very loud so I removed it and added some rubber washers (didn't help). Then I started to play around with the reserve tap and noticed that reduced the noise slightly! Ah ha! I thought so I removed the tap from the circuit and put in a T junction so if it was starved of fuel then it might help. But no still knocking like a mutha fooker, I'm completely at a loose it is pumping fuel fine but I can't put up with the noise, my only conclusion is that I must have a dodgey unit? Ideas suggestions always appreciated. Also John the silver filter unit on your pump did that come with the kit?
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gollop
Rover Fanatic
Posts: 108
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Post by gollop on Oct 14, 2013 3:23:17 GMT
Ok just spoke with the tit at the auto spares place and he reckons the noise is normally :0. So I'm looking at getting one of these as they seem to go forever and are really quiet r.ebay.com/sf43NEAnybody had experience with one? |
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Post by norvin on Oct 14, 2013 7:49:38 GMT
I must say that I have not heard of this pump, but as I said the facet 40105 is quite so check you have this pump and they should be mounted on rubber bushes which come with the pump kit, if fitted in the engine bay once the engine is running this will cut down the noise level anyway.
I am not sure about John's pump but do not think he would put up with the noise level that you have.
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gollop
Rover Fanatic
Posts: 108
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Post by gollop on Oct 14, 2013 8:49:23 GMT
I'll get a video of it tomorrow it's hilarious how noisy it is. Reckon I'll go for the one I found on eBay.
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Post by norvin on Oct 14, 2013 13:11:41 GMT
The pump you want to buy is about £63 (I think) which seems a lot of money and that maybe just as noisy and its double the price of the Facet, the facet pump you have did you buy it new? I can not think why you are having so much trouble, are you sure the pump is OK why not bench test it wire it up to a battery and see if it pumps fuel at the correct rate.
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and certainly not without an impact cut out switch 
the fuse holder was removed in the final fitting replaced by a crimped waterproof cable joiner.
. Looks like my relocation of the fuel pump inside the engine bay (back of the fire wall) wasn't the best idea. Whilst driving to a meeting in west Sydney earlier the fuel pump started to make a knocking noise then promptly shat itself. So with no fuel heading the way of the carbs I rolled into a service station and here I wait for the pre-mentioned tow. On the plus side next door is an auto parts store so I've bought a new fuel pump and once back in the cool of my lockup I will be locating the little fella In gearbox land. God it's hot! But at least I've got a access to ice lollies!