fuel pump problems.

[Christ]

Ok started the nova today as i needed my bike out of the garage, started OK, drove it out and left it to idle whilst I got my bike out, the revs started to get lower and it finally conked out. Tried starting it but it just turned over. Pushed it back into the garage and started checking things out.

Fuel pipe off the rail, turned it over no fuel coming out. Checked at the pump im getting 11 volts, battery is a bit flat so I guess 11 volts is ok. So fuel pump is goosed, no problem eh, just get a new one. This is the second astra mpi fuel pump that has gone in 4weeks/0miles as the car hasnt been moved, just started now and again.

What I want to know is there anything that can cause pumps to wear quickly and fail or am i just having bad luck with fuel pumps?

[Christ]

Also, there is about 20quids worth of fuel in the tank, but it looks like the sender is broken as it never leaves the red area.

[Phil_d]

When i fitted my 16xe i had problems turned out bad earth, i tried a battery and jump leads and worked fine, first thing i would do is charge the bttery as it could be that to blame. When testing his sort of thing aways start with a fully charged battery.

[Christ]

Ok i assumed the pump would still work with 10/11 volts. You think it could be right enough and just a weak battery, well its on to charge for the night will see what happens tomorrow. Cheers.

[Phil_d]

Well mine worked one minute and not the next, put 12v to it and worked perfectly.

[Christ]

right got the pump out and put 12volt accross it and it just clunks. I have an external fuel pump off a mk2 cav, if i cut all the wires and cut the old pump off the cradle and then just had a bit of rubber hose with a filter dangling inside the tank and mounted the inline pump underneath the car would that work ok?

[Phil_d]

As long as it fits i dont see any reason why not, cant be 100% sure though.