Series 1 FHC 3.8 Fuel Pump possibly faulty?

Kent Thirley · Post by **Kent Thirley** » Sun Mar 08, 2015 10:22 am

I have driven my Series 1 - 3.8 E a couple of times in the last week. On both occasions the car sadly cut out after a journey of about 30 minutes. The first time was just outside the house. It started to run lumpy & then cut out. It would not re start straight away. I left the car for about 20 minutes & it started again as normal & run as normal.
Same journey seven days later & this time it cut out at the top of my Road. Would not re start. Left it for 20 minutes & it started again no problem.

Any suggestions as to the cause?

The fuel pump is the original Lucas type submerged in the tank. Are these pumps likely to run for 30 minutes & then give out?

Kent

NickJ · Post by **NickJ** » Sun Mar 08, 2015 10:44 am

This to me sounds to be more like the dreaded rotar arm disease rather than the pump itself. The easiest remedy is to get a decent new rotar arm and plan your journey in the form of a circle so you are not too far from home. If it's still running after 20 minutes or so it's the rotar arm. If it conks out and you can't hear the pump ticking then it is indeed the pump. Far more likely that it's the rotar arm however
Nick j 3.8 FHC Shropshire

Kent Thirley · Post by **Kent Thirley** » Sun Mar 08, 2015 10:58 am

Hi Nick
Thanks for the reply.
I have my car on electronic ignition.
I would say that the pump did go very quiet.
Is it likely that the pump would run ok & then give out?
Kent

christopher storey · Post by **christopher storey** » Sun Mar 08, 2015 2:19 pm

Electronic ignition makes no difference to the rotor arm issue . The problem is that the plastic of the rotor becomes conductive as it gets hot, and thus shorts the HT to the distributor spindle. If it is the pump it could well be that the filter is becoming clogged . Once there is no suction, the sediment falls away, until the next time ........

Kent Thirley · Post by **Kent Thirley** » Sun Mar 08, 2015 6:35 pm

This afternoon I have.....
1. Changed the rotor arm for a new I bought last year. It is from the same supplier though, a well known Doctor!
2. Inspected the pump & the filter. The filter was clean if a little squashed when I pulled it out. Re fitted with the filter as straight as possible.

I only had a chance to run the car outside the garage for about 20 minutes so cant really say if this was long enough to mirror my last two runs in the car.

If anyone has fitted the SNG 'new' pump, I would like to hear some feedback please?

Always difficult to leave home knowing an impending breakdown is likely!

Post by **1954Etype** » Sun Mar 08, 2015 6:36 pm

Non Vented fuel cap?

Kent Thirley · Post by **Kent Thirley** » Sun Mar 08, 2015 6:44 pm

Hi Angus,
I did fit a new cap last year. It has a small hole for venting about the size of a ball point pen.
These two breakdowns have occurred after the winter lay off.
I did think of giving you a call to discuss, but did not want to disturb you on a Sunday Angus.
Kent

Post by **1954Etype** » Sun Mar 08, 2015 7:24 pm

No problem. Give me a call in the morning.

PeterCrespin · Post by **PeterCrespin** » Sun Mar 08, 2015 7:40 pm

Tape or tie-wrap a spare coil next to the existing one and if/when it dies swap all the connections over. My guess is it will run fine if it's not fixed by the rotor swap. Electronic ignition does have a marginal effect, as do over-large plug gaps, as they both produce higher voltage sparks. The fatter pulses tend to seek out any marginal insulation at the cap, rotor or leads.

abowie · Post by **abowie** » Sun Mar 08, 2015 9:17 pm

Next time it happens just disconnect the fuel line where it goes into the filter in the engine bay. Turn the key. If fuel comes out your pump is fine.

Problems like this are frustrating; often the only way to a solution is to replace one component at a time until the problem goes away. The coil would be the next candidate were it my car.

Kent Thirley · Post by **Kent Thirley** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 6:39 pm

Replaced the original fuel pump with a new electric pump from Barratt's.
I believed this new pump to be faulty as it would not draw/pump any fuel out of the tank.
Sent the pump back to Barratt's & was informed that there was a problem with it.
Just re fitted the returned pump & still no fuel being drawn from the tank. Am I doing something wrong here?
I really do not like working in this area of the car on these types of problems.
Not sure what my next move is other than another call to SNG & the possibility of sending the pump back again?
It is at times like this that I turn my back on old cars & wonder why I love them so much?

christopher storey · Post by **christopher storey** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 6:48 pm

Isn't the first thing to do , to test the pump off the tank ? There are all sorts of things that can cause a pump not to work inside the tank, poor earthing, development of vacuum etc being merely two of them. I should submerge it in a bucket of water and see if you can get it to pump . If it does so, then you know that the fault lies elsewhere, and of course the water will need to be pumped out of it afterwards

Kent Thirley · Post by **Kent Thirley** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 8:11 pm

I will check with Barratt's first thing that running the pump outside the tank in a bucket of water does not invalidate the warranty in any way?
Pretty happy with everything else. i.e. earth, clear lines, no vacuum build up etc.
That is why I am pulling my hair out & at the same time trying to avoid killing myself in a ball of fire!
Happy days.......

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Series 1 FHC 3.8 Fuel Pump possibly faulty?

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