Broken Down!

[19Zen]

Hey guys, so after almost 10 years the unthinkable has happened and I've broken down! I was approaching a speed bump and was slowing down and it just cut out.

The car is trying to start and the battery was replaced around 2 years ago so don't think it's the battery.

Just waiting on the RAC and wondering where I should start. I'm thinking some kind of sensor has come loose and/or related to fuelling. No warning lights...

Thanks for any tips!

Edit: Having a quick look the only thing I can see is the MAF sensor is quite loose. After trying to refit it almost started but then sounded a bit metal on metal so stopped trying.

 

[RSRowe]

Is it still turning over but not firing?

 

[RSRowe]

If so. It’ll likely be the crank sensor on the front of the gearbox.

If you’re lucky it’s just failed or come unplugged
If you’re unlucky you’ll need a new clutch

 

[19Zen]

Is it still turning over but not firing?

Yep, I reckon TDC sensor is the most likely, just need to whip off the undertray, I knew I shouldn't have taken my tools out of the car in the name of weight saving! Thanks for the swift response.

 

[RSRowe]

No worries. Same thing happened to a mate not too long ago.
Clutch cover fell apart and took the sensor out. Hopefully yours is ok

 

[19Zen]

Fingers crossed not a clutch! Hopefully cleaning up the sensor will get me to work, then will have to be a europarts sensor until I can get to main dealer. Thankfully work at a garage so should be able to change it at lunch.

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[19Zen]

Cleaned up the TDC sensor (which was filthy) while waiting for RAC but still no joy, now getting steering not locked message which I know can be related to camshaft sensor.

 

[19Zen]

So it looks like the fuel pump, which makes sense as I brimmed it the other day and the guage only went to 3/4. Will swap on weekend and confirm.

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[Sheldon88]

Will it start on easy start or brake cleaner?


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[Yiannis197]

Fuel pump? These don't usually fail - mileage?

Hope you got it sorted

 

[19Zen]

I haven't heard of it before myself but having a search of the forum there's a few out there. A touch under 70k/12 years old.

Hopefully sorted next week...

Will it start on easy start or brake cleaner?


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It was starting with easy start and no noise from the pump. I'll check the relay first but do think it most likely is the pump

 

[19Zen]

Will it start on easy start or brake cleaner?


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It was starting with easy start and no noise from the pump. I'll check the relay first but do think it most likely is the pump.

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[turkie172]

Diagram of the fuel pump sender unit plug the thicker wires are the pump the thinner ones are the level I think the level is a 5volt system and the pump is a 12volt system.

 

[turkie172]

 

[19Zen]

Twas the pump, she's back up and running and sounding quite ferocious.

Thanks again for the help everyone.

p.s If you need to buy a tow eye, don't buy an aftermarket one like this, they're not kind to your bumper!

 

[turkie172]

OK what was the fix a new pump or upgrade the internal pump?

 

[Frank Perry]

I had a similar issue - bank holiday last year.. I done a 170 mile drive to a theme park and on the way there I lost all gears apart from 3 and 4 - the gear selector cable had popped out of the mounting, managed to fix this on the road side. On the way home, I hit a huge pot hole in the middle lane on the M5 and the car literally just died. Worst part was, I was about 70 miles from home, no breakdown cover (I know, I have some now!) and there was no hard shoulder to pull onto as there was roadworks, so I was stuck in the slow lane and had to quickly climb out the passenger window and hop over bollards to get to safety.

Luckily I got it recovered to the closest services for free due to the roadworks, then I left the car there as prices to get the car recovered were £700+ (being bank holiday). Had my mechanic collect it 2 days later, diagnosed it was the fuel pump and got it replaced all for under £300 including collecting the car.

Was only on about 78k at the time. I have read about fuel pumps going randomly, sometimes a whack on the tank can bring it back, otherwise it's dead and needs replacing. Replacing is a bit of a pig too, rear brake lines off, drop frame, tank out jobby. Some people just cut under the rear seats and bodge some sealant after replacing but I wanted it done properly!

Glad you got yours sorted though. If I had more time, I'd have popped a better pump in but I went for a standard replacement. I've seen some walbro pump kits that fit the 197/200s at the £90 mark and can imagine it would be better than stock.

 

[19Zen]

I just did the quick access fix to swap the pump, did a neat job though tbf so don't feel I've butchered it, just saved a lot of time and made future repairs a lot easier.

It does seem my fuel level is staying quite high but the tank was filled 2 days prior to the pump going and it's only been ran for around 30 miles since filling, along with spilling a bit of juice when replacing the pump. Hopefully just means I have a lot of fuel left rather than the new pump's lvl sensor being faulty.