Does this sound like fuel pump problems?

[Brendan-s]

Few weird things have been happening to my 88 1.3 recently, and I think they add up to spell a fuel pump that's on it's way out.

Symptom 1: When giving it a bit of stick, esp. when shifting above 4,000rpm, the engine redlines itself momentarily when you clutch-in for the next gear. It will run up to 6500rpm, hold it there for half a second, then drop back down again.

Symptom 2: On the way to work this morning the tacho needle started acting weirdly, jumping all over the place when I took my foot off the accelerator in gear. I thought at first the tacho cable was about to break, but then it would stall out when you clutched into neutral. If I kept my foot on the accelerator it'd be fine, though. After it stalled out if I'd restart it, it would be fine, idling perfectly in neutral, but after another stint in gear it would do the same.

Symptom 3: On arriving at work and attempting to reverse up the slightest of inclines into a parking spot, I found I had NO power whatsoever. As in, even the worst slipping of the clutch wouldn't be enough to get the car to move. Had to get a mate to help me push it backwards into the spot.

I've just replaced the carby with another stock one that'd had a kit put through it, and when I couldn't figure out how to tune it properly took it to the local carby joint who sorted it. And it's been running great the past few days so I don't think it's the carby.

Any thoughts?

[Red_Zook]

id be more inclined to say shit in your carbi!
its deferny a carbi issue!!!
if it was fuel pump, it would run out of poneys quick over about 4000rpm up hills or what ever...
decently pull the top of your carbi and have a look!

zook carbis suck!!!

[just cruizin']

Had a similar thing happen to me. The small air box onto of the carby wasn't quite sitting correctly and was pushing down on a valve on the front passenger side of the carby upsetting the fuel mix. Reseated this air inlet and it runs like a dream. Except for the pinging and oil use that is.

[mr green]

check that your carby float, floats. with this much age they become porous and let fuel in so they dont float as high as a good one. then when you pull your carby apart they dry out and this is why it will run fine for a while. take your float out give it a shake to see if you can hear fuel in it and the through it in a container of fuel. most of the float should be out of the fuel, not just the very top.
and it costs nothing to try.
jason

[Brendan-s]

Thanks guys!

Okay, so I'll check the float level, and I guess a liberal dose of carby cleaner wouldn't hurt either. I'll report back and let you know.

Cheers!

[lay80n]

Oh, and Brendon, before someone tells you to check your tacho cable, they are electrical devices

Layto....

[Red_Zook]

Oh, and Brendon, before someone tells you to check your tacho cable, they are electrical devices

Layto....

i wasn't going to say anything

[Brendan-s]

Thanks Layto... I had NFI. Only that when the speedo cable broke on the Patrol it was doing the same thing.

Well, after a heap of trial and error, found out what it was -- one of the wires off the coil was loose! The coil-dizzy lead was also pretty rooted (as in corroded and crushed etc) so replaced that, tightened the coil wire and it's all good again

[christover1]

As the fuel pump ages, bits of the diaphragm can come off and lodge in carby.
A filter between pump and carby is wise. A new pump and a filter could protect your nice new carb.
A fuel tank clean may be needed, as could a high quality efi inline filter, in place of stock zook one.
After fitting new tank, cleaning lines, fitting efi filter, new fuel pump, a filter after pump, and a new carby kit...I have never had a prob since.

christover

[christover1]

Thanks Layto... I had NFI. Only that when the speedo cable broke on the Patrol it was doing the same thing.

Well, after a heap of trial and error, found out what it was -- one of the wires off the coil was loose! The coil-dizzy lead was also pretty rooted (as in corroded and crushed etc) so replaced that, tightened the coil wire and it's all good again

cool I'll withdraw my comments now I have opened my eyes

[Brendan-s]

Thanks for the info anyway Christover