Des4933 has a fuel pump problem disel

started for Des4933


I've just had a brand new Britpart fuel pump fitted in the tank of my P38 Diesel plus a new fuel pipe to the filter housing and my mechanic now says i have very low fuel pressure from the tank. Could it really be the Britpart pump? If not, what could it be? It started fine when cold but cut out occasionally when warm and would not start again despite having plenty of fuel and a brand new battery. I've had this work done and it is still the same as before. HELP!!!

Do a fuel flow test on lift pump. With ignition off. Remove pipe from filter, place in suitable measuring jug. Remove fuel pump relay. Relay 12. Take live feed from positive battery terminal and touch terminal 5 on relay socket. 5 is the one that is contrary to the other three. For exactly 10 seconds. In that time you should have at least 180ml of fuel in jug. If not pump is duff.

I've done that little test and to be honest i could **** quicker than the speed the fuel is coming out, and i've got nowhere near 180ml of fuel in the jug. Is the fuel pipe from the tank to filter as one or is there a join of some sort? I've been told the pipe has been replaced but i haven't seen it for myself yet. Could i have a blockage perhaps? This is my first Range so any help would be gratefully received.

Unlikely the pipe is blocked, more likely the ****part pump is no good or there was sludge in the tank that has blocked it.

Des4933 said:

I've done that little test and to be honest i could **** quicker than the speed the fuel is coming out, and i've got nowhere near 180ml of fuel in the jug. Is the fuel pipe from the tank to filter as one or is there a join of some sort? I've been told the pipe has been replaced but i haven't seen it for myself yet. Could i have a blockage perhaps? This is my first Range so any help would be gratefully received.

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It should be a continuous pipe right to the pump outlet. Maybe you have mold growth or sludge in the tank that is blocking the filter on the pump pickup. Only way to sort that is drop tank and clean it out.

If the tank hasn't been flushed and he's fitted a new pump (all be it a Britpart one) then is the bloke doing the job a knob?? Should he flush the tank.

I fitted one of these britpart pumps to mine the weekend not come across any problems as yet. What was the reason for changing the pump in the first place ?

Because i had no fuel pressure and the man from the AA tested the line and said he thought the pump in the tank was not working properly. Not being mechanically minded i am relying on what i'm told.

Des4933 said:

Because i had no fuel pressure and the man from the AA tested the line and said he thought the pump in the tank was not working properly. Not being mechanically minded i am relying on what i'm told.

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Could be there is bacterial growth in the tank which will block the strainer on the pump, it's not an uncommon problem with diesel especially if the tank is often half full or less. The tank should have been flushed while it was off.
On the other hand Britpart stuff has a terrible reputation

The garage told me they flushed the tank and blew an airline down the pipe when i phoned about 20 minutes ago. They have just ordered a new pump for me today. Am i being fleeced or could it be the pump? Is there also any kind of additive i can put in the tank to avoid the sludge problem in the future?

If you paid someone to fit the pump and the tank was dropped then it should have been flushed prior to fitting the new pump. When i changed mine i cut the floor in the boot to access the pump thus never flushed the tank and fitted new pump. I would have a word with your mechanic to find out if he did flush the tank, if not then he should strip it down and do the job properly as he should have done in the first place.

When I fitted a new in-tank fuel pump I used canyons hole in the floor method. I did not clean the tank out at the time but I did have problems and subsequently opened up the hole in the floor and cleaned the tank out and it was full of ****.
In my case it was the fact that I run on biodiesel and that has the effect of flushing all the crap that is left by mineral diesel.
Do you know if your car has been run on biodiesel? if it has you could have a lot of crap lying around.
On the other hand, I bought a Britpart pump and it only lasted a couple of months, however, the replacement (also Britpart) is still going over a year later. Luck of the draw???

Des4933 said:

The garage told me they flushed the tank and blew an airline down the pipe when i phoned about 20 minutes ago. They have just ordered a new pump for me today. Am i being fleeced or could it be the pump? Is there also any kind of additive i can put in the tank to avoid the sludge problem in the future?

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You can get bactericide to add to the diesel.