Fuel pump not priming - Elise S1

[JayKaybi]

Typical. I paid over a grand to insure, mot and tax the damn thing last week, the weather turned out like it has done and then this happens!

Anybody got any ideas as to why it's suddenly decided not to prime?

Car was started and driven 3 times yesterday, then on the 4th occasion the fuel pump didn't prime and the engine caught the revs, then died out as if through fuel starvation. Repeated alltempts to get it started have seen any attempts to catch the revs diminish, so now there's just that dry 'chugga chugga.'

Fuses are ok.
Spark is fine.
All other systems as normal.

I had some trouble linked to the MRFU a few months ago which was resolved at the time, the symptoms now are different - then, it wouldn't attempt to start at all, so I don't think it's related.


Thanks in advance,

Jay

[JayKaybi]

And I DEFINITELY have plenty of fuel left, about 16 litres.

The strange thing is, after exhausting all my ideas I got fed up, flicked my shoe off at the damn thing in disgrace and tried starting it as I sat in it to get my phone from the footwell. No fuel pump prime again, but it started! I drove it home, but unfortunately now we're back to square one.


Jay

[LBird]

I've suffered this too! The engine cut out at traffic lights, I managed to push it into a nearby car park, made repeated attempts to start it but eventually gave up and called the RAC. A very nice, patient RAC man spent about an hour doing just about everything possible, including asking me about fuel. I KNEW without any doubt that it had about 18 litres in it but in desperation agreed that the RAC man should top it up. He did so with about 10 litres, I turned the key and th bl**dy thing started. I went straight to a petrol station and filled it up - it took about 8 litres so f*ck knows what it's problem had been. I've not had the problem again (now more than 2 years later).

Hope yours turns out to be the same 'tantrum' with no apparent cause and not a knackered fuel pump.

[JayKaybi]

LBird said:

I've suffered this too! The engine cut out at traffic lights, I managed to push it into a nearby car park, made repeated attempts to start it but eventually gave up and called the RAC. A very nice, patient RAC man spent about an hour doing just about everything possible, including asking me about fuel. I KNEW without any doubt that it had about 18 litres in it but in desperation agreed that the RAC man should top it up. He did so with about 10 litres, I turned the key and th bl**dy thing started. I went straight to a petrol station and filled it up - it took about 8 litres so f*ck knows what it's problem had been. I've not had the problem again (now more than 2 years later).

Hope yours turns out to be the same 'tantrum' with no apparent cause and not a knackered fuel pump.

How bloody weird is that?! Are you saying that, in your case, the fuel pump didn't make the usual priming noise with the key turn (like mine's not doing) but then dumping some fuel in fixed it?

[rfoster]

Firstly - check the inertia switch hasn't popped. From memory this will stop the fuel pump from priming. Give it a press and try again, see if the fuel pump primes.

If it's not the fuel pump fuse then I guess the next thing to check would be the multi function relay unit. Scuffers may have a better idea than me on this.

[JayKaybi]

rfoster said:

Firstly - check the inertia switch hasn't popped. From memory this will stop the fuel pump from priming. Give it a press and try again, see if the fuel pump primes.

If it's not the fuel pump fuse then I guess the next thing to check would be the multi function relay unit. Scuffers may have a better idea than me on this.

Bugger. Both fine. I really hope it's not the pump itself gone.

[JayKaybi]

OK, in summary -



Fuel pump not priming - car cranks fine, but won't fire. Initially, car did fire a couple of times, but died out quickly. Then it wouldn't fire at all. For apparently no reason, it did randomly fire once since (despite no fuel pump prime) and I drove it home. But now no joy, as follows.



Things it ain't -

Fuses - all ok at the front, and the fuel pump fuse is fine
Wiring - looked at as much as I can see, no visible damage
Spark - no issues
Fuel - there definitely is at least 15 litres in there, and car is on level ground.
MRFU - wiggled it, replaced it, no joy
Inertia switch - fine

Things mentioned or suggested that I can't check -

Fuel pump connection (through hatch behind pax seat) - not got the tools
'Jumping the fuel pump switch circuit in the immobilizer' - don't understand
Checking to see if fuel flows when cranking - possibly a step too far for me
Fuel pump itself.


One last try - CAN ANYBODY SUGGEST ANYTHING ELSE before I get it towed to a wallet raping garage who probably don't know as much about this problem on this car as you do?


Best regards and thanks,

Jay

[JayKaybi]

Ok, where is the immobiliser bit that I can bypass by switching wires around? I read behind the driver's seat on selco, but I'm buggered if I can see it!

[beez]

I had the same symptoms on my S1, sometimes it would start OK but other times it wouldn't and all I could hear when turning the ignition key was a click.

I was worried the fuel pump was nackered as it wasn't priming, also checked the fuses (There's one in the boot which is known blow on S1s') but that didn't seem logical as other days it would start fine.

In the end I took it to Sinclair's who found the problem was some corroded wiring! They replaced it for about £150 to £200 which was mainly labour costs.

[Andy_sx]

dont know how accessible the wireing is, but try taking the leads off the fuel pump then reattaching them? could be something daftly simple (more often than not they are annoyingly..)

if you want i can pop over this evening and bring a bunch of tools, you should have my mobile no on my card that i gave you at Brands, if not through the hoon

Andy_sx

[JayKaybi]

PROBLEM SOLVED! I'M VERY HAPPY!

Turned out to be an immobiliser fault. Had to remove the rear left wheel, then the liner to access the back of the immobiliser bits and jam a Lotus immobiliser bypass (thanks StuW) on instead. No immobiliser now, but at least the sodding thing's moving. The last 3 days of beautiful weather just haven't felt the same without that vicious roar shouting angrily from the pipes, or the overpowering carcinogens flowing through where my window's supposed to be!

Nothing much visibly wrong with the immobiliser, but one of the many wires is very slightly exposed near where it enters the unit - I'll send it off to Cobra, methinks.


Many thanks to everybody who came up with suggestions over these past few days, it's been quite the learning experience for me (a complete tech numpty).


Jay

[JayKaybi]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

PROBLEM BACK! I'M VERY ANGRY!!!



Last night we removed and bypassed the immobiliser and it fired up first try, no problems. It continued to fire up for the next 4 times I started it, and I drove myself home in a jubilant state.

This morning, the same fecking issue is back!


HOW CAN THIS BE POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JayKaybi]

[Gad-Westy]

JayKaybi said:

Feeling your frustration mate. Is it possible when disconnecting the immobiliser that you disturbed a bad connection somewhere else, which is why it was then able to start and now that connections back to knackered again? Just a guess I'm afraid.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Thursday 8th May 09:43

[JayKaybi]

Gad-Westy said:

JayKaybi said:

Feeling your frustration mate. Is it possible when disconnecting the immobiliser that you disturbed a bad connection somewhere else, which is why it was then able to start and now that connections back to knackered again? Just a guess I'm afraid.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Thursday 8th May 09:43

Your guess is literally as good as mine. I can't think what on earth else it could be.

[offshorematt2]

No specific ideas, but I had something similar with a K series S1 back in 2006.

Have a look at www.scottishelises.com and do a search for a thread called Sick K (site blocked at work so can't link to it) - it ran to a lot of pages by the end but was full of really good troubleshooting steps from some really knowledgeable guys. It turned out that the timing was out on mine due to a slipped belt but that obviously isn't the case here. However at worse you should be able to find out in what circuit your electrical problem is...

Hope that helps...

[JayKaybi]

JayKaybi said:

Gad-Westy said:

JayKaybi said:

Feeling your frustration mate. Is it possible when disconnecting the immobiliser that you disturbed a bad connection somewhere else, which is why it was then able to start and now that connections back to knackered again? Just a guess I'm afraid.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Thursday 8th May 09:43

Your guess is literally as good as mine. I can't think what on earth else it could be.

Twas indeed, corroded terminal in one of the connectors. Problem now FIXED with a sharp implement and some contact cleaner. And it still starts this morning. So concludes my week of woe!

Edited by JayKaybi on Friday 9th May 08:32

[Gad-Westy]

JayKaybi said:

JayKaybi said:

Gad-Westy said:

JayKaybi said:

Feeling your frustration mate. Is it possible when disconnecting the immobiliser that you disturbed a bad connection somewhere else, which is why it was then able to start and now that connections back to knackered again? Just a guess I'm afraid.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Thursday 8th May 09:43

Your guess is literally as good as mine. I can't think what on earth else it could be.

Twas indeed, corroded terminal in one of the connectors. Problem now FIXED with a sharp implement and some contact cleaner. And it still starts this morning. So concludes my week of woe!

Edited by JayKaybi on Friday 9th May 08:32

Great news mate. Just in time for the weekend.

[s1elisedriver]

Hi all i am from Sydney Australia and have a s1 elise, and am experiencing the same problem Fuel Pump not priming. It happened when i was stuck in traffic one hot sunny day and the car just stopped on me, after several attempts trying to start eventually got it towed to a garage, the mechanic showed me the fuel filter was full of dirt and looked brown, he has checked fuses and the multi function relay unit appears to be fine, he assumes tank would be filled with this dirty dead fuel thus causing the fuel pump not to work, also the fuel cut off switch seems to be removed i cant find the damn thing anywhere. so im guessing its the fuel pump itself, i was just curious every time it happens it happens on a real hot day, why is this? has it got do to with the fuel heating up..? the car getting hot? the car has not ever overheated, so buggered if i know

[jimjohn101]

Gad-Westy said:

JayKaybi said:

JayKaybi said:

Gad-Westy said:

JayKaybi said:

Feeling your frustration mate. Is it possible when disconnecting the immobiliser that you disturbed a bad connection somewhere else, which is why it was then able to start and now that connections back to knackered again? Just a guess I'm afraid.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Thursday 8th May 09:43

Your guess is literally as good as mine. I can't think what on earth else it could be.

Twas indeed, corroded terminal in one of the connectors. Problem now FIXED with a sharp implement and some contact cleaner. And it still starts this morning. So concludes my week of woe!

Edited by JayKaybi on Friday 9th May 08:32

Great news mate. Just in time for the weekend.

Hey guys, I realise that this issue is pretty old news now but this is exactly the problem that I'm having with my beloved S1. Just wanted to confirm was the corroded terminal involved the one attached to the fuel pump or was it at the other end (wherever that is)? and did you need to drop the tank, because I'm having real trouble seeing anything through that tiny inspection hole! Many thanks.