Fuel pump relay going bad?

Fuel pump relay going bad?

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pits

Original Poster:

6,582 posts

202 months

Thursday 27th April 2023
quotequote all
Had this a couple of times now, a random shut down of the engine, but I finally caught it in the act.
Not hot start issue, parked car up warm.
Got in
Ignition on
All dials come to life
Start car
Car cuts out
All gauges remain up and working (water temp)
Fuel gauge goes off
Buzzing behind gauge in dash
Did this a few times, each time all gauges work but the fuel gauge always shuts off.

Now, am I to assume the fuel pump relay is also related to the gauge and it sits behind the fuel gauge itself?

Belle427

10,219 posts

245 months

Thursday 27th April 2023
quotequote all
There is no relationship to them, I’m not sure what the buzzing could be, may pay you to remove dash top and take a look.
Are you happy there is enough fuel in the tank?
The fuel pump relay should be found dangling down by the battery.

Paulprior

871 posts

117 months

Friday 28th April 2023
quotequote all
Agree with Belle427, find the relay in the mess near the battery, there will be 2 that look the same, swap them over and see if anything changes

pits

Original Poster:

6,582 posts

202 months

Friday 28th April 2023
quotequote all
I'll whip the top off tomorrow, should have said my car has had a fusebox move to behind dash, but I don't believe the fuel pump relay is anywhere near the gauge, I'll swap them over and see what happens first.

lancepar

1,065 posts

184 months

Saturday 29th April 2023
quotequote all
Pits,
I've searched but can't find the thread on PH for a link to when I had a start relay issue, which turned out to be water ingress into the relay.
I did have a small coolant leak in the fuse box area which had migrated down the relay wires which were lying loose in my car.

One day starting was fine the next day buzzing and no start. The buzzing was the coil cooking the moisture. Also lost is the photo I posted with the plastic cover removed, showing the rusty mess. I bet Polly saved the photo.

As a side note the stepper motor can sometimes be heard buzzing/operating on start up.

HTH
Lance
cool


Polly Grigora

11,209 posts

121 months

Saturday 29th April 2023
quotequote all

lancepar

1,065 posts

184 months

Saturday 29th April 2023
quotequote all
Thank you Polly, I'll save the photo somewhere safe.

Must say I never searched the Wedges threads.

Well found.

Cheers
Lance
clap

Polly Grigora

11,209 posts

121 months

Sunday 30th April 2023
quotequote all
I didn't search the wedges threads

Showed the search in the image

If you look closely, search shows - TVR lancepar Water In relay

Edited by Polly Grigora on Sunday 30th April 00:40

Polly Grigora

11,209 posts

121 months

Sunday 30th April 2023
quotequote all
lancepar said:
Thank you Polly, I'll save the photo somewhere safe.

Must say I never searched the Wedges threads.

Well found.

Cheers
Lance
clap

pits

Original Poster:

6,582 posts

202 months

Wednesday 7th June 2023
quotequote all
Bit late on updating this, I decided I would replace the fuel pump as I had noticed it get noisy when I was stood next to it, and I had one in the boot I bought a year or so ago.
So far so good and I haven't experienced one cut out since, so it looks like the fuel gauge and fuel pump are related, but I will be keeping an eye on it.

I didn't check on the relays just yet as my loom and fusebox is under the dash, and it takes a while to pull it all out and put back in.