Fuel pump?

[Ronin]

how much fuel did you have when it happened?

[Simon Wallwork]

It was just under half a tank.

[Simon Wallwork]

Thanks Mikki.
Is fitting a big deal? I guess it goes in from the top, so an 'in-the-boot' job?

Is there a sensible alternative to fitting a new one? Maybe the old one is just gunked up? (although it was a pretty sudden failure with no warning signs).

My pump wasn't noisy, but I could hear it for a few seconds on each startup- as long as I paused turning the key when the lights come on.

[Ronin]

Fill the car past half a tank and see if it fires up, if it does its probably the seals on the fuel pump and not the fuel pump itself

[Simon Wallwork]

Thanks Ronin- I'll try that.

I wondered if it might be fuel starvation. We just come round a 90 degree right hander and gone from a steady descent to a bit of a climb.

[MikkiJayne]

Originally Posted by Simon Wallwork

Thanks Mikki.
Is fitting a big deal? I guess it goes in from the top, so an 'in-the-boot' job?

Yes, for the uninitiated. Its quite an ordeal to get it out of the tank, and then even more so to get it back in properly. If its not seated properly (or the wrong pump is used) then you run out of fuel at 1/4 tank.

Even once the housing is out (and with 1/2 tank or more there is going to be fuel everywhere in the boot unless you know what's coming), in this weather it just wants to shatter. It needs warming up so that the plastic clips come undone, then its just fiddly and annoying.

Originally Posted by Simon Wallwork

Is there a sensible alternative to fitting a new one? Maybe the old one is just gunked up? (although it was a pretty sudden failure with no warning signs).

No, its dead. This is the standard failure mode.

[Simon Wallwork]

Well the Master (as they call tradesmen here) has confirmed it's the pump.

New one 300 euro.....

Just hope he doesn't make a 'See you next Tuesday' of it....

[Ronin]

300 euro is a total rip off you can get it done yourself for 1/2 or 1/3 of the price and I bet he won't even bother to test it properly or replace any of the o rings

[Simon Wallwork]

Well, Ronin.

I cant afford to fcuk about here. The car chucked it as I was on the way to pick up my new born Son, and Wife from Hospital here. I'm under enormous time pressure....both baby paperwork-wise and looking after mum-wise.
Not easy getting a British child registered in rural Bulgaria.

Just hope he does it right, I really need my car right now.

[MikkiJayne]

300 euro fitted is fine. 150 euro for the pump and a couple of hours labour.

I'd be in the same ballpark