Fuel pump failure ?

[8690q]

I drove home from work last night no problems. Cars been parked up since then. Just been out to go down to my mates and the car won't start. Just spins on the starter. I can't hear the pump priming. I've tried a spare fuel pump relay, made no difference.

I'm thinking the fuel pump has failed, just wondered if anybody else has any suggestions.

Car is a 20v 7a 80 avant with the pump in the tank.

[martinws]

Unplug the pump and check if you have voltage at it from the relay for a start. It is possible to get a voltage with a voltmeter but it will drop of if you put any load on it so if you have a 12v lamp it works best as it loads up the cables. This rules out the wiring being at fault. Then check the pump.

[8690q]

The car not starting was last night.
I just tried starting it tonight after work and it primed but with a different noise from usual. Car started but seemed very laboured and revs were up and down.

Cheers Martin, I'll give the wiring a fiddle before I go condeming the pump. Job for tomorrow.

[denniselbows]

Also you can check the resistance of the pump by unplugging the plug going in to the tank if you have no continuity or a ever increasing resistance the pump is ****ed and time for a new one .

[jameswkr]

Check for continuity at its fuse - its a solo one. Open circuit = dead pump.

[UrS4boy]

Fuel Pump Testing and Replacement Info

*IF* you determine that it is the fuel pump, you can use this C4 Fuel Pump Replacement DIY as a guide (modify as needed for the B3/B4):

http://12v.org/urs/FuelPumpTestingandReplacementProcedures_Rev2.pdf

[8690q]

Unplugged the cable and I get 10v with ignition switched on.

I get virtually nothing measuring the pump. Pump dead or I'm useless with multimeter ?

All fuses in the fuse box are ok. Is there another fuse for pump under the dash or something ?

Car is starting again today but I'm not taking it anywhere till this is fixed, might make getting to work a bit tricky.

[re2500]

I had a problem with my fuel pump recently and it was a loose/bad connection fuse. I took the fuse out and put it back in and all was fine.... Check the fuse and the relay are plugged in well!

[8690q]

Luckily I still have my old 80 avant kicking about so was able to steal the pump off of that. The noisy pump gave very low readings on multimeter set to ohms\resistance. Pump in the old 80 gave nice high readings so I fitted that to get me by. Not sure how long for though as the pump I fitted has done 200,000 miles.

My big worry now is what killed the pump, old age, compatability issues with the 20v or blocked filter. Probably just being paranoid, it comes with owning this car.

I see silly prices on the net for new pumps, complete in basket or just pump. Someone on ebay selling one for £40. Looks like what I need but states mostly a4's and 1 80, the 1.6. Confusing as the a4's listed include the s4. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-New-...item230a191aee
Same pump for all 80's with in tank pump ?

[mcandmar]

There are a few different pumps depending on engine and age of vehicle. The baskets are interchangeable so you can change them around, sort of. The one you linked is the smaller diameter pump, found in 91 onwards cq20v, V6 coupe/saloons, aby's, and even the ur s4/S6. The earlier pumps were a larger diameter, and its that basket you use to fit an 044 pump into these cars.

Note smaller engine cars have different pumps, 2.0, 2.0 16v etc, just make sure you get one for a 5cyl motor so its upto the job.

[andy10v]

I have a spare 3B one you can keep in the boot if that fits?