01 Opel Astra 1.4 petrol fuel pump problem

wing1004

Hi all, so my car engine cut out a few days ago while driving without any warning, tried to start it immediately no joy, about 5 minutes later i tried again it started no problem, i drove for about 15 seconds and it cuts out again.

I got it towed to my mechanic, he said its the fuel pump, so he replaced it with a new one, a new filter. I took the car back and drove it for about 5 minutes the first day no problem, but the next day it cuts out again while parked in a car park with the engine running. I went back to the mechanic and he tells me there's this plastic valve thing inside my fuel pump which he'd never seen before, it's that part that's broken, so he priced it with the Opel dealer, 180Euros!!!

Attached is a picture of the yog, could anyone tell me what exactly it is and where I can get it for cheap please? Thanks in advance!!

wing1004

bump

Pottler

err, yes, it is available extremely cheap, at just about every breakers yard in the country. Just ring up a yard, ask them for the whole fuel pump assembly, whip out the back seat squab, open the few bolts that hold the pump/filter assembly in place(round yoke like a tin lid, can't miss it) and hoik it out, swap it for the new/old one in your hand connecting the various electricals and pipes. Bobs your auntie. It's easy and you will have a found skill. Should cost you about €20.

wing1004

Thanks a million Pottler!!! Looks like i'm gonna have to find me self a new mechanic!

Pottler

wing1004 wrote: »

Thanks a million Pottler!!! Looks like i'm gonna have to find me self a new mechanic!

for jobs like this you could try that lad called Wing1004, I hear he's very good even if he does have to keep googling stuff so he gets it just right!

Lucifer

I would have my doubts about your mechanics diagnosis. When the car cools down does it start again? It sounds like a problem I have seen a few times before, and if its the same that won't fix your problem.

Pottler

Lucifer wrote: »

I would have my doubts about your mechanics diagnosis. When the car cools down does it start again? It sounds like a problem I have seen a few times before, and if its the same that won't fix your problem.

And here's your chance to offer the correct diagnosis:D What do you think the issue is? Might be even easier than the fuel pump but going by the "car cooling down" bit, I'm guessing coil pack issues is what you have in mind?

wing1004

Sorry for the late reply lads.

Pottler: I went to the scrap yard and yer man there said he's never seen that yoke before, he showed me the fuel pump assembly, the plastic bit wasn't on it.

Lucifer: Yes, the car starts again after a few minutes, runs for about 20 seconds and cuts out again!

wing1004

Lucifer wrote: »

I would have my doubts about your mechanics diagnosis. When the car cools down does it start again? It sounds like a problem I have seen a few times before, and if its the same that won't fix your problem.

Have you seen the yoke in attached picture before in Astras? My mechanic had never seen it before.

Thanks!

Pottler

Typical of Lucifer, offer the hope of salvation then it turns out to be empty words leading to a life of torment at what could have been:)

wing1004

Pottler wrote: »

Typical of Lucifer, offer the hope of salvation then it turns out to be empty words leading to a life of torment at what could have been:)

LOL, I had high hopes all day today waiting for lucifer's reply. Anyways, i've decided to flog it, everything else in the car is perfect, minor scratches, NCT till February 2013, taxed till July 2012, wonder how much I can get for it?

George Dalton

When the car stops and fails to restart does the fuel pump run for a couple of seconds when you switch on the key?

wing1004

George Dalton wrote: »

When the car stops and fails to restart does the fuel pump run for a couple of seconds when you switch on the key?

Not 100 percent sure, but i think so.

Pottler

Dunno about Lucifers cryptic reply, would love to but... anyway we run an astra 1.4 estate as a "gofer car" anyone can jump into to get stuff and it suffered what sounds like the same failure - I swapped out the fuel pump for one from a scrappies(just swapped the whole thing, forget about the doodads, got the whole unit) and problem was solved. Can't see how same age/engine spec astra 1.4's could have different fuel pumps, at the end of the day the pump sends fuel up to the motor using a 12v feed..

wing1004

Pottler wrote: »

Dunno about Lucifers cryptic reply, would love to but... anyway we run an astra 1.4 estate as a "gofer car" anyone can jump into to get stuff and it suffered what sounds like the same failure - I swapped out the fuel pump for one from a scrappies(just swapped the whole thing, forget about the doodads, got the whole unit) and problem was solved. Can't see how same age/engine spec astra 1.4's could have different fuel pumps, at the end of the day the pump sends fuel up to the motor using a 12v feed..

Cheers Pottler, ya that's what i don't understand how my car has different part in the fuel pump, i went to both scrap yard and parts shop they all said never seen that part before, it's really a weird one alright, maybe the mechanic is talking out of his arse.

Lucifer

I hadn't seen the thread until now sorry, I was following it but didn't receive an email for some reason.

Anyway, by the sounds of your problem, I would think that it is an ECU problem. If you do a search you will find the thread where I explained it to another poster. I am not at a computer at the min so it's a bit much to type on a phone.

EDIT Here it is http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055510999&pp=15&page=1

If you need any more info let me know.

George Dalton

I agree with Lucifer. What happens to them is the ECU stops providing the switched earth to the fuel pump relay and therefore the pump doesn't work. That is why I asked earlier in the thread if the fuel pump primes when you turn on the ignition. If the pump is buzzing when you turn on the ignition then this is not the problem. If it isn't making any sound then a faulty ECU most likely is the cause. If this has happened there should also be a fault code logged in the engine ECU for the fuel pump relay circuit.

Lucifer

George Dalton wrote: »

I agree with Lucifer. What happens to them is the ECU stops providing the switched earth to the fuel pump relay and therefore the pump doesn't work. That is why I asked earlier in the thread if the fuel pump primes when you turn on the ignition. If the pump is buzzing when you turn on the ignition then this is not the problem. If it isn't making any sound then a faulty ECU most likely is the cause. If this has happened there should also be a fault code logged in the engine ECU for the fuel pump relay circuit.

The pump will usually prime as normal, it's only when the ECU warms up that the earth will go. From memory its P1635 Fuel pump relay contacts problem.


OP see this thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055290903&pp=15&page=2

wing1004

Thanks a bunch Lucifer and George. Oh boy, how much would a second hand ECU cost me? I asked the mechanic if he wanted to buy the car off me as it is, he was interested, how much should I ask for lads? i really haven't a clue.

Cheers!

Pottler

can you not just run a switched earth to the pump earth wire and have the switch somwhere discrete/run an earth from the ignition to the pump earth to replace the ecu switched earth? All the pump wants is 12v and an earth, surely its just a pump at the end of the day?

Lucifer

Pottler wrote: »

can you not just run a switched earth to the pump earth wire and have the switch somwhere discrete/run an earth from the ignition to the pump earth to replace the ecu switched earth? All the pump wants is 12v and an earth, surely its just a pump at the end of the day?

The ecu would pick up the fault and keep the engine management light on and also if you left it on the pump would stay running, wouldn't really be safe in the event of an accident.

Oozoid

The risk of fire from a pump running on after a collision is nothing compared to the risk of the car cutting out without warning on a motorway! But disconnecting the relay from the ECU will cause an alarm which from this year, I am told, means an MOT fail (in the UK, that is). I ran mine for six months with the fuel pump relay connected to a switched 12 volt supply, but then the brake pedal sensor input on the ECU went intermittent (another 'safety' feature which causes a sudden and extremely hazardous, nevermind inconvenient, loss of power). It seems the little wires from the external sockets come adrift from the PCB. It looks like they're welded or glued to the board, not soldered. This is surely due to vibration from the ECU being mounted on the engine. Why do they do that?)

Anyway, the wires were too small for me to consider repairing, and Vauxhall wanted £700 to supply, install and program a new one, so I got a used one from a place called ecuelectronics.co.uk for £234. I wasn't aware the engine had no EGR valve fitted, so that flagged an alarm on the new ECU and caused the engine to stall six seconds after a cold start. (Due to some EGR test that the ECU conducts, I guess.) So I had to send the ECU back but the guy reprogrammed it and returned it without further charge, which I feel makes him worthy of a recommendation.

dec12

hi i changed my ecu and coil pack key reader and key on my astra still no earth to fuel pump relay and i think i have no spark and diagnostic guy said engine check light not working and computer cannot pair up with car can any one help cheers