fuel pump question

SonOfPerdition

hey All,

I have a problem with my 1998 bmw 318 not starting.

I suspect the fuel pump because I don't hear the usual 3 second whine from under the rear seat when i turn the ignition to on. I would expect to hear the pump prime like in this video BMW fuel pump sound

I've checked fuse and it's OK.

I've put my ear to the rear seat and asked the missus to turn the ignition key to the on position. What I DO hear is a short sound which is less than half a second. It's hard to describe, but it sounds very like the motor in an ink jet printer i have here for a very short burst. It seems to indicate power is getting to the pump but it isn't turning.

What I am wondering is if I should hear the pump prime for 3 seconds every time I turn the ignition key from off to on? OR if the fuel line is pressurised would it stop the pump from priming and give me that sound i hear ?

Cheers for any info.

SonOfPerdition

please ignore this thread as I have performed further analysis. I appear to have an intermittent fuel pump, the car is running again but I'm going to replace the FP asap.

Mar4ix

SonOfPerdition wrote: »

please ignore this thread as I have performed further analysis. I appear to have an intermittent fuel pump, the car is running again but I'm going to replace the FP asap.

wouldnt be problem with immobilizer ? haven't heard that pumps on bmw goes.

burke027

Mar4ix wrote: »

wouldnt be problem with immobilizer ? haven't heard that pumps on bmw goes.

By Jesus I don't no what model of bmws your looking at but I tell ya now all models of the BMW and range rover all suffer fuel pump failure. That 3 series was a common problem on them. We deal in bmws so I no them well.

DublinDilbert

More than likely the fuel pump, but also could be the fuel pump relay too...

You should be able to get just the fuel pump cheap from Gsf, but some of them come without the carrier / fuel sender so some stripping required.

Mar4ix

burke027 wrote: »

By Jesus I don't no what model of bmws your looking at but I tell ya now all models of the BMW and range rover all suffer fuel pump failure. That 3 series was a common problem on them. We deal in bmws so I no them well.

well, as i said, never heard, but good to know, ... I was working in pretty busy garage, was doing lot of work different bmw's , but never had any problem related to fuel pumps.

Good to know now, there is a lot problems out there, next time will know .

SonOfPerdition

burke027 wrote: »

By Jesus I don't no what model of bmws your looking at but I tell ya now all models of the BMW and range rover all suffer fuel pump failure. That 3 series was a common problem on them. We deal in bmws so I no them well.

Aye, it seems to be a common enough problem from what i can find on the web and a pretty easy DIY job, once i get the part.

SonOfPerdition

Mar4ix wrote: »

wouldnt be problem with immobilizer ? haven't heard that pumps on bmw goes.

I had thought the immobiliser might be the reason, but after playing around with the connector on the fuel pump the car started running again. I've read reports that tapping the fuel pump can get you going again for a short time and this seems to have worked for me. Though in my case just the vibration of taking the connector off and hoovering around the top of the filter seems to have been enough.

I'm going to replace the fuel pump, plus the fuel pump relay, and the fuel filter as a precaution.

SonOfPerdition

DublinDilbert wrote: »

More than likely the fuel pump, but also could be the fuel pump relay too...

You should be able to get just the fuel pump cheap from Gsf, but some of them come without the carrier / fuel sender so some stripping required.

Cheers, will check that out.

DublinDilbert

SonOfPerdition wrote: »

I had thought the immobiliser might be the reason, but after playing around with the connector on the fuel pump the car started running again. I've read reports that tapping the fuel pump can get you going again for a short time and this seems to have worked for me. Though in my case just the vibration of taking the connector off and hoovering around the top of the filter seems to have been enough.

I'm going to replace the fuel pump, plus the fuel pump relay, and the fuel filter as a precaution.

Yea tapping the fuel pump usually gets it going again, usually till you hit the first speed bump :mad:

I was able to get the FP going again in my E36 by tapping it, but when I hit the first speed bump it just stopped again...