45 replies to this topic

[minicooper1.3i]

Ok, here we go. Yet another injection Mini struck a fatal blow by the fuel pump gremlin.

Driving along quite happily on a nearly empty tank the other day, when I put my foot down a bit and got a splutter from the engine and a loss of revs. Took my foot off and it picked up again and was fine. Thinking I was lower on juice than I originally thought, I drove round the corner to the pumps, filled up and went on my merry way. Went to go out later on in the evening, but when I turned the ignition on, there was silence from the pump in the boot (I always wait for the pump to pressurise the system before cranking over). Anyway, tried to start it but it just couched and spluttered a couple of times each time.

Got the good old multi-meter out and started checking. Working in the boot first I discovered that there was 12v on the pump supply when the ignition was turned on, but the strange thing was, it was only there for a second or less. Almost like a surge every time the ignition was turned on. But when the engine is being cranked over, there's a continuous 12v supply to the pump.

Would I be right in thinking that the pump has given up the ghost or am I missing something here?

The last time I had this kinda a trouble it was my old SPi and it was a faulty relay.

All help most appreciated!

Cheers!

[Git]

Hi Mate, for me it was the relay, I didn't was to fork out £85 on a new one, so just put a live feed (through a fuse and switch) to the fuel pump. worked a treat.

Edited by Git, 16 June 2008 - 11:05 AM.

[roofless]

if you do need a new MPI pump I've got one available , dont want too much for it.

[tony kenobi]

i say change the relay. Find an old rover 200 bubble shape,they have them. Id a similar prob and it fixed it!

[minicooper1.3i]

Does anyone know if the SPi relay pack is the same as the MPi one? I've got a spare SPi one.

[Git]

Does anyone know if the SPi relay pack is the same as the MPi one? I've got a spare SPi one.

No it's not.
Minisport prices and part numbers...
SPI, YWB10022 '92-96 £109.55
MPI YWB100970 '97-'01 £43.95

I think the prices have gone down a bit, I saw somewhere the SPI pack for £85 ...
... MiniCooper 1.3i, have you tried the direct feed yet to test the pump?

[minicooper1.3i]

Does anyone know if the SPi relay pack is the same as the MPi one? I've got a spare SPi one.

No it's not.
Minisport prices and part numbers...
SPI, YWB10022 '92-96 £109.55
MPI YWB100970 '97-'01 £43.95

I think the prices have gone down a bit, I saw somewhere the SPI pack for £85 ...
... MiniCooper 1.3i, have you tried the direct feed yet to test the pump?

No, not yet. But I will.

[minicooper1.3i]

Do the MPi fuel pumps have a life expectancy? Assuming mines the original, it's done nearly 90k.

[minicooper1.3i]

Right. Update.

Just rejigged the wiring for the horn to shoot 12V up the loom to the pump on the pump side of the inertia switch, so I can sit in the car, press the horn button and listen for the pump. And.......(drum roll please)......the pump works fine. Whirred away quite happily in the boot.

Now going to try the same thing but get the inertia switch into the circuit as well, then if it works, off to the scrappies for a new relay pack.

Here's hoping!

[BoyracerAU]

That's a novel approach. Glad to hear it sounds like your pump is fine then.

[minicooper1.3i]

Yeah I know I was wondering how I would be able to see if the pump was OK without disconnecting a fuel line and see if it squirted petrol out. It was quite simple really. I just disconnected the plugs from the inertia switch and horn and used a piece of wire to link the two together.

Anyway, visited the local scrappy with my lil' boy and managed to find a selection of relay modules from various K series Rovers. The scrappy man was kind enough to 'loan' me a selection as none of them had the same serial number. Luckily, the first one I tried (from an N reg 400 I think) worked a treat, so I took the others back and off I jolly well go!

Yip-Ta-Hoo-Teeeeee!

[Sprocket]

Well done that man.

Dont supose you found those spare connectors on the loom?

[minicooper1.3i]

Well done that man.

Dont supose you found those spare connectors on the loom?

I did look, but it was peeing it down at the time and I admit, I didn't look for too long. The only spare connector I found was dangling next to the horn, which is when I thought to use the horn button. Is that the connector you meant, and if not, what's it for?

Cheers!

[tony kenobi]

Glad you got sorted, same thing hppened me, new relay fixed it. The only spare one i ever found as well was dangling by the horn. Someone told me aircon, another told me front fog lights, either way,ill just tape it up.

[cambiker71]

Got the good old multi-meter out and started checking. Working in the boot first I discovered that there was 12v on the pump supply when the ignition was turned on, but the strange thing was, it was only there for a second or less. Almost like a surge every time the ignition was turned on. But when the engine is being cranked over, there's a continuous 12v supply to the pump.

Would I be right in thinking that the pump has given up the ghost or am I missing something here?

This is what it's supposed to do, it should provide power momentarily when the ignition is switched on to pressurise the system, then switch off, when the engine is cranked it will switch on and provide power to the pump, basically if the engine is not turning then neither should the pump be pumping fuel, it's a safety thing built into almost all FI engines in case of an accident, and i think part of construstion and use regs. Imagine the pump providing fuel to a stalled engine in an accident with hot engine parts , not a good thought.

Having said that the relay might still be at fault in that it doesn't allow enough ampage to the pump to make it pressurise the system, due to dirty or burnt contacts inside it, try it with a bulb rather than a multimeter, multimeters can still record voltage with even the slightest of connections whereas a bulb will only light with a fairly good supply.

hope this helps