Striings

Hello, I have a mark 4/5 fiesta on a 51 plate. I broke down the other day, so decided to call the AA to be recovered. In the meantime I checked to see if there was fuel coming out the fuel pipe connectors when my mate started it and there was nothing, also couldn't hear no fuel pump whirling noise when try starting it. He checked the fuel relay and said it was fine. It try's to start then stops.. Also sprayed something in the intake pipe near the air filter, that made it start but then it cuts out. He reackon a it's the fuel pump that needs replacing. Anyone know how easy/hard this is to do? Can anyone recommend anything or has had the same
Experience?

doga-ot

iTrader: (1)

its fuel cut of switch should be a little red button in either passenger or drivers foot well under the kick panel. When you put ignition on you should hear pump prime! but that being said these fiesta's are prone to fuel pump issues, pump is in the tank so if its not switch but pump then you will need to drop tank cant remember if it can be done from under rear seats but it would be tight!

De4n0

Could also check the oil level, some cars have oil level sensors that prevent the car from starting when it gets too low. It's a long shot but worth a look.

Striings

Why would it be fuel cut of switch? I drove it 30 miles and then went to park up and it stalled.. Then tried starting it and then nothing. I know they are prone to fuel pumps.. I have looked under the seats and you can't access it from under there. Also had a look at the tank don't seem to bad to do looks like just 4 bolts.

De4n0

To be honest mate it's such a quick thing to check it's not even worth questioning it, it's a process of elimination and that can be one thing checked off a massive list of things it could be. You could check the fuel pump if it's not the cut off, have a multimeter handy to check if power is being sent to the fuel pump in the first place before buying a new one.

Striings

Ok so how do I check the fuel pump and the cut of switch? I understand mate I appreciate it. Luckily I'm
Off tomorrow so I can have a look. I've looked else where and it seems the fuel pumps are common to go.

De4n0

Yea I have a similar problem with my project car, it started one day and the next nothing, I also think it's the fuel pump after removing it and testing it, it seems dead, I couldn't say exactly were your switch is or what it looks like on your car as I'm not familiar with fiestas, but let's say it's the same as a focus, it's a black plastic housing with a round red plastic button under the drivers side carpet to the right of the pedals, really easy to find. If it's activated it would have come up and be level with the top of the black plastic surround, if it hasn't it will sit about 15-20mm further down. You can also try disconnecting your battery for 10-20 minutes and this is thought to reset the ecu in many cars, how true it is I don't know but again it's a free and quick thing to try.

This is the fuel cut off box your looking for and in this picture it seems to be inactivated.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIESTA-ZET...item35c94b830c

To test the fuel pump you'll find it easier to have someone to help, you'll need to gain access to the fuel pump plug and may mean removing your fuel tank, take your multimeter and ground the black pin to the body of the car and put the red one in one of the pins on the plug, get some one to turn the key to its ignition on position and see if any power comes through for it to prime the pump, at a guess I'd imagine your looking for around 12v, do this with each wire until you find the right one also repeat that process with them trying to start the car to see if you get a permanent live, make sure your fuel tank is right out the way when working on the electrics, if there's power as normal I'd be safe in saying the fuel pump is nacked.

Striings

Wouldn't the AA take the battery off to see it it would reset when he was there or not? So does the switch need to be up or down for my car to start? And if it is that what would I need to do? And why would it of done that. Problem is I haven't got a multimeter ever lol. Also if it's not the switch is it most likely to be the pump then.

De4n0

For the car to start the switch needs to be in the down position,

the aa wouldn't necessarily check a great deal as they'd be more concerned to getting your car home so you Can arrange for it to be repaired but ovcourse this all depends on which aa engineer you get, I've had one pretty much rebuild my hub for me at the road side but saying that my girlfriend got one that sold her a brand new battery when hers was pretty much brand new

If it isn't the switch I'd have a quick look round before turning to the fuel pump,
Check things like the ht leads are in good condition and plugged in properly, your fuses, etc..

And another problem I've had in the past is when I started my car and turn it off in a short period of time the car wouldn't start, so I got someone to pull me in there car whilst a put it in 2nd gear and lifted the clutch, hey presto it started fine after that.

Like I said it could be so many other things other than the pump, but if you have a spare day and want to check that off the list is worth a look, without a multi metre you can try a few others thing like an led and a couple of wires, tape a wire to each prong on the led and ground one and put the other in the plug, the only problem with this is you won't get an accurate reading of volts and without a resistor on the led you'd more than Likly blow the led and need loads of them haha, but that is just the kind of mad thing I'd do, you can get screw driver looking things with a wire coming out the top of them which again will have an led in them and give you an indication if there's any power being sent to the wire.

Or you could just get another pump from the scrappy, hope it's a working one and see if that fixes the problem.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-6v-12v...item19e67b029c

Striings

I'm deffo going to have a look at the switch tomorrow first and see what that's looking like Aslong as I can find it. Will my car that old deffinetly have a cut of switch? He did look at the fusses in the fuse box and behind the cover next to the steering wheel and said that he was getting a reading from them.

I might go with a pump and just see what happens if the switch is in the right position. I went to get the ticket to park in the car park as I drove in it stalled and wouldn't start again but is deffinetly trying to start.

I remember what the spray was it was easy start that he sprayed into the intake then I hit the key and it started then cut out as soon as he stopped spraying.

If the switch is in the wrong person what could of caused that? And would it need changing if it was.

De4n0

Yea it'll defo have a fuel cut off switch, doubt it'll need replacing, what could have caused it is anyone's guess to be honest but don't think it would be a recurring problem if it was that. If it isn't that and you have a safe way of doing it see if you can get someone to pull the car along whilst you bump start it, you'd be surprised how many times that method has cured problems I've had in the past. Keep an eye on the revs as if it does start you'll want to dip the clutch and get them to stop, then take it for a decent drive round the block.

Without throwing random theory's at you and confusing you that's pretty much all I can advice, good luck mate

Striings

Hello mate sorry to bother you again. I have found the cut off switch and it is in the down position. I think we r heading towards the pump.

doga-ot

iTrader: (1)

Bud mate sed his fiesta few days before you posted and exactly same thing but i noticed his pump not priming checked his switch it had tripped reset all ok! Also drove another mates car 1 month ago parked on drive removed passenger soor to replace no banging or anything went to start car after nothing switch also tripped on that too