Hi, My 1996 Escort Cosworth has been garaged for the past few years and I start her often. The last time I went to start it, it fired momentarily, then that was it. The fuel gauge read empty, so I assumed it was dry, so put £20 in it, still wouldnt start. Took fuel rail off, tried again, nothing coming out at all.

Strange thing is, when you look at the fuel gauge (no key in ignition) its on the red bar, but when you turn the key to "ignition lights on" the gauge goes backwards, ie lower - more empty.

I am stumped, all I have to go on is there was a mouse under the bonnet that ate through the batter strap, needless to say its without it head now. So it makes me think "sender unit, Pump, same location?, wires eaten.

The inertia switch is ok, cant locate the Fuel pump relay, if anyone knows, and how to test.
Maybe the alarm, that has a Fuel immobilizer, but why the strange sender unit behavior.

As the car is chipped I am thinking of removing the tank and changing the pump anyway, for a better one, that way I can at least check the wiring to the Unit, as hard to find them above.

Has anyone got any ideas, why two things next to each other have F Up

Thanks in advance

Mark

 

It seems as if the polarity has reversed thus the gauge reading backwards.

Re the starting if you have no fuel then the pump can't be working, to test this you should hear it prime when the ignition is switched on, I suspect yours isn't!

Probably not the pump but rather the relay but far more likely the wiring to it, thanks to your friendly furry intruder! You need to check you are getting power there (Can always test by putting power directly to pump and see if it runs) Yes the pump used is not very good much above standard power (Not sure the exact level) it's an Orion/Escort pump!

Martin

 

Thanks Martin, where are the relays please, colour etc

Mark

 

Almost certain they will be behind the passenger dash, well thats where they are on Sierras at least.

The relay should be yellow and is just a standard SPST relay, so you don't need anything special!

You can always bridge terminals 30 and 87 to test the relay and the pump, if the pump runs this shows it to be ok so either the relay or the ECU output is at fault, I still should think it's most likely bitten wires, or the relay could possibly be jammed in which case a "Flick" on the casing itself usually frees it.

Martin

 

Not sure if it is that side, I know and have seen some amongst the fuse box on the drivers side, anyone know for sure.

Thanks for all your replies.

mark

 

On small turbo In fuse box R9 top right hand side small brown relay second row in third down . wat about pump kill switch passenger foot well

 

Very good point about the kill switch, this always gets overlooked!

Martin

 

Hi
yes it is a Small Turbo, have checked the kill switch, plunger is down, having joined the terminals up and tested for continuity, Thanks for info on Relay location.

Keep wondering if its the alarm!! just a thought.

 

Think fuel gauge did drop slighty on mine once igniton was turned on ,
I had trouble on fuse board at pump relay , ie power would run for few min or so and then go dead for no reason had to take live feed off board to pump relay check u have power at relay with igniton on . put live feed and u hear pump running

 

Thanks for all your replies, been round to the car today to find the relay, and located it, brown one, anyway, how do I test if its faulty? Also is there a fuse for the pump/sender unit, cos there is nothing obvious on the board which says which it is.

Thanks Mark

 

Replaced the fuel pump, and away it went. Not sure if guage is sorted until more fuel is added.

Car wont be coming out the garage until I can afford the £1600 respray.

Thanks for all help.