Thread: Lack of power

Symptoms are as you've described.

There's a schrader valve on the fuel rail in the engine bay (drivers side).
With the engine running, give the pin a quick press with a small screwdriver. Fuel should squirt out a fair way. If it just dribbles, then you have a weak pump.

Originally Posted by Scouse

There's a schrader valve on the fuel rail in the engine bay (drivers side).
With the engine running, give the pin a quick press with a small screwdriver. Fuel should squirt out a fair way. If it just dribbles, then you have a weak pump.

If you have ill fitting leads on your coil pack, have a fire extinguisher ready

Originally Posted by pat911

Mine is 17 years and 255,000k. What were the symptoms of the pump failure?

Like Scouse said, your symptoms!
Failing at load (or high revs), poor starting. See if it will start better after cycling the ignition on and off 5 times for 15 seconds. If it does, I reckon your pump is close to the end. A fuel pressure tester is easy to buy and use and will be a great diagnostic tool for all years for many years.

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Also - for everyone - we keep hearing about 'gunk in the fuel tank' and the low level of petrol clogging the pump. In my (admittedly layman) opinion, that's rubbish. The pump -always- sits on the bottom of the tank do do the spring system it has and therefore it would -always- be subject to picking up the rubbish on the bottom regardless of the fuel level, also there was 'no' rubbish in the bottom of the fuel tank I inspected, it was crystal clear. In addition, the bottom of the pump looks to be ingeniously designed with a very very large metal mesh that would be VERY difficult to occlude.

Originally Posted by glenhendry

See if it will start better after cycling the ignition on and off 5 times for 15 seconds. If it does, I reckon your pump is close to the end.

Originally Posted by Pat911

If I turned the ignition on/off a few times before trying to start it will start easier. (prime the fuel line)

Pretty much confirms it then.

Originally Posted by glenhendry

Also - for everyone - we keep hearing about 'gunk in the fuel tank' and the low level of petrol clogging the pump. In my (admittedly layman) opinion, that's rubbish. The pump -always- sits on the bottom of the tank do do the spring system it has and therefore it would -always- be subject to picking up the rubbish on the bottom regardless of the fuel level, also there was 'no' rubbish in the bottom of the fuel tank I inspected, it was crystal clear. In addition, the bottom of the pump looks to be ingeniously designed with a very very large metal mesh that would be VERY difficult to occlude.

Well, that doesn't explain all the gunk I found in the renewed fuel filter.

Models after 99 dont seem to have a fuel filter. I dont like the thought of crud getting to the injectors?

Since you found crud in the filter that means that there is some crud getting into the tank, but I maintain that the said crud is very unlikely to block the pump.

The crud had to go through the pump to reach the filter - just don't want it getting to the injectors.

Having replaced the cam sensor, the crank sensor and the Maf, the car was still rough. Pat at Brooklyn further diagnosed the pump only pumping 20psi. I'd replaced the original with a Holden petrol pump 6 months ago, obviously the Holden pump was not up to the job.

Got a great deal on a replacement pump from Island 4x4 which also cured the fuel gauge and now the car runs beautifully - it's an amazing feeling to have the car running so well again.

I had a good look in the tank when I replaced this pump and it looks clean - I've had dirt clog up fuel filters in the past on cars, how it got into the tank is anyone's guess, but I wouldn't run a car without one.

The good news is the car is running well, the bad is that the Eas has stopped, time to reach for the laptop!

Originally Posted by glenhendry

Since you found crud in the filter that means that there is some crud getting into the tank, but I maintain that the said crud is very unlikely to block the pump.

I replaced my fuel pump and it fixed my lack of power problem, but it only lasted about 500km and was back to the same symptoms. Fuel pressure check confirmed that fuel pressure was dropping to zero under load. Luckily I had purchased the pump locally and had it replaced under warranty. They also supplied the new pump before having to give them the old pump back so that the car wouldn't be off the road.

Before giving the faulty one back to the supplier I decided to have a look at the pump itself so I uncliped the plastic base and found a mesh filter atached to the bottom of the pump. It was full of crud! If it happens again I will have to get the fuel tank professionally cleaned to remove all the crud in the tank and replace the mesh filter.

So, crud in the tank is unlikely to block the pump but it will surely block the preceeding mesh filter and possibly damage the pump due to it running dry.

Cheers
Pat.

The tank is plastic & is very easy to clean out once it's removed. No need to pay someone $$.