We drove into the city this morning, as I turned at a traffic light into a side street to park the car had a splutter then failed to proceed. So I rolled to a parking space and did our hospital visit.

When we returned to the car I phoned the RACQ breakdown service and got a sandwich at the servo while we waited. (not being in a hurry I decided not to get my hands dirty)

We sat in the car and ate our food, while doing so I put the key in and it started so I cancelled the call out and drove home. There was a puff of fuel smoke when it fired. Maybe a sticky needle in the fuel bowl and it flooded while waiting at the traffic light.

Checked the heat of the coil when we got home and it was normal. So left it at that, no idea what went wrong. Will check the float bowls tomorrow.

 

ET got upset.

Needle crap makes sense to me, or fuel pump relay getting lazy.

 

Ok, I will look at fuel pump relay too, would not start on either tank so that rules out two failed fuel pumps at the same time.

 

Clarke,

No idea on the S1, but the S2 has that fuel pump relay earth going via a "reverse" oil switch, and made by Lucas, and they leaked, and failed to make earth, so most S2 have that switch wire earthed under a nearby screw.

 

Float bowls check out ok, needles & seat working as they should.

Does anyone know if the Series 1 has a fuel pump relay? None of Series 1 manuals mention one or show it in wiring diagrams. Series 2 diagrams for fuel injected models show one.

I found this pic showing one in the boot with the pumps, but I assume it's a series 2 since there isn't one in my boot.

 

Clarke, my car (series 2) has pumps in the tanks.
Not used of course, as the 350 has its own fuel pump, but the wiring and plumbing give them away.
(';')

 

Clarke,

The S2 6 cylinder carby cars had the fuel pump relay on the firewall top lip panel just to the right of the centre bolt for the cross braces.

Maybe the S1 is like the MK10 and the older S 3.4, no relay, just power direct from the ignition via the tank change over switch.

 

S2....

 

Grant, the wiring diagram shows a direct feed from the change over switch.

Jim, thanks for the pic. The only relay I have on the firewall is the starter relay.

Well that pretty much rules out an obvious fuelling issue, both pumps are pumping about the same amount of fuel into a jar. I have used the car a few times since and all good.

I will just have to wait and see if it happens again.