Hi all,

well i just retired for the second time running last weekend ( both times on stage 1 ).

Engine cut out , re-started it but it would'nt drive under load so i pressume its a fuel pressure problem?

So i will be looking at the pump this week , any advice on upgrades or relocating it?

also i am thinking of changing the tired exhaust before the RAC in december..is the diesel system worth fitting and if so how much of it and any suggestions on which rear box to use

thanks in advance

dave

Off topic, sorry, but do you have any links to your car?

The other thing to check might be the connection to the lambda sensor (if it's still there). I had a dicky connector in the loom in mine when I ran the standard engine/ecu, and it behaved just like that - started and ran, but wouldn't drive under load.

I've never had any problems with the standard fuel pump in mine - I carry a spare about religiously on events, but never had to use it. I do know someone who had one fail on a felicia rally car, but but feel says it's more likely to be something else. Fuel filter OK and not blocked?

cheers

James

Could be quite a few things - have you put a code reader on the ECU to see if anything has come up? Fuel pressure is possible, I'd think Jim will have some decent suggestions as to what will help. I had one retirement from Somerset stages years ago as the cat had collapsed and was stopping the engine making much power, so maybe worth looking at that?

If the engine is all standard I don't think a diesel system will make that much difference, but if you're going to replace it then you may as well use that as being 50mm it will flow better; I'm just not sure it's needed on a standard engine. Mine's got a 50m system i had made up with no centre box and a straight-through tailbox and it works a treat, but the main difference came from fitting the kit-car manifold which flowed a LOT better. I have my old (tatty but itll be cheap) one for sale if you want it; PM me if you're interested as it's abou 10% of the price of a new one. I have a stainless system in the garage too, i think it's 45mm, I will take a look.

thanks for the replies,i will check the bits you mentioned over this week.

can i just add its the 1st time its done this, the first retirement was when the front wheel departed company !

I used the stud conversion this time and it works a treat, looking at improving each time something fails and hopefully the car will be right soon.

what kind of links are you after babs?

My thoughts were fuel filter, a vacumn line collapsing, or coil(s) or plug leads breaking down under load.

Fuel filter's been covered; just replace it.

Vacumn lines need handling, because what I'm thinking of (and yes I've seen this happen) is the rubber delaminating from the re-enforcement on an externally braided line. If this has happened the line will look normal, but be very squishy when handled.

Coil(s) there isn't an easy test for, but assumes you have a car with 1 coil and a dissie, or a pair of double-ended coils.

Plug leads - look, the last time I needed these they cost about £10 a set, and they should be treated as a service item anyway; after 24k miles anything with them goes better with a new set.

I'll PM, be easier!

ok is it MPI or the older SPI system on yours?

I would start with reading the fault codes in the ecu then swapping the crank sensor (most seemingly fuel problems are really electrical I've found)

check for filter blocked but I would doubt that would block just like that usually a gradual power loss BUT also check the tank breather is not blocked and the tank is able to draw air in ok.

The pumps can get damaged especially the older type that locate on the tank bottom but they tend to either work or not at all.

somewhere to start from anyway

lots to go though by the looks of it,mines the mpi thanks again everyone

Felly16v is correct about "most 'fuel' problems on EFi cars are actually electrics". Hence why most of the comments about fuel are variations of "change the fuel filter".

A quick update- the fuel pump has been removed and there is no sign of external damage.

The pump is faulty so a standard replacement has been purchased, am extra guard is being made to cover the kevlar one (just incase) and next is to check the fuel pump relay to make sure it was'nt that causing the pump to burn out

thanks for the replies,i will check the bits you mentioned over this week.

can i just add its the 1st time its done this, the first retirement was when the front wheel departed company !

I used the stud conversion this time and it works a treat, looking at improving each time something fails and hopefully the car will be right soon.

what kind of links are you after babs?

Was this at the Galloway hills? i saw a falicia(yellow) in the Market hill car park at the end but it did not come to the start of the Dalbeattie stage which I was working the lights at. Hopefully see you at the RAC we are doing Heathhall start at Dumfries.

Was this at the Galloway hills? i saw a falicia(yellow) in the Market hill car park at the end but it did not come to the start of the Dalbeattie stage which I was working the lights at. Hopefully see you at the RAC we are doing Heathhall start at Dumfries.

i was at the galloway hills although the car is white, Heathhall is stage 3 so hopefully will see you !

looks a bit like this still

Edited 15 November, 201114 yr by dave-sbs

A quick report on the fuelling issues , removed pump and it was running very slowly, and original so it was replaced.

Car had the same issue after a mile or so, wiggled the pump relay and it was ok - so bought an O.E relay, road test and just the same .

Removed the fuse board and seperated to find the brass/copper circuit for the pump relay was loose causing a bad contact !

2nd hand use board purchased, checked and fitted, car running faultlessly.

Hope this will help anyone else that may suffer the same problem, car is ready for the rally on sunday so fingers crossed for a finish !

Anyone out watching the clubmans RAC on sunday give us a big skoda wave

I had a similar issue on my first rally car, but that was a Favorit, and the electrics were crap compared to the Felicia. Glad you found it though.

Enjoy Sunday, keep it on the road, I'm sure it'll be great.

I had a similar issue on my first rally car, but that was a Favorit, and the electrics were crap compared to the Felicia. Glad you found it though.

Enjoy Sunday, keep it on the road, I'm sure it'll be great.

Have a good day tomorrow hopefully see you at Heathhall Start(twice!!) I presume clubmans are running both times through.

I'll be the big, cold looking fella probably counting you down off the start.

the little car ran perfectly, driver not so !

2 offs on the first stage , 14 miles in snow , put us OTL and out of the rally.

although we did carry on at the back of the field to get the miles in and had a hoot.

Firt time on any of them stages, first time in the snow and first time in the dark so was a great experience in all

Glad you enjoyed it, looks a hoot from the pics I've seen so far of the RAC. Shades of '71?

(sorry, I meant "challenging")

cheers, the weather up in the hills was challenging to say the least, a quick clip of the heathall mickey mouse stage- without snow !

http://www.youtube.com/user/sbsbodyshop?feature=mhee