And further to this tale!!........... So after a few days of starting up without any problems, this brand new Intermotor fuel pump started to emit a louder than usual start up noise, almost 'choking' (yes noises are difficult to explain!) but the engine did fire up and I travelled okay in the car. However the next day the car would not start, no initial fuel pump 'buzz' as the pump kicked in, the engine turned over by battery power only but no fuel supply to the engine. I waited 30 mins and tried again and it caught but the pump was emitting a very loud 'whine' which I recorded. Definitely something wrong with this one so its to be replaced with a Bosch one. My mechanic has since said he isn't sure about Intermotor stuff these days anyway (aarrgghh!) . The Bosch part 0986580826 ranges from £50 from RTS Motor supplies through Ebay  to £89 from Inetrmotor themselves or £144 from my mechanic off Motor Parts Direct who actually have it as £129 online and my mechanic has told me they will charge him more than to a customer!

I'll attach if possible the 'new' fuel pump under the back seat as recorded onto my phone. 

Sounds like it is sending out a distress signal in morse code!

32 minutes ago, pikpilot said:

Sounds like it is sending out a distress signal in morse code!

Its got that signal from space in a scfi movie thibg about it!

You need a Priest!

It's just learning to play Reveille.

Sooooo....the new Bosch in tank fuel pump was installed and off we went for three days of use before another non start day. I lifted the seat, uncovered the fuel pump area, thumped the fuel tank alongside the pump and it started!  

A quick discussion with the mechanic and it must (now?) be a dodgy wire connection. Uncovering the pump again shows all connections firmly settled, the wire 'feed' to the pump looks and feels all secure, I couldn't pull any wires away at all.

What else could be loose just that tiny bit to hinder the pump starting up unless its given that sharp thump and whatever it is must be right on or around that area of the tank....remembering that the AA thumped the tank's underside and it started up, I'm losing the will!

Has anyone got a contact number direct to Skoda UK (not a dealership) as I'd like to ask one of their 'experts' about this. Thanks.

Thoroughly inspect the electrical connection to the pump, there could be debris/corrosion/mechanical looseness.

48 minutes ago, MicMac said:

Thoroughly inspect the electrical connection to the pump, there could be debris/corrosion/mechanical looseness.

Thanks MinMac.....this got me thinking, would you know if I can use a switch cleaner on these electrical points, right over the fuel tank !?

I've just spotted Halfords 'electrical' cleaner, no residue, might give that a shot.

Edited 28 January, 20233 yr by mydadscar

It's not mission critical, you can use petrol, alcohol, wd-40 etc. and a toothbrush etc. but close examination beforehand is key to understanding the problem.

 

I would lean towards there being a mechanical connection fault due to the sealed nature of the connectors, you may be able to fix this by gently bending the male pins slightly sideways so they make a more positive contact in the female socket... hotdog up a wizard's sleeve comes to mind hahaha!

On 13/01/2023 at 12:32, varooom said:

What brand was fitted in the end then?

Ah sorry...in the end a Bosch pump has been fitted, its the second replacement.

On 29/01/2023 at 00:20, MicMac said:

It's not mission critical, you can use petrol, alcohol, wd-40 etc. and a toothbrush etc. but close examination beforehand is key to understanding the problem.

 

I would lean towards there being a mechanical connection fault due to the sealed nature of the connectors, you may be able to fix this by gently bending the male pins slightly sideways so they make a more positive contact in the female socket... hotdog up a wizard's sleeve comes to mind hahaha!

WD 40 left residual 'wetness' and took a while to clean out. There is another WD40 specific for this job.

 

Edited 2 February, 20233 yr by mydadscar

The original WD-40 does leave an oily film, it's supposed to.  WD stands for water dispersant and it was designed to prevent condensation from accumulating on cold rocket bodies and turning into hazardous ice.

 

Don't worry about the residue.

I've cleaned out that WD40 anyway with another cleaner and then used an air duster to dry it off. The car started for a couple of days but today refuses again. I saw an old post, last dated at 2017 pertaining to possible air block/leakage and changing the mettalic seal between the vacumm/fuel pump to engine block cured that problem of non starting.....I've message that driver hoping to get an idea where his particular fuel pump was situated as I'm not sure if my 1.6tdi has another pump in the engine compartment as well as the replaced one in the fuel tank under the back seat.

 

No no no!

 

IF

     the fuel tank pump is not activating upon ignition key turning and banging around the tank temporarily fixes it

AND

     2 new pumps haven't helped, it has nothing to do with any tandem/high pressure pump on the engine.

 

You clearly have an intermittent electrical feed to the tank pump.

 

Try bending the plug pins slightly as I mentioned previously.

1 hour ago, MicMac said:

No no no!

 

IF

     the fuel tank pump is not activating upon ignition key turning and banging around the tank temporarily fixes it

AND

     2 new pumps haven't helped, it has nothing to do with any tandem/high pressure pump on the engine.

 

You clearly have an intermittent electrical feed to the tank pump.

 

Try bending the plug pins slightly as I mentioned previously.

Yes I am aware it is likely a connection problem. I don't want to mess around with bending the brand new fuel pump pins even 'slightly' but I had tried forcing the connecting octagonal box socket female inserts closer together. Wondering if I should get a new connecting box sorted.

The female pins in it do look pretty tight but from experience (in another profession) the connectors are often the problem and a new connector does the job.

Cheers

(Re the air block/leakage....that was from my mechanic's other suggestion of his experience with a (different make) vehicle that had an air block causing start up difficulties.