MG Maestro Turbo - Fuel Pump

[AndyMGF]

I have owned my 1990 MG Maestro Turbo for the last 20 years.

The car is always stored in the garage on a trickle charger. Recently the car would not start, it was turning over but not firing up. There was spark and I replaced the battery just in case.

A local mechanic diagnosed the issue to be a faulty fuel pump. (As far as I was aware it was still the original pump). I purchased a replacement pump via Ebay – JJC Race and Rally APS pump. It worked initially, but after only moving the car in and out of the garage a couple of times it failed. (Faulty Pump?)

I then purchased another replacement this item from Rimmer Bros. Today that has failed again only after moving the car in and out of the garage a few times.
Can anyone offer any advice as to what could be causing the issue. What can I check on the car? Or have I just been unlucky with two faulty new pumps or where they the wrong spec / missold?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Regards
Andy

[Jeff Turbo]

It depends on way they're failing, is it rust from the tank clogging them up ? Or a bad earth behind the drivers front light?

[AndyMGF]

Jeff, Many thanks for your post. "Bad earth on the drivers front light" - my apologies, which light are you referring to that I need to check? I am guessing checking the fuel tank is a little more awkward.....

Regards
Andy

[Jeff Turbo]

Jeff, Many thanks for your post. "Bad earth on the drivers front light" - my apologies, which light are you referring to that I need to check? I am guessing checking the fuel tank is a little more awkward.....

Regards
Andy

The earth for the fuel pump is behind the drivers side front main beam light. If you open the bonnet and look behind it and just under you'll see various wires on a bolt.
https://maestro.org.uk/forums/forum/...358#post339358 as per this thread near the end on post 39
Fuel pump
If you connect live and earth wires from a battery to one you've removed does it turn and come alive?

[AndyMGF]

Jeff

Many thanks.

Elec tests all complete and no issues found.

However, the cause could now well be the fuel tank. I have taken the pipe from the tank to the fuel pump and no petrol has come out. The tank is approx 1/2 full. So I am guessing that there is either rust in the tank / tank filter blocking the fuel or the pipe itself is blocked, either / both of which have caused the pumps to burn out.

I presume the next job will involve dropping the tank, emptying it and seeing the condition inside the tank and pipe, before hopefully flushing it through......any tips to complete this?

Regards

Andy

[Jeff Turbo]

Sounds like a blockage from the tank then, if no fuel is getting to the pump it'll burn out and also get clogged up or a fuel sender issue as you may have no fuel in it .
Jack the rear of the car put on axle stands high enough to work under the car and remove both rear wheels
This it from memory so I may have not remembered some of this correctly but it should see you through, there are 4 bolts holding the tank up. Remove the electric connection to the sender, remove the large rubber fuel and breather pipes at the side, disconnect the fuel pump and remove, remove the fuel out pipe and fuel in pipe at the front of the tank.
Undo the four bolts holding the tank on and lower the tank slowly, disconnect the remaining rubber fuel pipes surrounding the tank. If you haven't done this before take pictures of where the fuel pipes locate
If it has half a tank of fuel as you say, it'll be heavy so if you can try to drain it first, if not watch out for spills. If it's blocked you can drain via the large fuel in pipe opening
There are companies that fix blocked tanks so if you can't fix it try one of those
While it's removed you may want to remove the metal fuel filler pipe for inspection, clean and paint it if that's all it needs

[grogee]

It will be tank full of rust. Mine did similar. You'll need to take tank off and treat with POR-15, which takes a while but it's the only way forward since tanks are NLA.

[AndyMGF]

Jeff, Grogee

Thanks for the information, I will let you know how it goes..........