The Dispatch | Expert | Scudo Hub

Aaw that's good new Pabblo hope it continues to behave!

I got cold feet splicing the wires to the lift pump [reluctant to introduce any further weak points!] - so have ordered up an extra plug & socket so I can splice without breaking the existing wires.

Unfortunately they're coming from China so might take a while!

Thanks for the cost info - I reckon I can stomach that sort of price if I'm sure that's the culprit .. we'll see!

Thanks again for the update.

Cheers Vaz ..

I live in the middle of nowhere so, while I love wild camping and parking up in the sticks, sometimes I'm in the mood for town & villages, pub grub, beers and random company

My van just looks like a plain old white worky panel van as far as anyone passing is concerned so not really any problems parking up anywhere - I spend a lot of time up in Glasgow and often sleep in the van - I have my favourite quiet spots - never had any bother.

So Tarbert should be OK I think if that's where I go for.

I'd forgotten about the Tarbert - Portavadie ferry actually ... Not been on it before so I might work that into my plans either this time or next.

I like a ferry!

Wow .. good work Ricko! Absolutely no messin about there!

Hah! Just the job!

I was vaguely aware that such a thing existed but certainly didn't know what they were called 

I'll order some up.

Are they generally reliable?

OK found the connector for the lift pump.

There are 4 wires go into / out of it.

I need to do some testing tomorrow to find out which is which - but they are:

- Fuel level signal
- Booster pump supply (+ 12 volts)
- Booster pump earth
- Fuel sender earth

My question is - how am I best to connect the meter to the right wires when I find them? There's about 2 inches of exposed [still shielded] wire after the connector before the 4 wires disappear into a loom thing and up above the fuel tank.

Should I just cut them there and use a block connector to splice them together and patch the meter into that?

I'm probably not going to go as far as pulling the tank off.

OK good shout :-) Think I understand!

The biggest problem is that this never happens when it's sitting here in the yard at home. It happens out and about and even then, chances are the next time I turn the key it will work.

I'll see if I can find the pump connections first and if so I'll see if I can go for a spin and then replicate the issues at home.

Thinking about it - I guess this could also be a wiring issue before the relay couldn't it? I know that I don't hear the lift pump when the engine fails to start - but I couldn't say for sure if the relay is firing or not. Something else to check!

Thanks again!

OK .. so it's not the relay! 

All was good for first few runs but on Saturday I had a hot-start failure after a short trip. Started just moments later but think that's enough to rule out the relay.

I reckon that leaves us with the in-tank lift pump itself, or wiring issues. No idea what I'm doing on either count so I think it's time to pass it on to my garage and see what they say about it.

OK - looks like I just got lucky on my Arran trip!

Since returning home I've had three engine cut-outs - engine light on [code P0230 again] - and van wouldn't start for five minutes or so. Then off we went again as if nothing had happened.

What I have confirmed now is that when the van won't start, the lift pump is not kicking in when the ignition is turned to ON. Presumably, it's also switching off under driving conditions to cause the cut-outs.

So ..... [I think!] that must leave us looking at the fuel management relay, the in-tank low pressure fuel pump or some wiring issue between the two. At 175k I guess any of those could be possible.

I've got a replacement fuel relay right here [the correct one this time! - part# 9629945980 - £10 via ebay] so that's getting swapped today and will see how we go.

So many similarities to Pabblo's ongoing issue and we've both [hopefully] narrowed it down to the relay / lift pump .. fingers crossed we both get a resolution!

I wasn't really too worried on the whole - it always seemed to start eventually - it was just in the queue to get on / off the ferry where I'd have needed a tow! That feeling of relief when it fired up though!

Arran [Ardrossan <<-->> Brodick] ferry for me & the van was £39.90 return - which I think is brilliant value.

Made it!

Arran! As nice as it gets I reckon

Especially in the weather we had there over the last week. Bloody amazing.

Will sort stickers for all new requests this week!

Evening Mike! I'm away for a week or so tomorrow but will sort you out with one when I get back!

If you fire me over your address I'll remember!

chris@dispatchexpertscudo.org.uk

So this is how my temp gauge now behaves when the engine's up to speed:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ck30uo … kAC5u/view

When cold - it behaves normally - so again this points to possibly being the culprit of the hot-start issue too.

Hopefully will get a new sensor tomorrow and I've located the old one on the engine.

Will report back!