Where the fuel pump??

Hi folks

I think my fuel pump has packed up on my Piaggio porter 1.3i

I can see the fuel filter half way down the side of the tank but im struggling finding the pump.

Is it at the tank end or engine end??

Any help would be much appreciated
thanks in advance


Joe

Hi Joe,

It's inside the fuel tank I believe, accessed from the top of the tank. You'll have to drop the tank to get to it.

As above.

Thanks very much
so Im not going mad after all then!!!
would you say its a complicated job to change it then??
cheers
Joe

I assume you have the van? as the pickup has a slightly different tank, and I'm not so sure about that.

If so, then it's not too hard no, just a few bolts to undo the tank. The only fiddly thing is disconnecting all the pipes and wires on the top of the tank before you drop it fully. I usually undo the bolts and drop it as far as it will go without pulling anything and support it there. This should give you enough room to unhook all the bits.

Hope it goes well!

Pick up tank is a piece of cake. 4 bolts to hold it in place.
With the van on the top of the tank there is a tiny vacuum pipe right angled elbow. It is nearly always rusty because the dirt from the back wheel gets thrown up on top of the pump and fuel gauge sender. Do not drop the tank without first very gently removing the vacuum pipe. If you break the rusty elbow you will basically scrap the tank. Not many people are brave enough to weld a petrol tank, but I have welded dozens without incidents.
However the vacuum elbow is made from such thin metal it needs to be braized or even soldered in place. I have never had to do that thankfully.
The other problems are the connections to the pump and the fuel sender. Try and disconnect them too before dropping the tank completely. If you can't separate the connections at least you can cut the wires and use crimp connectors to put the tank back in.

Thank you very much for the info and advice.

Yes its the VAN I have, not the pickup...

Just booked Friday off work to have a go..
I bet it rains all day...

Ill bore you with the details next week hahaha

There is a drainage nut in the bottom of the tank. I would advise getting all of fuel out that you can as it makes the job a lot easier.

Joe
I had a dead fuel pump problem last year and the solution was an in line fuse located next to the ECU. If you search this excellent forum for "Fuel Pump Fuse" you should find my post about it and a picture.

Hope this helps, taking the tank out for nothing would be a pain.

When you turn the ignition on you should hear a click from the Fuel Pump relay in the dash behind the brake fluid reservoir, after two seconds. If the fuse is ok and you don't hear the click then it could be the relay or the pump. The pump starts up and pressurises the fuel system and then the relay cuts off once the fuel system is pressurised and only opens again once the Camshaft Spark Sensor is working. If your Camshaft Sensor has packed up and they do with no warning usually on engine start up rather than when running then that can also be your problem.

So you have 3 scenarios why your pump is not working,. If your van is 2002 + then the OBD 2 Socket is available to you to find out what is or is not working. Providing you have or can borrow one.

I sell pumps on ebay.

I have 2 new ones left.

After these are sold, I will not be stocking anymore.

Hi Guys
thanks for the help so far..
The relay and fuses are ok...
just got the tank off today....

The electrical contacts look really corroded on the inline cable connector..
I decided to drop the tanl anyway though and take car of the rust issues..

Woodie: thanks for the heads up on the vacuum pipe! it was really rusty

gonna put 12 volts across the pump tomorrow and see what happens )

thanks again

Joe

Well this is taking longer than i thought! mainly due to work,,
got the tank off, got the pump out, ordered a new pump (thanks HighJetted)
unfortunately the vaccuum tube is hanging on by a thread,,,,,,
and the tank is really rusty round the edges,,,

Anyone got a tank for sale?

BACK AGAIN!!!!

Well.....
that was a puzzle....
got the tank off,,, put 12 volts across the wires going into tank,,,, no sound,,,, (must be dodgy fuel pump)
ordered new pump

Spent a long time patching up rusty lumps all over the tank..
had a hard time getting the plate off which houses the pump,,,,

checked pump fuses and relay

had to put lots of gunk around the 90 degree vaccuum pipe which was so rusty it was about to drop off...
put the new pump in, repainted whole tank

tried the old pump again directly with 12 volts,,,,,bzzzzzz it worked.... had it been jammed?

tried 12volts on the wires going into tank (with new pump installed)... nothing!!!

looked at the seal where the red and black wires go through the tank lid...snap... came off in my hand...
looks like water has got in and the contacts had rusted away......

soldered some new wires on and covered it with sealant

put the tank back on..... very fiddly......

BINGO!!!!!!!!!

thanks for your help guys!!!!!!

3 weeks hmmmmm

Well done, your perseverance paid off AND you now have a spare fuel pump!