From wondering about Jack pads to the car not starting :(

AndrewJames · 30th November 2020, 21:06

Hi guys/gals,

Well as the title suggests a few hours ago I was wondering about jack pads and now I have bigger problems. The car won't start. I took a 40 minute drive to Ikea and when we came out the car wouldn't start. The car was cranking so I assumed the battery and starter were fine. Luckily after cycling the ignition off and on several times the car started and got me home.

Left it for an hour and a half and went down to test it. The car started first time. I then switched off and turned the ignition on and heard a constant "brrrrrrrrrrr" sound that continued on and on and only stopped when I started the car or turned the ignition off. I had not heard this noise before. It was very noticeable and new. Repeat the above with hearing the "brrrr" but now the car wouldn't start. Eventually the noise disappeared completely when turning the ignition on and now the car definitely won't start.

My guage is reading a quarter tank of diesel and although I'm sure my guage is dodgy I'm fairly sure I don't have an empty tank...

Could anyone point me in the right direction?

Many thanks.

75driver · 30th November 2020, 21:08

Give your under bonnet fuel pump a few sharp taps. I think it’s on its way out.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Alf Best · 30th November 2020, 21:14

Sounds like the in tank pump is goosed, this means 1/4 of a tank is effectively empty, and the brrrrrring noise was air gurgling in the pipework

Put a gallon of juice in, and see if that helps, and if it does, then keeping the level above the quarter mark until the ITP can be checked.

Alf

AndrewJames · 30th November 2020, 21:19

Would it be the case then that the car has an in tank pump and an under bonnet pump too? I'm showing my ignorance here but I hadn't realised that.

Alf Best · 30th November 2020, 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewJames

Would it be the case then that the car has an in tank pump and an under bonnet pump too? I'm showing my ignorance here but I hadn't realised that.

Yes, your car will have both pumps, mine is a 2004 and has both

The later cars have only one pump, and that is in the tank, but on the twin pump models if the priming valve on an inoperative ITP is exposed, then air is drawn into the fuel line and the car will cut out or not start.

Alf

AndrewJames · 30th November 2020, 22:05

Thanks Alf, would getting the air out be a diy/one person job or quite complex? I've just put five litres in and no change. My friend has said it will be air locked too.

trikey · 1st December 2020, 07:22

No air locking on our cars, they self bleed.

trikey · 1st December 2020, 07:23

The underbonnet pump should start running as soon as you turn the ign on, I reckon this is failing by your descriptions...

AndrewJames · 1st December 2020, 07:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by trikey

The underbonnet pump should start running as soon as you turn the ign on, I reckon this is failing by your descriptions...

You've hit the nail on the head Andy. It was late last night and whatever I was hearing was not the fuel pump. I came down this morning armed with a big screwdriver. Opened the bonnet and found the pump making that "brrrrrrrrrr" noise I heard before. Hit it with the screwdriver a few times and the car started

Is this a job someone with reasonable DIY skills can do?

AndrewJames · 1st December 2020, 07:52

I should add for anyone interested that the pump was making that loud sound and the car wouldn't start. After hitting it with the screwdriver the noise reduced slightly but continued, however the car then started.

Edit: here's a video of the pump shortly before I hit it. That noise is all coming from the pump.

https://youtu.be/CT9sujuj5-I

30th November 2020, 21:06	#1
AndrewJames Loves to post Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 291 Thanks: 133 Thanked 102 Times in 61 Posts	From wondering about Jack pads to the car not starting :( Hi guys/gals, Well as the title suggests a few hours ago I was wondering about jack pads and now I have bigger problems. The car won't start. I took a 40 minute drive to Ikea and when we came out the car wouldn't start. The car was cranking so I assumed the battery and starter were fine. Luckily after cycling the ignition off and on several times the car started and got me home. Left it for an hour and a half and went down to test it. The car started first time. I then switched off and turned the ignition on and heard a constant "brrrrrrrrrrr" sound that continued on and on and only stopped when I started the car or turned the ignition off. I had not heard this noise before. It was very noticeable and new. Repeat the above with hearing the "brrrr" but now the car wouldn't start. Eventually the noise disappeared completely when turning the ignition on and now the car definitely won't start. My guage is reading a quarter tank of diesel and although I'm sure my guage is dodgy I'm fairly sure I don't have an empty tank... Could anyone point me in the right direction? Many thanks.

30th November 2020, 21:08	#2
75driver Posted a thing or two Rover 75 saloon, manual. Rover 75 Tourer, Auto. Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Newry Posts: 1,781 Thanks: 574 Thanked 443 Times in 371 Posts	Give your under bonnet fuel pump a few sharp taps. I think it’s on its way out. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 2006 75 Contemporary SE diesel manual (#1) 2003 75T Connoisseur SE diesel auto (For Comfort) 2005 75 Connoisseur SE diesel auto (Marmite duotone ) 2006 75 Connoisseur SE diesel auto (The last one?) 2009 E220 (For a change) 2018 L200 (For Big & Heavy Things) 1976 W114 250 Manual (For Sundays)

1st December 2020, 07:22	#7
trikey Premium Trader Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 33,777 Thanks: 8,837 Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts	No air locking on our cars, they self bleed. __________________ Lest we forget..

1st December 2020, 07:23	#8
trikey Premium Trader Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 33,777 Thanks: 8,837 Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts	The underbonnet pump should start running as soon as you turn the ign on, I reckon this is failing by your descriptions... __________________ Lest we forget..

1st December 2020, 07:52	#10
AndrewJames Loves to post Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 291 Thanks: 133 Thanked 102 Times in 61 Posts	I should add for anyone interested that the pump was making that loud sound and the car wouldn't start. After hitting it with the screwdriver the noise reduced slightly but continued, however the car then started. Edit: here's a video of the pump shortly before I hit it. That noise is all coming from the pump. https://youtu.be/CT9sujuj5-I Last edited by AndrewJames; 1st December 2020 at 07:59..

30th November 2020, 21:14	#3
Alf Best Avid contributor MG-ZTT Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Cullercoats Posts: 117 Thanks: 81 Thanked 69 Times in 47 Posts	Sounds like the in tank pump is goosed, this means 1/4 of a tank is effectively empty, and the brrrrrring noise was air gurgling in the pipework Put a gallon of juice in, and see if that helps, and if it does, then keeping the level above the quarter mark until the ITP can be checked. Alf

30th November 2020, 21:19	#4
AndrewJames Loves to post Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 291 Thanks: 133 Thanked 102 Times in 61 Posts	Would it be the case then that the car has an in tank pump and an under bonnet pump too? I'm showing my ignorance here but I hadn't realised that.

30th November 2020, 22:05	#6
AndrewJames Loves to post Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 291 Thanks: 133 Thanked 102 Times in 61 Posts	Thanks Alf, would getting the air out be a diy/one person job or quite complex? I've just put five litres in and no change. My friend has said it will be air locked too.