Fuel pump issues - 325

[al]

After my car cut out completely I traced the problem to the fuel pump - having replaced the pump the same thing has happened after running the car for about 60 miles - could the relay be at fault in this?

The new pump worked fine and fired the car up straight away when I replaced it

Any advice would be greta

Cheers
Al

[Templ8e30]

The fuel pump relay is a common fault and can cause the same symptoms your having mate.

It's on the passengers side of the engine bay under a plastic cover and it's the middle relay, if yours has it try swapping it with the relay next to it (nearest the fusebox).

If it still persisits it could be the white DME relay in the same location cutting the whole injection system out.

Hope you sort it,

Iain T

[Brianmoooore]

I have had this kind of pump trouble - Fit a second hand pump that's never given a moments trouble, and it immediately starts playing up. Had this a couple of times.
Seems that second hand pumps don't like being stored for some reason.
I always pour a little light oil into them when I take them off a scrapper these days. Whether it helps, I don't know.
All that Templ8e30 says is quite possible, though.

[SCOTT325SE]

a faulty ecu can cause a car to cut out completely, and then start up and give no trouble the day after.
check the tracks in your ecu, they might be corroded.

im also having fueling issues. could someone tell me - the 3 relays that live under that black plastic cover in the passenger inner wing in the engine bay...... do ALL 325s have three relays, as i dont remember my tech 1 sport having 3, just 2.

[al]

Thanks Guys

It just seemed beyond belief that the 'new' pump could cause problems too!
Seems I will need to keep a good supply handy!!!

Scott - my 325 has only 2 of the relays not the 3, and can you box up the pump and send me your details - I will PM you with my details

CHeers
Al

[Templ8e30]

From experience most M20 engined E30's do have all 3 relays but some don't.

The relay nearest the fusebox is for the Lambda sensor heating iirc.

Cheers,

Iain T

[bennyboy]

I'm no bmw technician but my car cut out completely once. it too was the pump. replaced it. started car. took it for a drive and it cut out again. no fuel. it turned out to be one of the wires from the tank fitting to the pump. just a thought mate. replacing relays and looking into ecu's sounds expensive. especially if it turns out to be 4" of wire. Goog luck!

[Brianmoooore]

do ALL 325s have three relays, as i dont remember my tech 1 sport having 3, just 2.

All facelift E30s have three relay sockets. On the LH inner wing for 6 pots, and on the engine bulkhead for 4 pots.
The relays are the main DME (ECU) power relay, usually white, the fuel pump relay, usually orange, and a relay for the heater of a lambda sensor, also usually orange.
The lamda sensor relay is not normally fitted on cars without a cat in the exhaust.

[SGP]

The fuel pump relay is exactly the same type as the horn relay so easy to check if its faulty.