Fuel Leak

[Markey]

Hello, just got back from filling the car up with petrol and noticed a drip, had a look and took off the fuel pump cover under the read seat and noticed that it is leaking from around the top of the pump.

Is there a rubber seal here at all and what keeps the pump pushed down and held in place. I need to replace it anyway, as it keeps dieing when i go to start the car, but in the mean time id rather it not leak everywhere.

Please help

Thanks

[kirils]

i was just doing the same thing to my 320i, the fuel pump that is under the car just infront the left rear wheel, was leaking like hell, so i tok out the pump , than opened it from the top ( only place that can be opened ) it's a bit hard to take it out, than i saw that the rubber seal was bad , so i was trying to find a propriate seal , and i found one , just a bit more fat than the original, that was from the front brakes from some really old Fiat... i oiled it a bit and than stuck it in side really strong, tryed to see if the pump works ,and every thing is ok now, no leak , it's easy job to do.

[Markey]

Cheers for that, how did you remove it, as far as i can see it just sits in there nothing holding it in.

Im going to get another seal anyway for the next pum just wondered if it is supposed to just sit in there and not have any fixings etc.

[Brianmoooore]

Disconnect the pipes and electrical connectors, and remove the four small nuts on the top.
Lift out the fuel level sensor that is held by these nuts. It will leak petrol from a small hole near the bottom.
Using a blunt screwdriver and a small hammer, put the blade of the screwdriver in one of the notches on the rim of the pump, and gently tap the pump around in an anticlockwise direction.
After about 1/8 of a turn it will come loose and can be lifted out with a bit of twisting about. Don't damage the filter on the bottom.
The pump is sealed by a large O ring. Why anyone would want to use one from an old Fiat, I don't know. Get one from the dealer. (BMW, not Fiat)
If you get a replacement pump, note that there are two types. One sort just has one pipe connected to it, the other has two. If the original was a one pipe pump you can use either, (with the second pipe blanked off), but if the original was a two pipe, and the replacement one pipe, then you will need to fit the actual pump to your old frame.

[kirils]

the O-ring actually was new, it's orriginally for fiat, and the size were really simmilar just a bit more fat, so now it holds great the only reason i did this first cause it was a bit late and i couldn't make it on time to the BMW store, and second that stupid amount of money for one o-ring, maybe the girls i spoke on the phone was wrong, she didn't understand what i was loking for...
the repair costed me around 0.4 euro

[kirils]

Upodate: Today i went to my car and put the ke in, turned the key and i didn't hear the pump noise, i tried to start the car but it didn't... i guess that my pump is not working , maybe the oring i put is not gas proof, and made something inside and stuck the pump ...
Brian was right, do not use any other parts, exept for the original. New pump would cost me 200 euro, old one 40euro... and i BMW they said they don't have that kind of orings, they only have new pumps!

[Brianmoooore]

Upodate: Today i went to my car and put the ke in, turned the key and i didn't hear the pump noise, i tried to start the car but it didn't... i guess that my pump is not working , maybe the oring i put is not gas proof, and made something inside and stuck the pump ...
Brian was right, do not use any other parts, exept for the original. New pump would cost me 200 euro, old one 40euro... and i BMW they said they don't have that kind of orings, they only have new pumps!

Before you condem the pump, pull ot the pump relay and link together pins 30 and 87 of the socket with a short piece of wire, then try to start the car. Don't forget to remove the link afterwards.

[kirils]

the car is working ok now, after i spend all day searching for appropriate o-ring, and i couldn't find, than i had one custom made, and i put it in, and since than is working ok... so i hope i solved the problem...

[Brianmoooore]

the car is working ok now, after i spend all day searching for appropriate o-ring, and i couldn't find, than i had one custom made, and i put it in, and since than is working ok... so i hope i solved the problem...

Can't think of any connection between the O ring and the pump not working.
The first symptoms of a failing pump are that sometimes it fails to start. Then will run OK for days.

[kirils]

well the first o-ring i put in the car , was a bit big and some material that doesn't go well with gas, so i guess that the oring caused sideways streinght to the pump, moving her a bit up, and stucking the electromotor not to work, so when i tryed to turn on the car the pump was stuck adn the fuse burned. so than i opened it again as i said put new oring, changed the fuse originali it was 7.5 i put 5 , it was the only one i had, and the car is working nice since, than. I found a replacement pump in exelent codition for 40 euro, but beeing a bit really low with the budget right now i hope that my will work ok

thanks for all your adivice

[Brianmoooore]

The actual pump is very loosely and flexibly mounted on it's fixing bracket, and I don't think any distortion of this bracket would affect it.
Occasionally sticking and blowing the fuse is how they start to go.
A good bang on the mounting flange with the handle of a hammer ot similar usualy unjams it, but start saving for that new pump.

[Markey]

I have started to save they are so expensive im going to get a second hand one for the time being as i just had new shoes put on it.


Thanks

[Brianmoooore]

I have started to save they are so expensive im going to get a second hand one for the time being as i just had new shoes put on it.


Thanks

I've always used second hand ones. I've had one ot two start acting up immediately and had to fit another one, but I've never had to change one again after it's been OK for a week.

[Markey]

Great so if it lasts a week then i should be ok

Nice one thanks