Third Time Lucky

[OzPhil]

Hi Guys,

I have a VZ SS Ute that will not start on the first crank when hot.

Go to car in the morning, unlock, turn on ignition, fuel pump primes, stops, turn the engine over and the engine fires up.

If the engine is warm, turn the ignition on, NO fuel pump prime and it just turns over, stop cranking, try again and the car starts straight away.

I tried ignition on, no prime, ignition off, ignition on, no prime, ignition off, ignition on, prime fires no problems.

Always primes on the 3rd turn on of the ignition.

I've had a new Fuel pump and it looks like it has had new fuel lines.

I also took the supply to the filter off and there was no fuel or pressure there. Some fuel in the filter as I blew it out.

It can also here a tick when trying to prime the pump up which I presume is the solenoid.

Any ideas would be much appreciated

[05 Calais]

Hi OzPhil welcome to the forums. Have you checked the fuel pump relay , its in the engine compartment . Points to consider are that when ignition is on the relay will pull in to energise the pump, the pump will pressurise the fuel line and then stop when its up to pressure. From what you say it sounds as though there is no fuel so it wont start. Check to see if there is 12v to the pump when the ignition is on , because you say you disconnected the filter and said there was no fuel pressure, normally can't do that with out depressurising the line by running the engine with the fuel pump relay removed. Hope this helps

[-scyth-]

yeah sounds like a dud relay. Also is this the 1st time the ss has played up? or has it done it before as well? Any other electrical problems you had recently?

[OzPhil]

yeah sounds like a dud relay. Also is this the 1st time the ss has played up? or has it done it before as well? Any other electrical problems you had recently?

It's been like this since I got the Bugger. The fuel pump was squeaky when running so I had it changed and also the fuel was bleeding back, so the non return valve was changed. It always fires up and always on the 2rd try when hot or the 3rd go at priming the pump.
I have had the bonnet open when trying it and can hear the relay click in and out (unless that is for something else) and then the pump primes on the 3rd attempt.

I think I will have to get the tray liner out to check voltage to the pump.

[05 Calais]

It sounds like the relay is faulty or the fuel pump is faulty. I recall something also about oil pressure being involved too. I mean there is a safety circuit that detects that there is no oil pressure and shuts of the fuel pump so that in the event of an accident and the engine stalls the pump is shut off to prevent fuel being pumped out of a ruptured fuel line. Maybe some one else could confirm this for me too.

[andyman]

also does the security light flash on the dash when you turn the ignition on with no fuel pump prime?

[andyman]

It sounds like the relay is faulty or the fuel pump is faulty. I recall something also about oil pressure being involved too. I mean there is a safety circuit that detects that there is no oil pressure and shuts of the fuel pump so that in the event of an accident and the engine stalls the pump is shut off to prevent fuel being pumped out of a ruptured fuel line. Maybe some one else could confirm this for me too.

the oil pressure switch takes over after the motor is running and has oil pressure,

to check the relay at fault, swap the fuel pump relay over with a same one thats in that fuse box, if it works ok, rplace the relay, also check if the circuit you replace it with works too, will tell if the relay is dodgy