9 replies to this topic

[coyttl]

After having guessed those wires, I thought everything was great! However, on the way to work this morning, something got all knackered up..

I filled up last night, but I think I waited too long as I think I got air bubbles in my SPi fuel line. On the way down the road (about 45 miles after fill-up) I lost all power. The engine cut out, then kicked back in again. Off and on for ~5 miles it did this. (Luckily it did NOT happen when I was stopped!)

Directly after that started, I started hearing knocks and clangs from the boot. I wanted to say that it woulded like my wheel was loose! But there was no feeling of anything through the car - sound only. I stopped to inspect, and everything looked normal. (Dirty! But normal!)

Then I noticed that my fuel gauge dropped 1/4.

So could all the noise be created by air bubbles going back into the tank from the return hose? Is it normal to get air bubbles in the fuel line (I mean, shouldn't they be pushed out before getting to the engine?)

Cheers all.
Mike.

[Retro_10s]

Do SPi's have the pump in the boot/tank?

[the.stroker]

yes,mine is either in the tank or sat on top,when i turn on the ignition i here it whining away for a couple of seconds!

[coyttl]

yes,mine is either in the tank or sat on top,when i turn on the ignition i here it whining away for a couple of seconds!

Yup! Like Stroker said, it's in the boot, mounted on top of the tank. The return hose also goes in the top (I think.. I'm not 100% about that one.)

I would have posted this in the Injection Specific - but I was thinking that ANY Mini could get air bubbles in the line.. but.. maybe not?

[DaveRob]

I thought the fuel pump was in the tank with an anti swirl pot to prevent it sucking air..... the pump charges the fuel line and their is a return line from the throttle body..... I wouldnt think air in the fuel lines was a good thing... if indeed thats what it is. Maybe time to strip your tank out and have a look inside... see if something has dropped off....eeeeek lol

by the way.... my girlfriend drove our Mini back from work one evening.... and reported a funny banging noies from the back of the car.... after I had asked whether she had stopped to investigate the second the said noise started.....( she replied NO and had driven best part of 10 miles like this).... I had a look around the boot area. as you say.... just the usual dirty boot area........ I had a drive up the road and sure enough heard a bang and a clatter from the back... stopped and couldnt find anything... drove off and noise appears.... turned out to be that 2 of the rear bumper studs had fractured and the bumper was held on with just the nearside stud. bumper flapping about ...... but their you go..

Rob

[coyttl]

I thought the fuel pump was in the tank with an anti swirl pot to prevent it sucking air..... the pump charges the fuel line and their is a return line from the throttle body..... I wouldnt think air in the fuel lines was a good thing... if indeed thats what it is. Maybe time to strip your tank out and have a look inside... see if something has dropped off....eeeeek lol

Ah! It may come down to that. Never took a fuel tank off before, so this will be a fun learning experience.

by the way.... my girlfriend drove our Mini back from work one evening.... and reported a funny banging noies from the back of the car.... after I had asked whether she had stopped to investigate the second the said noise started.....( she replied NO and had driven best part of 10 miles like this).... I had a look around the boot area. as you say.... just the usual dirty boot area........ I had a drive up the road and sure enough heard a bang and a clatter from the back... stopped and couldnt find anything... drove off and noise appears.... turned out to be that 2 of the rear bumper studs had fractured and the bumper was held on with just the nearside stud. bumper flapping about ...... but their you go..

Here's an interesting development. Having just read this, I decided to go out and check everything. Bumpers fine, muffler's fine, rear fog light's fine. I opened up the fuel popper and there was gas sitting just on the lip of the neck, where the rubber seal goes. I've never had gas there before, so..

Something's in my tank, trying to get out.


Edit: Note also that I have NEVER had any gas issues with this lil' bugger, save for one other time when I had air in the gas line about 9 months ago. Since then, it's been running real good.

Edited by coyttl, 30 May 2008 - 03:00 PM.

[Retro_10s]

is your breather pipe clear>?

[coyttl]

is your breather pipe clear>?

No freaking clue. Where is it? I'll go do a search and check. Since it's lunch here on this side of the pond, I'm going to take it back out for a quick drive too, see what happens..

[coyttl]

Thanks for everyone's help!

Just took it out for 11miles, along the same stretch of road I heard the noises before. No gas cut-outs, no strange noises. I searched on here and know what to look for in the breather pipe, and will double-check that when I get home from the office. I need to do research into the whole tank / anti-swill setup (I'm ignorant when it comes to the fuel system..) and will need to take a weekend to remove the tank.

Cheers!
Mike.

[coyttl]

Well, just in case anyone was wondering. The lack of fuel was found out, and I just today found what was making the noises. Seems that a rear brake shoe had disintegrated, and the noises I was the pad pieces falling around the drum. Goes to show you.. it CAN be anything.