This forum has been a great help to this XKE newbie. I have two questions and would love any insight I can get
When I turn on the ignition I can hear the pump pumping quickly. After about 30 seconds it slow down considerably but sounds like it is still pumping slowly. Does this make sense?
On top of the above I do smell fumes in the trunk but can not detect any leaks or wetness anywhere. Could the smell be pump related? I don't detect any wetness around it either
73 XKE Roadster
Submitted by pascal@jcna.com on Fri, 12/17/2004 - 09:20
it's normal for the pump to run when you first turn on the ignition, and it will run faster since it's building pressure. 30 seconds seems like a long time though, i think it shoudl be less than that but if it works fine, then don't worry although maybe it could mean that the pump is getting weaker. once pressure has built up it will slow down to a coupl of ticks per second or something along these lines.
it's a little mre complicated on the V12 since there is a return line with a pressure valve (left side, next to fwd carb). if the spring is too weak, more pressure will dumped back to tank and the pump will run faster.
If that's the case, under heavy load, especially when hot after long drives, your left carbs may be starved and it will feel like you're runing on 6 cyl. happened to me a few times, solution was to compress the sring in the return vavle.
fuel smell in the boot could be from a number of places if you don't see any leak... gaskets on the tank gauge sender, fuel pump (it' set with foam around so it could soak up a few leaking drops, form the pump or fittings), etc... there is also some vapor recovery stuff up on the left side above the fender. and of course the fuel filler.
the fuel pump has always been a weak point in most e-types. I've had many issues and I'm now using a holley. (carter has one that works too). they're more relaible, much cheaper but noisy...
finally, if you havent' done so yet and the car sat in the past, drain the tank (sump undernath) to clean the sump. also, add a small inline filter between the tank and pump to protect the pump. It's much easier to change a prefilter than pull and clean the pump. (dont' ask how I know)
Pascal Gademer
South Florida Jaguar Club
72 E-type 2+2
00 XKR Coupe
99 XJR