No Buzz from the pump....

I believe I have a CB Rotary Fuel Pump. Should I hear the pump engage everytime I turn the key? Sometimes I hear a 'buzzing' before I rotate the key all the way to ignition. Lately, I hear no buzz and have symptoms of fuel delivery issues. I removed the drivers side wheel today to view the fuel pump. I assume I would need to have the car on lift and come in from underneath to replace the fuel pump and filters?

Thanks and BTW ......it was great to see the sun this weekend. This winter sucked.

JK

Check the fuse for the pump.If you heard it before,you should hear it again.Check your fuse and borrow/buy a test light and check for voltage at the fuse and pump.It is either your pump/fuse/wiring/ignition switch.

I have a separate switch for mine. Is it possible that you have one and it got switched off?

Assume its in front on end of center tunnel? If so lift won't help much. Check ground wire and for voltage. Tap it with a screw driver handle (used a lead wheel knock off wheel hammer on old MGC to get it going). Take hose off and turn key on - it should run like crazy.

I had the same problem and eventually had to replace mine. I believe that it became gummed up with residue as it would be worse when the car sat for a few days. I blame it on the ethanol in gas now.

make sure to have filter installed in front of pump

Justin: Lots of good info here, but here are the answers to your specific questions:

"I believe I have a CB Rotary Fuel Pump. Should I hear the pump engage everytime I turn the key?"

YES

"Sometimes I hear a 'buzzing' before I rotate the key all the way to ignition. Lately, I hear no buzz and have symptoms of fuel delivery issues."

That's because your fuel pump is just about dead.

"I removed the drivers side wheel today to view the fuel pump."

OK, but it could just as easily be on the passenger side - there's actually more room over there for it.

"I assume I would need to have the car on lift and come in from underneath to replace the fuel pump and filters?"

Yes, but you can probably get at them (depending on where they actually are) just by getting the car up on a floor jack and jack stands and then pulling the front wheels off. A lift is a luxury, if you can get on one. Once the wheels are off there is a wide open space behind the wheel where the pump is. However, I can't know where the filter is, and there may be more then one. Follow the fuel hose from the tank to the engine and replace whatever filter(s) you find.

The CB pump runs constantly - there is no pressure switch to shut it off - so if you don't hear it then it's either not energized (blown fuse or corroded electrical connections) or simply faulty and dead.

Hope this helps.

Gordon
The Speedstah Guy from Beaufort

On the Beck it's easiest to get to by removing the passenger side wheel. No lift is needed, just jack up that side or the front end and remove the wheel. Carey Hines tells me that he's heard of a number of such failures with these pumps. I think they don't handle ethanol well.

For the last year or so I have been running this: http://www.pbase.com/mdlempert/pump

No problems so far, but you'll need to devise a different mounting.

Thanks Guys....guess I found what I will doing this Saturday. Demo the guest bathroom will have to wait....won't the misses be thrilled.

Lane....from what I can see there is a filter AFTER the pump. Did you install one before also?

Going to put it on jack stands and use a creeper to get at the lines.

Thanks again.

You should have one filter between the tank and the pump, and another filter between the pump and the engine - usually in the engine compartment. To reduce the possibility of fire, use metal fuel filters. The cheap plastic ones are easily damaged and can leak, and the glass and chrome street rod filters are almost guaranteed to leak.

Just for S&G - try loosening the gas cap to see if the gas tank is still vented. Usually there is a small rubber line off the fill hose that allows air to enter the tank (or its built into the cap itself) to allow for venting). Recall years ago dirt dobber wasps had built nest in vent tube on my dad's boat. the lack of air resulted in the pump sucking the copper gas tank it before it quit sucking. I would have put filter between tank and pump.