Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I just completed an engine rebuild which included fitting an electric fuel pump. It works well and the car runs well, but the pump is really noisy at idle and situations were there isn't much gas being drawn. I can't here the noise at running speeds, even at low speeds. I can turn the pump off at red lights and the engine continues to run (i don't know how long it would run). Also the car starts right up cold as usual, but sometimes after running for a while if the car sits for a half hour it doesn't start right up. The noise is a real banging as opposed to the fairly reasonable noise of the pump running normally. I have a pressure valve and it's set to 2.0. Thanks.

Frank

Frank,

If the pump is not mounted on soft rubber mounts, the body acts like a wonderful drum shell. Used rubber mounts and now I can only hear the pump when the engine is off and I am waiting for the pump to fill the carbs.

Rob Walker
26-4889

Rob

Thanks. I was wondering if rubber mounts might help.

Frank

Rob:

Where did you mount your electric pump? The PO mounted mine directly to the frame at the rear. Found it pretty loud as well. Just looking at re-mounting it as body will be re-installed shortly. Any good ideas for location appreciated.

Mine is mounted at the front of the boot well, at the lowest point. It is mounted on rubber bushes (the small Mini exhaust bobbin bushes). You can hear it before starting the engine but not at idle.

You can also hear it as soon as you start to run out of fuel, in which case you know you have about a mile to get some more

Paddy

Mine is at the front of the small gap to the right of the fuel tank (looking from the back of the car) so the bolts go through to the wheel arch. It's not rubber mounted and not noisy; I can hear it clicking away when the engine is off and just about sometimes at idle - about 2- 3 clicks/sec. Like Paddy, when it gets to be continuous you're getting close to walking.

Here's where I fitted my S4's Fuel Pump & Pressure Regulator.
The Pump was supplied with Rubber Mounts & like others have mentioned the Pump can be heard ticking away prior to start up.
After that all the other Noise drowns it out.

Cheers
John

Here is mine. Any recommendations for rubber bushings?

Thanks for the suggestions & photo's. Very helpful.

Has anyone fitted an inertia switch to turn off the pump if you have a crash?

The rubber vibration isolation mounts I used are similar to these from MSC Industrial Supply, here in the colonies. 1-800-645-7270 or www.mscdirect.com

Part number 62187331 M8x1.25
63661524 M6x1.0

The mounts have a threaded stud on each side. The stud is long enough to go through the fiberglass into the wheelwell, or whatever. Can trim to suit.

Rob Walker
26-4889

billwill wrote:Has anyone fitted an inertia switch to turn off the pump if you have a crash?

It's been on my "to do" list to wire the pump through an oil pressure sensor - no oil pressure, pump switches off, with an over-switch for filling the carbs after a rebuild etc. I really need to source the bits and do it

69S4 wrote:

billwill wrote:Has anyone fitted an inertia switch to turn off the pump if you have a crash?

It's been on my "to do" list to wire the pump through an oil pressure sensor - no oil pressure, pump switches off, with an over-switch for filling the carbs after a rebuild etc. I really need to source the bits and do it

That does tend to assume the engine stops after a crash. Better than nothing though I suppose.
The oil warning light switch works the wrong way of course. Are there any oil pressure switches with change-over contact



You will need to override every-time you want to start the engine? I suggest a push button start the pump to prime the carbs

Mine is mounted on the upper section of the boot floor on rubber mounts and can only be heard when you turn the ignition before the engine catches. It is a very quiet whirring sound. I will post pictures up of the installation.

That does tend to assume the engine stops after a crash. Better than nothing though I suppose.
The oil warning light switch works the wrong way of course. Are there any oil pressure switches with change-over contact

You'd need to run it through a switching relay. Slightly more complex, but do-able. Anybody good a sketching a basic circuit diagram? If not I'll have a go....

Robert