Storm cuts out but starts again straight away

[plastermaster]

Hi folks, help needed please.
My storm has started cutting out after a few miles (5 or 6) but then starts straight up again then drive another couple of miles and same again. It also happens if its just stood ticking over but always starts straight away.

Ive recently fitted a new bosch s5 61 ah battery which is a little high ampage so could this have any efect on electrics?
or could it possibly be the fuel pump relay?

All fuel lines have been replaced and so have both fuel pumps and tank has been out over winter and completely refurbished.

any help greatly appreciated. Thanks Steve.

[ianaudia4]

Could be a fueling problem, there is a fuel accumulator in the system also!

I had a similar issue with my Storm a couple of years ago, it turned out to be the air flow meter, the plunger was sticking and causing the car to cut out, quite common on cras that have sat around unsed for a while! I had to replace the air flow meter and it has been right as rain since.

[plastermaster]

Thanks for the reply Ian,
air flow meter sounds expensive so might try fuel pump relay first as its getting quite hot and im sure ive read
somewhere that they can break down if they get hot.
I have actually just put another accumalator (used) on as old one was leaking from the little screw on the end so
that could be a possibility also.

Does anybody know where i might get a decent quality fuel pump relay from?

Thanks Steve.

[Tim_R]

It would be worth trying a short loop of wire with a couple of spades on between the 2 fat terminals of the fuel pump relay socket and see if it still does it. That way you prove if it is or isn't the relay before having to buy a replacement.

[plastermaster]

Tried the above as suggested by Tim R (cheers fella),
looped a wire between terminals 30 and 87 and it still cuts out so its not the relay.
Checked air flow meter and plunger seems ok and also as it cuts out sometimes when its just ticking over i dont think
its related to this.

I have removed the fuel filter and the petrol that came out of it was very brown(looked rusty) so im going to try a new
filter.

If anybody has any other ideas im all ears, thanks again Steve.

[ianaudia4]

Glad you don't think it is the air-flow meter, not cheap! Brown fuel would indicate rust or you said the tank has been refurbished, was it painted or coated with something inside? Filler neck in good condition?

[Tim_R]

I'd start with checking the tank to make sure the fuel is clean and rust free, if it's not you'll need to drain it and clean it out again. Then flush the system though up to the filter with clean fuel and put a new filter in line. The last section to do is the metering head and injector lines, I'd do that by disconnecting the inlet to the metering head from the filter, there maybe a secondary gauze filter on the banjo fitting or inside the metering head, check that's clean. Depending on the colour of the fuel there you may need to disconnect the injector lines and flush the metering head too.

Good luck!

[plastermaster]

Thanks for the replies guys,
absolutely certain its not contamination from tank (its now like new inside and out).
The crap in the fuel filter is from before i refurbed the tank.
Filler pipe is like new so its not that.
Before i started all this work over winter car ran ok and never cut out its just that tank was full of
crap so decided to refurb it.
When it cuts out it just dies completely so i dip clutch and when ignition lights come on i bump it
off and it runs fine for a mile or so then does it again. The thing is it never runs rough or holds back it either
runs perfect or completely dies which is why i suspect electrical fault.

[mark1gls]

Check the dissy cap carefully for cracks, if you have a spare try that, I know someone who had cutting out problems, was a hairline crack in the dissy cap.
But saying that brown fuel dose not sound good, might be worth fitting a new fuel filter as well. I change mine every 20,000 miles.

[go-for-it1]

Hairline crack or even invisible crack in rotor arm does the same. Coil or ignition amplifier breaking down when hot was one of my problems with similar symptoms.

[plastermaster]

Thanks go-for it,
is the ignition amplifier the electric gadget on the passenger side scuttle panel and if so does
anybody know where i might get a new one?

thanks Steve.

[bengould]

is the ignition amplifier the electric gadget on the passenger side scuttle panel and if so does
anybody know where i might get a new one?

Yes, thats it. Check out bensspares for sale thread I have a feeling he has some, you might need to check your part number tho.

Ben

[plastermaster]

Thanks bengould i will pm benspares to see if he has one.

Fitted new fuel filter and its still doing it so will try ignition amplifier.