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Car Won't Start After A Fuel Pump Problem

Tiny
KAL
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 JAGUAR XK8
  • 93,000 MILES
Hi,

I had a problem with my car's fuel pump for the last few weeks, It won't go above 20 miles/hour and if I try to accelerate I would get a strange sound coming from under the hood.

The last time the car was operational is when I went to the garage to check the car and ask for an estimation of the repairing cost, the worker told me to come back in a few days as they were out of fuel pumps at the time.

On my way home I started to notice a strange smell, then suddenly a grey smoke came through the AC vents into the inside of the car.

I stopped the car and went to check out what was going under the hood, there was still a grey smoke but I couldn't locate the exact place it came from.

I went to see if the car would start but to my surprise I found out that the dashboard lights were all ON even though I had the key in my hand!

I then inserted the key and tried to start the car but I got nothing, there wasn't even any sound that would indicate I'm trying to start the car!

I then towed the car to a garage and for the past 2 weeks they haven't been able to figure out what's the problem with my car!

The problem of dashboard lights being all on drained the battery.

Your kind help and expertise on this matter is highly appreciated.



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Friday, September 9th, 2011 AT 10:34 AM

11 Replies

Tiny
PROMECHANIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 536 POSTS
If all the dashboard lights were on with the key off that means that there is a problem in the fuse/relay center. Some of these fuses and relays have power all the time and then they send power to different components when the key is turned on.
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Friday, September 9th, 2011 AT 2:45 PM
Tiny
KAL
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thank you very much for your kind reply.

Actually they have checked all the fusees but the problem is still there!
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Friday, September 9th, 2011 AT 4:00 PM
Tiny
PROMECHANIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 536 POSTS
Yes, but what I'm saying is that there is probably some type of problem in the fuse/relay box itself, not necessarily with the fuses. If one of the relays is defective it can cause the type of problem you are having. Have they tested all of the relays?
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Friday, September 9th, 2011 AT 5:17 PM
Tiny
KAL
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Not yet, they said they'll do this next week.

Thank you very much for your kind help, I'll keep you updated.
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Friday, September 9th, 2011 AT 6:10 PM
Tiny
PROMECHANIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 536 POSTS
Ok. Just let me know
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Friday, September 9th, 2011 AT 6:13 PM
Tiny
KAL
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Hi,

It turned out that the electrical wiring from the fuel pump that runs to the fuel tank caused an electrical shortage.

The mechanic says they're gonna charge me like around $1088 to fix the problem!

They're gonna change the complete harnesses and fusees. Etc.

Is this a good price?

If I go to the official dealer here for a computer check for electricity problems, will they be able to pinpoint the problem exactly and will the fixing cost be less?

Thank you very much for all your kind and much appreciated help.
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Saturday, September 17th, 2011 AT 7:43 PM
Tiny
PROMECHANIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 536 POSTS
That seems like a lot of money, but it will also take a lot of work to change it.
I would go to a good independent repair shop and have them just repair the harness. This is just what I would do, if you want your car like new then you should go to the dealer and have them replace the whole thing.
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Sunday, September 18th, 2011 AT 4:46 AM
Tiny
KAL
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thank you very much for your helpful reply.

Actually they're gonna replace the harnesses and fusees with used ones (not new) and this is gonna be done at an independent shop.

The dealer would do a computer check for the cause of the electrical problem and then give me the cost to repair me car.

The problem is the independent shop doesn't know exactly where the problem is so they're gonna replace (Dashboard, Computer, and Engine harnesses) which are the most important harness in the car!

I honestly don't know what to do!
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Sunday, September 18th, 2011 AT 11:44 AM
Tiny
PROMECHANIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 536 POSTS
I don't know of any computer check that they could do that would pinpoint the location of a short. I'm pretty sure they can't do that.
I think I would take it to a different shop. It sounds like this repair shop is just replacing the whole thing because they don't know how to diagnose a problem like this. Ask them what they are going to do if they replace the whole harness and it still does it! I would find a repair shop that actually knows how to diagnose electrical problems instead of just replacing stuff.
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Sunday, September 18th, 2011 AT 3:17 PM
Tiny
KAL
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thank you very much.

I'll do that for sure.

Wishing you all the best.
Kal
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Sunday, September 18th, 2011 AT 4:24 PM
Tiny
PROMECHANIC
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  • 536 POSTS
Thanks. Good luck with your problem
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Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 AT 9:58 PM

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