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Hi Guys
I thought I would pass on my recent experience of a problem with my 1998 Hunter (2 litre DOHC Scorpio and solid state electrics). Until a few weeks ago I didn't know my car has one filter, let alone two! I'm usually dead keen on maintenance, and at an early stage of my 4 year ownership I established that my car did not have a visible petrol filter. On reflection, this was a bit stupid , but how was I to know that the Marlin factory hid two filters under the car, and that it also has two petrol pumps!
After four years of relatively trouble-free motoring, one day for the first time ever it broke down. Lots of engine misfire and bangs from the exhaust. Long story - short: Called out the AA and they towed me to my local village garage (who are real enthusiasts). Thought it best to get their opinion rather than have a dead car on my driveway, and then face the problem by myself. The garage-guys diagnosed a lack of petrol going to the engine, and replaced the baked-bean size filter underneath the front pump. A couple of journeys later, ironically exactly a week later, same problem occurred with car being towed to my village garage by the AA again.
The garage guys had previously suggested that the rear pump was possibly on its last (I didn't know about this pump), and with my agreement found a source after a few days and fitted a new pump. In the process, they realised that in line with the pump was another filter about the size of a small cigar and absolutely bunged up with muck. How petrol got through it in recent journeys I have no idea. Anyway, another day of sourcing a replacement, fitted it, and Bob's your uncle - the car now goes well.
I could have done all of this work myself, except I didn't have access to trade sources for old-style car bits. Also, I could have spent ages checking out the electrics and other sources of potential problems. The garage only charged me 1.5 hours of labour (which I thought was very fair, and at a modest village-rate) plus the new rear pump and two filters, and the dreaded VAT. The front pump we thought to leave alone, as it seemed to be running OK. The rear one had been having a hard time trying to pump petrol through the gunge, and its replacement does sound a bit healthier.
So, if you thought you had no filters and one pump, look again! It might save you a breakdown.
Cheers
Mike
I thought I would pass on my recent experience of a problem with my 1998 Hunter (2 litre DOHC Scorpio and solid state electrics). Until a few weeks ago I didn't know my car has one filter, let alone two! I'm usually dead keen on maintenance, and at an early stage of my 4 year ownership I established that my car did not have a visible petrol filter. On reflection, this was a bit stupid , but how was I to know that the Marlin factory hid two filters under the car, and that it also has two petrol pumps!
After four years of relatively trouble-free motoring, one day for the first time ever it broke down. Lots of engine misfire and bangs from the exhaust. Long story - short: Called out the AA and they towed me to my local village garage (who are real enthusiasts). Thought it best to get their opinion rather than have a dead car on my driveway, and then face the problem by myself. The garage-guys diagnosed a lack of petrol going to the engine, and replaced the baked-bean size filter underneath the front pump. A couple of journeys later, ironically exactly a week later, same problem occurred with car being towed to my village garage by the AA again.
The garage guys had previously suggested that the rear pump was possibly on its last (I didn't know about this pump), and with my agreement found a source after a few days and fitted a new pump. In the process, they realised that in line with the pump was another filter about the size of a small cigar and absolutely bunged up with muck. How petrol got through it in recent journeys I have no idea. Anyway, another day of sourcing a replacement, fitted it, and Bob's your uncle - the car now goes well.
I could have done all of this work myself, except I didn't have access to trade sources for old-style car bits. Also, I could have spent ages checking out the electrics and other sources of potential problems. The garage only charged me 1.5 hours of labour (which I thought was very fair, and at a modest village-rate) plus the new rear pump and two filters, and the dreaded VAT. The front pump we thought to leave alone, as it seemed to be running OK. The rear one had been having a hard time trying to pump petrol through the gunge, and its replacement does sound a bit healthier.
So, if you thought you had no filters and one pump, look again! It might save you a breakdown.
Cheers
Mike
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