mysterious jolt sensation when stationary

[peanut]

this is really weird.
My car has been giving starting problems for a few months now. There is another thread about this issue.

Yesterday for the second time a very strange thing happened.

I recharged the battery and switched the ignition on. The moment the ignition switched on there was some relay clicking and the heater fan/ grille whirred as per usual but there was also an instant thump and jolt from behind me near the offside rear wheel which jolted the car forward.???

if the handbrake hadn't been on I swear the car would have moved . I thought I had been struck from behind !

I can only assume that it was the fuel pump.

Once the ignition had been for a few seconds and an attempt to start had been made the jolt didn't occur again until the next day when exactly the same thing happened the first time the car was switched on

Anyone any ideas ?

 

[Fen]

Sounds like the fuel pump to me as well; it's the only thing I can think of near the area your describe that would move when the ignition is turned on and the car parked. On the positive side if it's got a bit iffy after sitting idle for a while you might have found the cause of your starting issue as well, as you seem to be thinking fuel starvation after a time being parked is the problem there.

I don't know how likely it is, but curcumstantial evidence suggests it sticks or performs badly when it's been stopped for a while and then gets going after it's been powered on for a period, either gradually or with a thump.

I've never heard of it before, far less had it happen to me though I did experience a rocking while on the couch last Friday, but that was definitiely an earthquake and I don't think that's your problem.

 

[peanut]

earthquake ? you sure that wasn't the beer ? [] hows christmas in NZ ?

Its beginning to look like I'm going to need to spend some time with the fuel system after christmas.
Its surprising what a jolt it is sufficient to move the car anyway.
I'm going to need help removing the pump unless I can get my indy to collect it and they will probably b****r up the front spoiler getting it on and off their pickup truck.
I have a new filter already so It would be a good idea to overhall the pump and replace the filter and I can elimiate both then.

thanks for your help. Have a great day

 

[Fen]

'Twas bedtime as I posted after a somewhat weird Christmas. It's nowhere near as commercialised here but the really strange thing is that most of the cards and decorations are just like northern hemisphere ones so Santa with his fur-lined suit and snow feature heavily, despite the sun being out.

Earthquakes are kind of exciting and disconcerting at the same time. I've felt 2 now and doubtless have missed a lot more. There is a theory that lots of small ones release the pressure so reducing the chance of a big one, so I guess they are a good thing.

I haven't replaced the fuel pump, but I know when I had a filter done once the line got kinked when it was refitted which gave all sorts of weird running issues. The point though is that it must be a pig to get to for an experienced indy to kink the line and not notice.

 

[peanut]

I had a quick look underneath when I thought about fitting the fuel filter and it does look a pig to get to. Even with a ramp I'm not sure my back would survive such a job. Once upon a time I did everything myself now I can just about do the brake disks [&o]
I think the S2 has an inserted pump which will make it even more interesting. I would imagine it just needs the contacts and points mechanism cleaned and lubed maybe I can do that by just removing the cover .

I love witnessing then power of raw nature it makes you feel alive to stand in front of 30 foot waves crashing into a sea wall or standing out in a thunderstorm but I'm not sure I'd like to witness an earthquake at first hand. Sounds like a fantastic country ,The main attraction for me would be the absence of big poisonous spiders