Wentworth breaks down in Bulgaria

[Jeevess]

Help required...so I drove to Bulgaria several months ago...so here I am wondering why after 12 years she decided to do this to me...
She basically ran out of fuel so I put fuel in and she had absolutely no power to the starter.. completely dead...
So I put my had on the relays and the front on the left was kind of clicking...
Then there was a sound as if the fuel pump was amplified ...is this a sign of a knackered relay..
She has never broken down and I'm gutted..if you could see the road it happend !!! A wide as a matchbox and up an incline like Everest..it was a nightmare...

[Laird Scooby]

Have you tried the spare key?

This is based on guesswork as my crystal ball is away at the jewellers for polishing and i have no idea what year your car is, what model, engine, fuel type, whether it has the Volvoguard alarm/immobisliser or even if it is in fact a Volvo!

Next choice would be a dead battery, broken earth or homesickness.

[Dippydog]

Manual or Auto? How much fuel have you put in it since running out?

[Forrest]

If it’s a Wentworth model then it probably has the twin fuel pump set-up with a low-pressure lift pump in the tank and a high pressure pump in a cradle under the car, next to the fuel filter. It is probably the main pump under the car you can hear. If it is running when you turn the ignition that is a good sign and means that the fuel relays are connecting ok.

One possibility is that running out of fuel has caused the in-tank pump to fail. They are not designed to run dry and the hilly road may have exacerbated this. The car will run just about fine with only the main pump for a fairly long time (I’ve been running one like this for over 20k miles) provided you keep the tank fairly full but you will be more aware of fuel pump noise as the main pump will be thrashing itself to keep up. If the tank ran dry the main pump alone may well struggle to get fuel flowing again from the tank. Is there actually fuel in the fuel lines? Take care if you dismantle anything to check. If there is fuel there it will be under reasonable pressure and it stings like hell if it gets in your eyes. Don’t ask me how I know!

In my experience the starter not turning at all is nearly always a flat battery even when you think it couldn’t possibly be. The other few times I’ve inadvertently left the auto selector in gear. The car will, of course, only start in P or N.

[Jeevess]

Wentworth estate 94 B200FT auto..
Thanks for reply...
I put in 10 litres of fuel..

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Jeevess

Wentworth estate 94 B200FT auto..
Thanks for reply...
I put in 10 litres of fuel..

Yours will still have the two pumps, one in the tank and the other underneath. If the one underneath sounds louder, there's every chance the in-tank pump isn't running.

The big question is, do you have access to the car now, is it with you? If so, have you recharged the battery and does the starter turn?

[Jeevess]

I shall charge battery ..even though didn't turn over from jump leads ...

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Jeevess

I shall charge battery ..even though didn't turn over from jump leads ...

While your battery is charging (assuming it actually takes a charge and isn't past its sell by date), check all your earth connections and also the feed connections to the battery and alternator.

From what you say, your battery could well be dead and was simply hogging all the available power from the jump start vehicle. Could also be your jump leads are no good as well.

[Dippydog]

I'd also check starter motor connections.When trying to start it do you get a "click"from the starter motor?What-if anything-happens to the dash warning lights?

[nu11eaf]

Is gear selector in park position, could be the inhibitor switch preventing it starting.