MG Car Repair: fuel pump failure, auto parts stores, wheel car

Question
As I drove down the road today my MGB suddenly died out. It finally started again and I traveled a couple of more miles and it happened again. I checked the fuel pump and could not hear it ticking.Do you think that could be the problem? If it is, will any oe pump be ok to use?
Thanks

Answer
Hi Terance,

It was a common failure of the MGB to have the fuel pump quit. The standard procedure for the earlier models that had the pump mounted just below the battery cover on the far right, was to take the hammer (if it is a wire wheel car) and drive the car with the battery cover off and each time the car falters just bump the fuel pump with the hammer handle and it will usually start clicking and running. This was a method to get you home or to a shop and have the pump tested and rebuilt or replaced. If it is a later model MGB they mounted the pump partway through the front of the trunk so you have to turn the key on and go into the trunk and bump the pump and see if it will start clicking again.

Most of the time (if it is an SU original pump) you can just remove the solenoid from the case and take the plastic cover off and sand or file the contact points and then hand push the diaphragm in and watch the contacts open and close. If they don't flip over and open you can adjust them by rotating the diaphragm until they do.

If you want to just put another pump on and it was not meant for the MG just make sure it is a low pressure pump (1.5 to 3 PSI), many aftermarket pumps purchased at most auto parts stores are too high pressure (5 to 7 PSI) and they will not work without a added regulator.

Howard