Why do I keep blowing fuses to my fuel pump?

[Jimb]

I have a 1985 carburated and it suddenly blew a fuse to the fuel pump while I was driving, and of course left me stranded. I put in a new 8amp fuse and that lasted about a block. Then another and it got me home.
Any ideas?
Jim

[bradartigue]

A 1985 wouldn't be carbureted from the factory (85 was fuel injected), so you'll have to determine if the pump you are using takes an 8 amp fuse or not. If it is one of those cheap FACET or Purolator cube pumps then throw it in the trash and get a mechanical pump.

[Jimb]

Yes it is factory carburetor with Abarth supercharger.
All Volumexs came that way.
Jim

[ORFORD2004]

Try playing with the pump wire to see if you can blow the fuse. If you can do it, short in the wiring. If not the pump is probably the problem.

[SoFlaFiat]

Brad, what electric fuel pump would you recommend if the facet and purolater cube pumps are so bad?

[bradartigue]

Yes it is factory carburetor with Abarth supercharger.
All Volumexs came that way.
Jim

Wow, sorry. That's not a common vehicle in the USA. Volumex had a ordinary downdraft Weber; you need stable fuel pressure at around 4-5psi. The pumps below are internally regulated/FIAT owners bitch because they cost more than $6.99, but if you want the right thing, get the right kind of pump:

Hardi pumps - excellent: http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/sma ... 0Pump%2520#

Bendix type pump, a good pump like used on Alfas: http://www.ebay.com/bhp/bendix-fuel-pump

Facet makes a decent one: https://www.centerlinealfa.com/store/1186

Facet gold pro is very good: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/e ... oldflo.php

The difference is in how the pumps work vs. the cubes, the cubes are just cheap little gadgets, like a fish tank pump. They're made cheap, look cheap, make noise, and so on. The same companies make good pumps, like the Facet Posi-Flo, or the Bendix type of Facet noted above. Good pumps are continuous pressure, internally regulated, rotary type.

Many Alfas used twin bendix pumps into a pressure regulating filter before the carbs. Even if one failed the carbs still received adequate pressure.

[Jimb]

Thanks for the very informative reply. First off though, I'm in Canada...although the Volumex still is very rare up here.

I did find the issue. It's a long story that I'll make very brief.

I pulled my tranny and engine so that the trans could be professionally rebuilt, (it was beginning to pop out of fourth). I used the opportunity to thoroughly clean up and restore the engine and undercarriage.

When I reinstalled the engine and trans as one unit the trans was still empty. It took a while to get the GL-1 up from the US. So I had to fill the trans after it was installed. I tried to shove a 2' length of garden hose down beside the shifter to pour the oil into, which didn't work so good. So I ended up using the length of hose but I ran it up beside the exhaust with a funnel on top...which worked really well. However in the meantime I had severed the wires for an override switch that is hidden and has to be in activated before the car will start. So, every time those bared wires were grounded the car would die.

Turned out though to be a happy and cheap ending.

Cheers,
Jim