Where is the fuel pump? '78 XJ12L

The fuel pumps are the submerged type mounted in the fuel tanks. To get at them it is necessary to remove the rear tail light assemblies. They have a locking ring holding them in place. Before undoing this it is important to be sure the fuel level is below this point or you will spill a lot of fuel. A problem I had was the filter gauze was blocked by rubbish in the bottom of the tank. I have assumed that you have tried changing over the fuel switch to the other tank. If you still get no fuel it is possible you have a blockage of some sort.

Hope this helps

Chris

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Well, the pump is not actually in the tanks. I removed the tail light assembly and found the fuel level sending unit - not the pump. So I took the whole tank off. Most definitely there is not a submerged pump in there. Plenty of rust, but no pump. As far as I can tell the pump must be located between the forward-most part of the trunk and the rear axles, buried up under there somewhere. I have only recently acquired this car and can't get it off the ground enough to slide all the way under and look.

Anybody have an actual 1978 XJ12L and found the fuel pumps somewhere? I'd love to see a picture.

Oh well, at least you know where the senders are:-). I don't have a SII but according to the Haynes manual if you look inside the rear wheel arch at the front of the tank you'll find a cover that gives access to the pumps. You'll need to support the car on stands and remove the rear wheels. to get to the pumps. Watch out for a non-return valve in the fuel line. The pumps were made by AC Delco and are not repairable but are identical to those on a Chevy Vega I believe.

The pump is in the tank, but in the bottom. It is part of the little outlet pipe. You can get to it reasonably easily by removing the screwed cover in the rear of the rear wheelarch. Or by removing the fuel tank. Which in my experience is not a task to be taken lightly...especially putting it back.

If I remember corectly there is a retaining ring which needs to be removed before the pump and gauze filter can be slid out. Note there is a non return v/v also in the rubber pipework.

If your car is an earlier series 2, then the pumps are in the boot. But a 78 should have the submersible pumps.

cheers

ogglet

On a Chevy V8 though is there not a mechanical fuel pump on the front left (looking from the front) of the block?

Indeed there is a mechanical fuel pump. I did not realize this was the only fuel pump needed for that engine. On my truck I have pumps in the tanks and a pump at the engine, but it's fuel injected. The Chevy V8 in this car is carbureted. There are cut wires in the trunk and the fuel hoses coming from the three way valve and other areas look very new. I guess the fuel pumps were in the trunk but were removed since they're not necessary. Good for me. The Chevy mechanical fuel pump is about $12.

Thanks for the helpful replies. Taking the tank out was pretty simple, only took about 15 minutes. I'm going to give it the POR-15 treatment.

ed wrote: