Should I drive my car this afternoon with a dicky fuel pump?

Penny_Farthing_2 · 3 October 2010 at 1:53PM

Hi
Manic day!!!
Car had a service on Thursday.
Drove fine on Friday and Saturday.
Wouldn't start today.
Autobreakdown(?) came out and after bumping under the car where the fuel tank is, managed to start it.
Tried it a minute ago and it starts.
Mechanic said to get it fixed in a garage but my kids are away (6-10 miles ish) with no cash.

Should I get them home in a taxi or is it safe to use the car, please? I won't switch the engine off when I'm out but I don't want it to stall in traffic/ blow up (ie leak fuel - though that's not happening now).

Is it safe is my question really.
I need to decide by 3pm
Thanks

Triskaidekaphobia · 3 October 2010 at 1:57PM

I think you probably already know the answer.

Penny_Farthing_2 · 3 October 2010 at 1:59PM

No I really don't

Triskaidekaphobia · 3 October 2010 at 2:13PM

I apologise - I personally wouldn't put my children into a car with a faulty fuel pump that is liable to break down again and could even start leaking fuel.

I honestly thought this was rather obvious hence my light-hearted reply.

Penny_Farthing_2 · 3 October 2010 at 2:17PM

There is no leak from the fuel pump. The mechanic said once they start up they rarely stall. I was hoping that someone knowledgeable - hopefully a mechanic or with plenty of technical experience could give me a second opinion - no offense meant.

Triskaidekaphobia · 3 October 2010 at 2:22PM

Penny_Farthing wrote: »

There is no leak from the fuel pump. The mechanic said once they start up they rarely stall. I was hoping that someone knowledgeable - hopefully a mechanic or with plenty of technical experience could give me a second opinion - no offense meant.

None taken - however I doubt that someone in a different part of the country posting on an internet forum can realistically give you any assurance that your car is not going to break down again this afternoon having never seen it.

As I've said, I personally wouldn't pick my children up in a car that is liable to break down again and risk the whole 'family stranded on the side of the road' scenario on a Sunday evening for the take of a few quid's taxi fare.

Just my opinion - as someone who isn't a mechanic of course.:)

Strider590 · 3 October 2010 at 2:35PM

It probably won't cause a problem, it certainly won't start leaking fuel....... If there was ANY chance of a fuel leak, the "mechanic" would be in serious trouble.

The trouble is, it's not reliable and you face the possibility of being stranded! I don't know if your breakdown service is likely to come out for the same fault if they've already looked at it????

Penny_Farthing_2 · 3 October 2010 at 2:35PM

There are other issues around a stanger picking my kids up that I will not be discussing here - it's really not about saving the taxi fare. If it is safe to do so, I need to pick them up myself. This is why I am after advice based on technical knowledge rather than opinion - though I take your point about it being tricky on a forum. I'm sorry if I didn't make myself clear in the first post. Thank you for taking the trouble to reply, though.

Penny_Farthing_2 · 3 October 2010 at 2:38PM

Thanks Strider. I think being stranded with the kids would be better in our situation than sending a taxi that they're not expecting. As long as it's safe that's ok. Do you know whether it's possible for the engine to cut out mid drive please? Or just if I switch it off?