Luke S :: 10270 :: 82 Grey 5-Speed :: Single Watercooled T3 .60/.48 :: Borla Exhaust :: MSD Ignition :: MS3X Fully SFI Odd-fire EFI :: DevilsOwn Methanol Injection
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif.
Posts: 2,078
My VIN: 0934
Club(s): (NCDMC) (DCUK)
The fuel pump inertia switch is a common safety feature of fuel-injected cars of the era. It opens the ground circuit of the fuel pump in the event of a significant side/front/rear impact or a rollover. That way the fire hazard due to any accidental breach of the pressure-side of the fuel system, even with the ignition still ON, is minimized because the fuel pump can't run.
On more modern cars the same function is achieved by using the impact sensor that triggers the SRS airbags so no need for a dedicated fuel-safety inertia switch. Therefore these cars have the same post-accident fuel-safety shutoff feature as a DeLorean. The fuel pump relay gets disabled when there's an impact signal sent to the airbag system. As you know, the DeLorean is a pre-airbag car.
So it's very important to know that the inertia switch/circuit in good working order, no two ways about it. Thanks for asking.
Last edited by Rich; 08-05-2017 at 10:54 AM.
March '81, 5-speed, black interior
Location: Sacramento-ish
Posts: 4,408
My VIN: 02100
Club(s): (NCDMC) (DCUK)
This shouldn't be necessary, if you follow the guidance in the installation guide for proper positioning of the pump itself (rotated so the plugs are towards the back) and strap the logic unit to the filler neck off to the side. Never had any issue with my panel fitting in place properly after the upgrade. And I've had to remove/reinstall it about two dozen times for various issues with this unit... sigh.
Jon
1981 DMC-12 #02100. July 1981. 5-speed, black, grooved w/flap.
restoration log, March 2011 to present
full and detailed photo restoration log
Yes, I did very thoroughly read the directions and spent quite some time trying to degree in the pump and eliminate the interference problem. Doing so in such a manner that the fuel lines were not kinked or restricted in any way was simply not going to happen without modification.
I just chalked it up to variances in the frame, underbody, access panel, fuel tank, etc.
Luke S :: 10270 :: 82 Grey 5-Speed :: Single Watercooled T3 .60/.48 :: Borla Exhaust :: MSD Ignition :: MS3X Fully SFI Odd-fire EFI :: DevilsOwn Methanol Injection
I too was pretty thorough trying to make it fit, taking into account the directions, rotation of the pump, and tying the logic unit to the filler neck. Nothing worked. I have not yet tried anything more drastic, like modifying the unit or the cover, but I may have to.
Thomas
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The link to DMCH's website for the bulletin is broken so I'm attaching it here in case anybody else needs it. (One of our guys just bought a car with a 4-year-old fuel pump and he wants to make sure the recall was done before he drives it from out of state.)
DELOREAN-Fuel-Module-Controller-Bulletin.pdf