Apologies for the simple question, yet I can't find the answer anywhere on the net and i don't have a Haynes Manual

My car usually runs fine, however sometimes the car will turn over normally but not start. Lambada Sensor, Ignition leads and spark plugs have both been changed. I have been told to clean the fuel pump.

Where is the fuel pump? Hard to get to?

Cinquecento 899cc 1994

Cheers,
Scott

lift up the back seats. metal plate below that. 4 bolts. unplug the wires, remove the nut holding the pipes in, remove pipes. expect fuel to go all over the place. remove the 10 or so nuts round the edge of the unit. then just pull.

how many miles has the car done? the fuel pump should last for ages, i only just changed mine (at 96k miles) on a car that has been turbo'd for a long long time. They might be refering to the small filter that is attached to the bottom of the pump though, that might be a little clogged but i'd only expect that on a high miler

It has done 102,000 so far.

Would you have thought fuel pump or filter? I'm not entirely sure what to start on first.

102k is quite alot.. The pump i woulld think will be in good nick, its worth a shot checking the filter, its not that hard.. The filer that arc refrs to is attached to the bottom of the fuel pump in the tank so you'll have the pump out at the same time, you can attach it to a 12v current to check its 'whirring' round and doesn't make any suspicious noises. Not sure whether thre is a seperate filter outside the tank or not on cento's as well. I'll try dig out my haynes and have a look 2day for you.

Take care when you remove the pump from the tank, for obvious reasons of fammable liquid/gas and be careful not to get any contaminates in the tank.

be careful when testing the pump too, don't make a spark when u wire in the 12v. also, do not run it for long - they don't like to run dry, and i suspect the fuel helps cool them too.

there is another fuel filter, it is under the car. near the handbrake lever. I would replace that one first.

could it not be the fuel relay ??

if you can't hear it priming when the igniton comes on, yeah.