RPM Relay

["content22207" <brobertson@xxxx>]

I believe this was a safety feature of some sort, so car wouldn't keep
pumping fuel in case of an accident that stopped engine. Is also what
makes accumulator necessary (not just to start vehicle, but to smooth
out all those pulses!). Was going to rig up a bypass switch (answer to
whatever ailed #5939 in those heady early days. Same under dash switch
has been used for EVERYTHING), then discovered myself how easy it is
to jump during fuel system diagnosis. Except for inconvenience of
pulling over, is now long term solution (don't all DeLorean owners
carry 2 and 3 way jumpers in that little tray in back of console?).
John Hervey has a nice pic everyone should familiarize themselves with:

www.specialtauto.com/delorean-images/rpm-relay-jumper.jpg

DeLorean owners do seem to have elevated concern for fellow motorists,
eh? Wonder if you'd get same response in a Lexus...

Bill Robertson
#5939

>--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "media1524" <brentlun@xxxx> wrote:
> Hello List Members, 
> 
> What a weekend. I went to the DeLorean Mid Atlantic Spring Social 
> this weekend and it turned out to be a bit more eventful than I would 
> have liked. 
> 
> I was driving #17006 to the event. This is the same car I drove to 
> two other Mid Atlantic events and 2,000 miles to Memphis and back
> with no trouble. 
> 
> My girlfriend and I headed out in the rain on Saturday morning and 
> about an hour into the trip, the engine died. I pulled over and
> tried to restart the car and it started. I'm thinking, "What
> just happened? I'll get that checked when we arrive at the
> event". I thought maybe rain was shorting something electrical
> or maybe my fuel pickup hose was collapsing. I had just had the car 
> at P. J. Grady over the winter where Rob performed his 200 point 
> checklist. This happened about three more times. About four blocks 
> away from the Auto Works in Westwood, the car died and would not 
> restart. 
> 
> I had printed the last email from Dave Teitelbaum with his cell
> number on it so I called him and he said someone would be right out. 
> A neighbor offered her porch so we wouldn't have to wait in the
> rain. 
> 
> Dave arrived with Steve Wagoner and began diagnosing the problem. He 
> thought maybe I was out of gas since I did not have a Tankzilla and 
> the stock fuel gage is unreliable. The battery was worn down from 
> cranking so we jump started the car and it ran so Dave said he would 
> follow me to the Auto Works. After another block, the car died
> again. Dave was convinced I was out of gas and left to get some. 
> While we were waiting, an EMT then a police car stopped to ask if we 
> needed help and even put out a road flare. It was then that we 
> noticed that we were in front of the Police Station. Dave returned 
> with the gas but the car still would not start. More tests revealed 
> that the RPM relay had failed. Dave jumped the leads with a paper 
> clip and the car started. We limped into the Auto Works and I 
> purchased a new one from Rob Grady who was there inspecting cars and 
> had one with him. What luck! Rob told me that the RPM relay can
> fail without warning. 
> 
> For the rest of the weekend and the trip home, the car ran
> flawlessly. 
> 
> I just wanted to thank Dave and Steve for coming to my rescue in the 
> rain. Dave was able to quickly diagnose the problem and get me back 
> on the road again. His knowledge of the DeLorean never ceases to 
> amaze me. 
> 
> Brent Lundgren
> York, PA
> 83 #17006
> 81 #3049