zz's z28

So i just purchased an 87 iroc 5.7 a months ago......

It didnt run when i got it, so i replaced the fuel pump relay, the distributor pickup, and the ignition control module....Fired right up

Just drove it for the first time (more than around the block)

It just died at my friends house, wont fire.

Fuel pump doesnt prime when the key is turned, so i jumpered the 12v wire to the hot wire to the Fuel pump. It kicked right on


My question is..why the hell are the relays burning out so fast. I just replaced it...Any ideas!? THANKS!

90 camaro cj

what kinda relay did you replace it with? was it a GM one or an aftermarket one? is it possible just had a bad new one?

zz's z28

Well, i had replaced it with a BWD. It was an aftermarket name from Advance Auto. Id blame that, but there has got to be a reason why the first one was bad, other than being the original one. Its only been started about 15 times since i replaced it. To set the timing, idle, and all that stuff.

Im wondering if maybe the flowmaster, that was just put on, has something to do with it.

He said he had just put it on before the car died, and the muffler has no rust whatsoever on it. Maybe its resting on a fp wire? I havent looked at the car much underneath.

90 camaro cj

ya that could be it altho the way the fuel wire is ran i dont see how it could be rubbing on it if its close to factory ran but ya id definitely check into that

zz's z28

Thanks a whole lot man, when i get to the car tomorrow, ill check it out.

90 camaro cj

aite. so i take it you put a new relay in and its working fine now?

zz's z28

i wish! No, The cars about 20 minutes away, and the relay will need to be ordered. Ever hear about someone bypassing the relay temporarily?

just having the fuel pump turn out, and stay on until removing said jumper?

90 camaro cj

ive heard of someone doing it to test if the relay was bad but not driving on it as the jumper would heat up and thatd be bad if it got hot enough to melt the plastic

camaroinoh

Could always put it on a togglewith inline fuse that wayif it blows you know you have a short some where trace it down fix it replace relay or leave the toggle

BlackRS839

The whole purpose of a relay is controlling high current with low current. (say 5 amp load turns on a magnet the complete's a 30 amp load to what ever the relay controls) Obviously your pump pulls alot of current, so if you were going to temporarily hardwire it, I would use a thick gauge wire that can handle the current, and only use it to drive to where you can park it and work on it. Keep in mind a relay only fails is the contacts for the primary circuit become worn, or the magnet fails due to excessive amperage, so if you replace the relay and it fails quickly there is another problem, but like it was mentioned earlier you could have received a weak or faulty relay, try replacing it again before digging to deep into the electrical.

I would also check to see what amp fuse is is being used for the fuel pump as well. If the vehicle was constantly blowing the fuse do to excessive pull, someone could have put a higher amp fuse to stop it from blowing so fast. (Not thinking there is a problem else where causing the proper rated fuse to fail)

zz's z28

So I had advance auto order a new relay. Wasnt that, turns out to be the fuse.


Boy do i feel stupid!


Thanks for all the info everyone!

blackbeauty89

i was having the same issues, but i think mine is more in depth because someone had rigged up some wiring before i owned it my car is currently running on a jumper wire also, but i have it fused with a 20a fuse like it normally would be.

camaronewbie

Sometimes it's the relay connector and not the relay - but folks seldom think to look at the connector for burn/scorch marks from shorts. I've had 2 cars that needed new fuel pump relay connectors in the past.