MavViper

It seems my car is plagued with ghosts and demons that prevent it from starting.

Before it was my fuel pump but I had replaced the entire distributor, ICM, plugs, plug wires, fuel filter, fuel pump, ECM. I had replaced the fuel pump about 6 months ago (same time I did the fuel filter as well). I was finsihing up the interior and what not so didn't have a chance to drive it that much but it would start perfectly and would run like a champ. The brakes needed doing badly, as well as the front brake lines as one of the them was cracked. So I set off to do that.

Well work caught up with me. I did the rear brakes pretty quickly and then didn't have time to do the fronts. I jacked up the front of the car about 2 weeks ago, planning on doing the front brakes that day. But an emergency came up and I had to leave my car like that. So for 2 weeks the front end sat up. Finally finished the brakes yesterday and finally got her down on all fours. Went to start and nada. Cranks and cranks but no start. I disconnected the fuel line before the throttle body and when I went to crank the car no fuel whatsoever came out.

I then jacked the car up and disconnected the fuel line at the fuel filter. Fuel was dripping out but when I switched the car on so that the fuel pump would prime, fuel shot out everywhere. So I know my fuel pump is priming, albeit I don't know what the pressure is at. I will try and get that done here today but my question is this. Last time I started the car was about a month ago and it started fine, so why after doing the brakes would my car suddenly develop the same symptoms as before?

Before it was my fuel pump and the rubber line that was inside the tank. That line was in pieces, completely disentigrated. Could that be the case this time, and if so how can I prevent that from happening as that would be the second time in 6 months I had that problem.
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I'm also about ready to just take it to someone and have them look over the entire car electrically and mechanically and fix anything they see, though that would cost quite a bit. But I just wanna drive the car without having all these problems and it don't seem like that will happen anytime soon.

MavViper

Ok, little update. Did some testing.

If I disconnect the fuel line at the TB and I jump the fuel pump relay, the fuel pump will prime but it takes 3-4 seconds. I don't know how fast 9-14psi is but gas was coming out nonetheless. So I figured what the heck, I'll keep the relay jumped so the fuel pump is constnatly running and try starting it that way. Nope, doesn't start.

So now I'm thinking that even though I bought a new fuel pump (a generic brand one) it could either be faulty or crapped out on me already. I would go out and buy a new fuel pump relay but something tells me it's the pump itself given it took 3-4 seconds for the gas to spew out of the line. Definately not the 2 seconds the ECM does when starting the vehicle.

CaliBranden

Check your fuse up by the fender by a relay passenger, That fuse might be causing some problems. It did on mine it runs the fans and the fuel pump.

MavViper

You mean the one right next to the battery? Already thought of that, replaced it and still does the same thing.

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CaliBranden

I know I did the same thing, My plug was a lil worn and the fuse would rock a lil. So I used some black tape and made it fit tight.

MavViper

Heh, mine is in there pretty tight. I still think it's a fuel pump issue given it takes a while for it to prime the system. The car will start as long as I throw fuel into the TB but then will die as soon as I stop.

Also the fans work if I turn the key to ON and flip on the AC

Thomas

I once had a Brand New AC Delco Fuel Pump (now made in Mexico) fail after only a month! So it can happen. Also did you flush the tank? If you had pieces of decentigrated hose floating around it could have pluged the finger screen or the pump iitself in the tank. Also check the internal wires going to the fuel pump they can short out. The insulation does get brittle with age and need to be replaced sometimes. They use the relay as a fuse and if there is a short or high amp demand it will blow. DO NOT SHORT OUT THE RELAY on a regular basis other than for testing purposes as that if there is a shorted wire in the tank you could blow up the tank. This is one of the worst jobs on our cars messing with fuel pump as that tank removal is a real pain. Good Luck!!!

Thomas

f1ls1

I came across a problem similer to this once before. It was stuck injectors the car had been sitting for a while. Try Lightly tapping on the injectors and than try and start the car. The injectors can get stuck.

Dyno Don

I have also had a few regulaters get stuck.
If you have fuel at the line but nothing at the return line, check the regulater.

MavViper

That was the first time I jumped the relay, but I don't plan on doing it again unless I need to. I know the pump runs but I don't think it's simply getting enough fuel to the TB.

f1ls1, I thought of that too. Tried but no avail.