Mr_Metal

I need some MAJOR help determining JUST what the problem is w/ these electric intank fuel pumps AND the aftermarket inline fuel pumps...

Has anyone else gone through 3 or 4 fuel pumps in their 2.8L MPFI 3rd Gen. Camaro ?

Long story short...
I got the car a few years back... the fuel pump was bad when I got it... and when I went to replace it, the "access panel" had already been cut in the rear hatch area... leading me to believe that this car had intank fuel issues once BEFORE I got it.

I removed the intank variety of fuel pump in favor of an inline MSD efi fuel pump... I used the original HOT(+) wire from the intank setup (lengthened it) to work w/ the inline fuel pump (which was located mid-door driver's side).

That pump worked for about 6 months, but it died.
Fast forward to a month ago, when I bought YET another inline fuel pump (brand new)... installed it and it only lasted a few months... and get this, the car wasn't even a daily driver... it was sitting and started once and a while.

Does anyone know what is going on here ?

I have an intank fuel pump assembly coming from another board member... and, I'm going to take it back to the "intank variety"... once again, via the access panel route. Should I run another "Keyed Hot Wire" from the fuse block... ??

What keeps killing these fuel pumps ? This is REALLY baffling and frustrating to say the least.

Any / all help is GREATLY appreciated, thanks in advance for any help offerred.

-Metal

rgarcia63

If you don't wire it per the OEM schematic the pump won't prime and the ECM will not control it as designed.

Mr_Metal

That's what I was afraid of...
I REALLY wonder what is burning up all these fuel pumps !!

3.8TransAM

If the vehicles purge system is inactive it can build pressure shortening pump life.

Samr goes for the fuel tank vent valve near the rear qrtr on the drvr side.

If that plugs the tank will suck in and collapse.

Might be worth checking out.

Why run two pumps? Is the original in the tank? Has it sucked up the sock??

later
Jeremy

Mr_Metal

I've removed the in tank fuel pump completely... additionally, lengthening the fuel intake tube (to be exactly the same depth in tank as the old fuel pump was)... thus, eliminating the chance of "dual fuel pump" restriction.

I will check the tank vent tube for blockage... and, re-check the fuel filter for blockage.

Once again, this has been VERY baffling... I'm ready to put a carb. intake, carburetor, and mechanical fuel pump on this vehicle soon !!

TheScaryOne

iTrader: (3)

Okay, I figure you've already thought of this, but it's worth throwing it out. Does the gas in your tank smell like paint thinner? You said it sits a lot, so the fuel might have spoiled. And that's not good for anything between the tank, all the way up to the injectors. :/

Mr_Metal

That's a real good possibility... at this point, the entire fuel system is getting drained / overhauled. Back to square 1.

Mr_Metal

OK, here's an update to the fuel pump issues from Hell !!

OK, I removed the old/damn-near new electric inline fuel pump... hooked it up to a 12v source... NADDA, it's done ! (no brainer)

The fuel DOES indeed smell like paint thinner & it's a redder than normal color, which leads me to believe that it's ALSO done ! (I'm 2 for 2 now ! )

I checked the keyed hotwire w/ ground w/ a multimeter and it IS getting 12v sustained at the fuel pump wiring... so, +1 for Metal this time ! NICE

Now for the bad part...
I got the parts in the mail today that I bought from fellow board member, Woody Pruitt of Albertville, AL... (supposed to be a used electric in-tank fuel pump assembly from neoprene hoses all the way to fuel pump 'sock' - the ENTIRE working assembly)...
HOWEVER, when I opened the package... he sent me the entire setup for a vehicle w/ MECHANICAL fuel pump, which includes NO ELECTRIC INTANK fuel pump... nice... just great !! Thanks Woody, you have mail !

EDIT... I paid him $30 for these parts... I'm screwed, he's not returning emails, PMs, etc.

Anyone help here ?

Back to the drawing board...

TheScaryOne

iTrader: (3)

Well, if he told you it was an electrical, and you used a money order, that's mail fraud, which the postmaster takes very seriously. If paypal, talk to them. Well, it looks like your choices now amount to either a direct GM replacement (New Old Stock retails at about $80 at YearOne) or you can get an aftermarket (Holley has one at $170), but if you do that, go with a name you know. You get what you pay for when it comes to these critical parts. Since MPFI and TPI use the same core technology (individual injectors per cylinder and a dry manifold) you could use a pump from one of the bigger engines. Just don't get a TBI pump. I haven't seen why yet, but everywhere says not to, so I'll trust it. Good luck brother.

Edit: And next time the car will sit a while, ad some Sta-bil to the tank. I've never let and engine set long enough to worry about it, but I hear it works wonders from people with the no-top roadsters who store them all winter.