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

gottfuel

sounds to me like your fighting with a clogged fuel filter., have you tried replacing it?
if so then i would realy assume that somthing is causing the pump to fail.,.,also i wonder if your grounded properly!

Mr_Metal

I've checked and replaced the fuel filter before the previous 2 fuel pumps.
I grounded the last 2 fuel pumps right to the frame... shiny metal to shiny metal. What a baffling experience this is becoming.

Thanks for the reply !

molopaa

iTrader: (1)

Kind of a long shot here but:

Is the gasoline you use normal pump gas and not for example E85 or something similar containing alcohol? If I remember correctly alcohol doesn't lubricate the way gasoline does. (Not that gas is really a lubricant) Probably not your anwer to the problem, but....

Not familiar with E85 really, but are standard autoparts supposed to work/last normally with this fuel?

Have you checked/disassembled the pumps after they died? To see what part exaclty crapped out on you? That could tell a lot, if the same part always fails.

Mr_Metal

I'm using regular gasoline, as E85 isn't widely available in the U.S. yet, even if it was... it's hard on the seals, rings, lubricating system, and doesn't produce the same HP as 'normal' gasoline. The only benefits of E85 that I can see are: decreased dependancy on foreign crude oil (big plus), higher octane rating (also big plus), and lower prices @ the pump. E85 is good in a lot of ways, but is hard on a 'normal gasoline' engine. Basically, you'd have to build an "alcohol funny car" type engine to successfully run E85.

Back to the fuel pump issues I'm having...
I haven't disassembled the fuel pumps yet, however that is an excellent idea... thanks for the reply.

molopaa

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, E85 sucks in the long run when thinkin about engine lifetime, but I thought the US was one of the countries that was a pionerr in E85. Well, might have remembered wrong I guess. We don't have any of that stuff here in Finland.

But do disassemble those pumps, and maybe we can figure this out. I'm really getting more intrigued with this dilemma.

daves12secV6

iTrader: (3)

this wont apply to the camaro but,when i worked at areg repair shop we ha dwent threw 4 fp's in a jeep,and couldnt figure out what was killing the p[umps.turns out the plastic tank was getting deterorated and the lil plastic particals were killing the pump.they were actually small enough to get past the fp sock.next time u drop in a pump take a look at all the plastic/rubber lines and check the tank for rust

2_point8_boy

Also make sure that you're not having an electrical issue. I'se seen a lot of cars that have bad wiring(corrosion, etc...) that causes the pump to have to draw more current to get the same work done. It's actually very common to kill a starter this way, so it applies to FP's too.

Mr_Metal

I'll definitely get those pumps torn apart and try to do a little investigating while I'm in there... thanks for the replies; updates to follow.

Excellent idea... I'm going to thoroughly disassemble the fuel pump(s) and check the entire system for "signs of infiltration"... thanks for the help.

I have an 'itching feeling' that it's BOTH an electrical issue & fuel particle issue... who knows @ this point. I'm going to re-wire the hot lead (from the stock location) and ensure proper voltage is coming from it... and turn the fuel system upside down to figure this out.

EVERYONE who has replied has been VERY helpful, thanks a bunch.

Street Lethal

iTrader: (16)

Checking the fuel system for any unwanted build up will be painless, just inspect the fuel filter for any particles within. Also, be sure to check for any obsruction in the fuel injectors themselves, as a result...

Speaking of pumps, my 92's fuel pump is starting to squeal like a pig. I considered an external pump in it's place, but decided to go with a Walbro instead. Keep us posted with your findings...

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...

Gumby

Yep almost everyone has been taken once on buying from "members" here.
There are dozens n dozens of folks who make a tidy living selling bad parts to board members.

#1 rule don't pay with anything but paypal. And when you do, select other funding options and use a real credit card to pay, through paypal. That way you can not only file a paypal claim but file a charge back with your CC company.

You will get your money back 100% of the time if you get taken.

Gumby

On the orher hand if you are a bit careful you can get some good deals from honest members. I am about 50/50 right now. I have gotten some nice stuff for near nothing and been taken for about $80 by another.

Just be twice as careful here as you would on Ebay.