Hi, I'm 16 years old and i have a 1988 firebird 2.8 liter V6 in my garage that wont start due to a fuel pump issue. About 3 years ago, my older brother was using this as his first car and he was purchasing a new one. When he parked it in the garage, it ran just fine. For some reason however, after he parked it, niether my dad or he drove it. Now its my turn to drive this ole' POS around and of course, it won't start. The problem i am having is when i turn the key into the on posistion, the fuel pump does not turn on. I have tested the wires with a continuity light and only the wire for the fuel gauge is working (purple) and the one that runs the motor is not (white). I have repalced the fuel pump relay (which was broken) and i have checked every single fuse. My question here obviously is, is the fuel pump dead, is there an electrical problem somewhere, is the fuel pressure regulator preventing the pump from running, and what sort of tests should I run? I really need some help here because i have done all i can do and I don't have the cash to fork over to a mechanic. Any and all suggestions will be greatly acknowleged. Let me know if you need more information.

P.S. The engine does run, this i know because we have turned the key while spraying ether into the air intake. but i get this knocking sound, is that bad or is it just something that will go away once it runs for some time?

 

The first thing i would do is to run some jumper wires to the fuel mp ad see if it turns on. if it dont i would try a different pump

 

ok, how would i go about doing that? would i take it apart at the joint underneath the car?

 

Unplug the fuel pump relay. Jump the orange wire to the white wire in the fuel relay plug.

 

k thanks, ill let you know what happens, and do you know what the knocking sound is

 

Either produces a knoking sound when it explodes. Really not ment for this use. Should be ok running on gas.

 

could also check the fuse in pass fender wall under hood..toward front of car..there are 2 of them one maf and one fuel

 

the relay does work btw i can hear it click when i turn the ignition. so should i do this test anyway? or should i assume the pump is dead. Also, the fuel pump fuse is up and running. there was a hole already in the wire from a previous continuity test and the light came on

 

if you don't here the pump cut on when you turn the key on,then is most likely the pump...just turn key to on and not crank it should hear it hum for a bout 3 seconds

 

yeah i understand that and ive dont that. there is no hum. my question was, is there any point in "jumping" the fuel pump?

 

you could, but i wouldn't see the point if everything but the pump has been replaced..you could also look under the car by the tank where the wires come through the body,,and make sure it is a good connection there..if not time for new pump..i have one here... but might be too big for your needs its a 255 gph pump..

 

yes. ive started work on it today and i have thus far taken out the fuel pump and directly applied power to it and the sucker worked. the ignition switch is ok because all electronics turn on. relay is good. now the last thing i wasnt to check is the fuel pump switch. where is this located? based on the wiring diagram it's between the relay and the tank. if you know where it is let me know.

 

guys watch it with those test lights....I really hope your using a specific one for ecm's that draws a really low amperage. Those lights can fry an ecm. I do not have those in my home or work tools. I use a mutli meter with high impedence,

So watch out with those

 

ok what I do for relays is use another one in the that could be used for example the a/c and plug it in place of the fuel pump relay and try it out.

Also you can get the diagrams out and pull the relay and plug in a jump wirin and feed power direct to your fuel pump.

 

ive already done everything you are suggesting. fuel pump is okay, relay is okay, the problem is the fuel pump switch and i dont know where it is at