My shop said that my fuel pump was bad, and i have replaced it twice in the last month. Is this possible? BTW, my fuel pump does work some of the time, can fp's cause intermittent start up problems if they are bad?

 

I'd be looking at the fuel pump rely.

 

Yes, they can cause starting problems when bad. Yes, they can be intermittent about it.

When replaced, the pickup sock and in-line filter should be replaced as well.

It is also possible for other things being bad to look like a bad fuel pump, such as the aforementioned relay, as well as fuel pressure regulator, etc.

If the pump has been replaced twice within a month, either you're getting bad new pumps, or it's time to look into some other problem.

 

here is what has been replaced...

fp relay
fp fuse
oil pressure sender
fuel pump twice
had steering column rebuilt for VATS

thats about it...what was happening was it would start up fine, drive for about a mile, i would then shut it off, and retry to start it up and it wouldnt start...it would crank, but not start...I think it is an ignition problem myself. Any one else? It is an intermittent problem, my car starts when it wants to. Thanks.

 

Also, how do i test for spark without getting electrocutted. Thanks.

 

nevermind, this shop has had my car for 3 days and have only given me a quote on my ball joints, just to be pressed in since i didnt do such a good job when i tried. then my car wouldnt start for them and they tell me its my fuel pump. So i dont know wtf is going on. how do i check for spark without frying myself.

 

Using a Spark Plug Tester is a good safe way to check. It sure beats the housekey in the end of the wire method.

 

what could cause the fuel pump to keep going bad if that is the case?

 

Ask your shop to test the fuel pump voltage as close to the pump as possible. Electric pumps are very sensitive to voltage. A little voltage drop and they aren't making adequate pressure. If the installer of the replacement pump also installed a new inlet filter and eliminated the pulsation damper, there should be no problems in the tank. Even excessive sediment shouldn't eat a pump that fast.

Check the condition of the connetor under the rear seat , the pump ground lead, the connector at the pump, the connector for the pump relay, and the fuse that supplies the pump and ECM with power.

I've had electric pumps that are almost 20 years old and have well over 180K miles on them working just fine. I've also had "pump eaters" that mysteriously needed a new pump every year - At least until the real problem in the circuit was discoverd and repaired. I had one guy bring in a '97 truck that had 120K miles and had five pumps, and he thought another was bad. My best guess is that at least 4 of those pumps were totally unnecessary. It's almost always a poor connection.