Hi,

I have 1989 Formula 350. The fuel pump is not priming. I am pretty sure the pump is shot. Is there any easy way to get at it. I hear there may be an access panel behind the rear seats under the carpet. Or do I have to drop the gas tank?

Thanks. My car has been off the road for sometime, and I want to start getting parts for it over the coming winter and have her ready for spring '06.

Hawkeye

 

Welcome aboard.

There is no factory access panel unless some hack previous owner put one in there.

Drop the tank.

After you have verified it's not the fuel pump relay causing the problem.

 

Five7kid,

Thanks for the info. I have to check that relay. Any suggestions how? One day the car ran, now it doesn't. Usually I would hear the pump prime when I turn the key, but now nothing. I just thought it would be just the pump. Would I get a code from the check engine light? I have a testing tool for the car.

Thanks
Hawkeye

 

The fuel pump relay is on the driver side of the firewall. Just to the right (looking from the front of the car) of the brake booster there should be a cluster of relays. The fuel pump relay is right in the middle of them all (I forget which exactly, off hand).

It might be the relay, it might also be the fuel pump relay fuse. For Firebirds, I think that yours will be along one of the radiator supports. Inline fuse, weatherproof. If the fuse blows, the relay doesn't get power, which in turn doesn't give the pump power.

If you want to test the pump individually, you can give 12v+ to the "G" terminal on the ALDL, which bypasses all the fuel pump relay wiring hubbub and delivers 12v directly to the pump. The G terminal is on the bottom row, farthest to the left.

 

Thanks Stekman!

I will take a look tomorrow. Man I miss driving my car. Bought it new in 1989. But she will be on the road next spring.

 

Original owner huh? That must be a good feeling.

 

Oh yea. I will never let this car go. I have plans for it. Like painting black again. Currently it is 1986 Med Grey, the same color as my first 1986 Firebird v6. I loved the color, but it wasn't available in 1989. So, in 1989 the black paint on many Firebirds was garbage, the clear cote peeled after 2 years. Even though I waxed that car every other week and washed it every week. I had it repainted in the mid 1990's to the med grey. Now it needs to be put back to the color I purchased it in. Next year....