Just picked up an 87 TA thats been sitting for seven years. Had gas in the tank. Fuel pump seems to be stuck. Draws 6.8 amps when I jump through the G connector of the ALDL connector. Tried blowing compressed air back through both supply and return lines from the engine compartment, checking for restirctions. Oddly, I don't think I got anything through the return to the tank. Not surprisingly I couldn't blow through the supply line either. Changed the undercarriage canister filter, found no evidence of 'gumming' up or the like, the fuel that came out of there seemed normal to me.

Question; should I not be able to blow air through the return line more or less unrestricted under normal conditions?

As a last resort I'm going to try using an isolated power source (gelcel battery) to jog the fuel pump backwards and forwards to see if I can get it to start turning.

TJ Baker

 

if that doesn't work give the tank a thump with the handle end of a hammer to try to give it a jolt

 

Well, as was somewhat expected...no joy in trying to free the stuck fuel pump by reversing the polarity. So I'll be changing out the pump this evening. BTDT.

I am still somewhat puzzled by not being able to blow compressed air through the return line from the engine compartment to the tank though.

This is just the beginning, this car has been sitting for seven years. I expect that I'll find a handfull of other issues to deal with in the coming weeks.

TJ Baker

 

The bad gas in the tank thoroughly destroyed the fuel pump and related vibration isolating materials. Also the return line was clogged solid with muck explaining why I could not blow compressed air through from the engine compartment to the tank. Changed the pump, Cleared the lines, Flushed the tank as well as I could and reassembled. Fuel delivery system OK now. Other matters deserve a new topic I guess.

TJ Baker