Hello... I have a 85 Camaro V6 I just picked up for my son that is on cruise in the Navy.... Basically it wont start... It runs with Ether or if I spray gas into the intake.... All the fuses look good.... I dont hear the usually ticking from the fuel tank but an told the intank fuel pump is new....

I understand there is a relay for the fuel under the hood??? But has no idea where....

I want to make sure I have covered all the electrical parts first before I start dropping the fuel tank.....

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated as I would like to have this car waiting on him at port on his return....

Thanks
Bill

 

Well, it seems that Bill has a very lucky son, and that Bill's son has one heckuva father. Let's get this thing running for him.

To my knowledge, the fuel pump relay should be located under the hood, near or along the firewall. Some '85s and earlier cars had a fuel pump relay inside the passenger compartment, but I think you'll find your's under the hood. The relay should have a five-wire connector, containing TWO orange wires in different terminals, one black/white striped wire, one tan/white striped wire, and one dark green/white striped wire. Both the orange wires and the tan/white wire should be relatively larger diameter than the other two.

Another way to verify a connection to the in-tank fuel pump is to shut the ignition off and measure resistance from the "G" terminal on the ALDL connector in the passenger compartment to a good ground. Locate the ALDL connector, usually under the instrument panel on the left of the steering column:



There should be a red wire in that terminal. Expect to read about 10 ohms of slightly less there. If that's the case, the connection to the pump has continuity, and the pump motor is likely good. If you can read only high or infinite resistance, not all is lost. That may indicate that the relay has failed, or the wiring to the pump is disconnected (somewhere). Hopefully, you'll get a good reading and can forget about that portion of the circuit.

There is also a 20A in-line fuse which provides power to both the fuel pump and the ECM. It is usually located in the engine compartment near the battery, but may be in the interior fuse panel on your '85. Look in the engine compartment around here:



If you don't find it there, look in the main interior fuse panel for a fuse marked F/P and/or ENG CTL. If there is a fuse in either or both of those locations, verify they are good. Don't be surprised if you find the fuse spaces empty, since many of those had been moved to the underhood fuseholder after some production date.

The fuel pump relay should operate for a two-second pump prime cycle as soon as the ignition is turned on. If the ignition has been turned off for 20 or more seconds, the pump relay will run the prime cycle again. The pump relay will operate again as soon as the ECM recieves distributor pulses from a cranking or running engine. If all that fails, there is an auxilliary oil pressure switch which will close and power the fuel pump as soon at the pressure rises above 7 PSI. After about 5-8 seconds of cranking, that usually happens. If the pump runs after a long cranking but not on ignition power up, the relay is very suspect.

Good luck - Keep us posted.

 

Hey Vader.... Thanks for the info.... I have located the fuse by the battery... actually there are two of them located in that spot.. but I cannot find the relay anywhere in the engine compartment or after a quick look under the passengers side dash, nothing there.... I did find a bulk head connector but it felt like it was hooked to maybe the brain box???? I will need to spend more time under the dash it looks like... grumbles... lol....
I had a similar problem with a Ford Explorer and come to find out the "new" fuel pump wasnt working... lol....
I will take all the test you suggested as I am not that fond of yanking gas tanks in my garage.... lol....
Yes... I am very proud... but a bit worried to right now as my son is on a aircraft carrier and who knows headed where right now.... I only hope my suspicion isnt correct with what is going on now.....

Thanks again and will keep you posted.....
Bill