I bought a 92 Formula TBI 2 months ago. The previous owner told me that the fuel pump on it was bad and it hadnt been driven in 3 years. I got it home took it apart and put a brand new fuel pump and relay in it. I drove it roughly 100 miles and it didnt seem to have any problems. 1 night i was on my way home and it would sputter from time to time. i got home parked it in my driveway and turned it off and it hasnt run much since.
If i drop a teaspoon of gas in right under the injectors it starts right up but dies again. I thought it might be a bad pump but i can still hear it when i turn the key.
If there is anymore i need to add i will im just hoping maybe someone can give me insight.

 

first thing i would do is check/replace the fuel filter since it's so simple and cheap...next is possibly rebuild the TBI (~$30), which is very simple. From there i would assume possibly the injectors (more pricey). You've figured out the hard part of if it's gas or spark...now you just need to go step by step down the fuel line. You replaced the sock when you did the fuel pump correct?? Also check condition of the fuel lines. You didn't state where you or the car are from, but here in New York, your lines down there are almost guaranteed to be rusty. Mine were bad and the guy used hose clamps and crap that was poorly done.

 

Im gonna def. Try that. and yes i did put a new sock on the fuel pump. Im gonna try that tommorow and see what happens thank you for the help

 

You've confined to a fuel problem, next step is what part. Have someone crank it while checking the injectors for fuel spray...probably won't be any. Next unhooked the line into the fuel filter, looking for pressure and volume. If nothing there its the fuel pump. If you have fuel into the filter, you're halfway to changing the filter Hope this helps.

 

also remember to remove the fuel cap and (i didn't but it is precautionary) disconnect the battery. You want to do this to number one, release all pressure in the fuel system so that once you get that bolt loose, there is no possiblity of massive fuel spray, although you still will want goggles/glasses of some sort for protection. As far as diconnecting the battery is so that there is no way for the fuel pump to get power. You may think this is just fine if you have the keys out, but what many people don't know is that if your oil pressure switch is bad, it will ground out and run your fuel pump even with the car off and the keys out of the ignition. So take precaution when you can. Usually a precaution that takes 5 minutes will save you 5 hours at times (potential hospital visit if that pump engaged while underneath). All in all, be careful, as mentioned check and make sure that fuel is there at the fuel filter, change the filter and go from there. Once that is checked, as mentioned checked the injectors...if your not getting sputter or anything i'm assuming no fuel is getting up front, but it should be cone shaped spraying when they are working, and thats why i said try a rebuild of the throttle body because $30 is cheaper than ~$70 a fuel injector if i remember correctly. Other than that, after the fuel filer it's direct line into the throttle body, thats why you can seperate your check to before the filter and after the filter and just check things in line.

Also an easy way of checking if it's a good idea for rebuilding the throttle body is how many miles are on the car. Mine had 140k, and at that point a rebuild cannot hurt. Just some food for thought.

 

Yeah this one is sitting at 197000 or so. Its kinda hard to figure out what all is done to it. Cause the woman that i got it from was in her 60s. Its in great shape as far as the body. The motor is still pulling strong (when it runs) and it seems like she took good care of it. Lets just hope she kept up the maintenance on it. Most of the work it stil needs is in mostly do to it sitting in a field for 3 years.

 

Thank You so much for your help. The story about what followed made me feel a little stupid lol. I disconnected the fuel filter and reconected the battery so i could see if i would atleast get fuel. Nothing. So i figured it had to be the fuel pump. So to kinda cheat i cut the access panel in the trunk. And pull the fuel pump about halfway out and realize that there is no gas in the car what so ever. I know when i did the fuel pump the first time right after i finished i went and filled it up and my gauge went to full when i did it. But much to surpise there was no gas in the car. Someone had stolen all my gas and i had no clue. Never been so happy that i took a shortcut. Dont do it often but this time i was happy i did. Now its time to move on to everything else the car needs

 

My 92 RS seems to be doing the same thing here. On the way home the car just died and would not start. If I put some fuel in the TBI unit it will run and then die quickly. I here the pump run and it does that for just a few seconds. Does that sound right?

I am going to replace the fuel filter first.

Knowing that the pump comes on, is there a need to check the fuel pressure? If so, what kit would you recommend I use?

After the fuel filter I would rebuild the TBI unit. Where can that kit be acquired?
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SORRY!!

Do your have the measurements to cut an access panel to the pump handy?

 

i was having a similar problem with mine... thing acted crazy at times to the point where i was afraid to drive it cuz i wasn't sure if i'd make it home.

turned out to be the positive lead from the battery was rubbing against the power steering pulley, which rubbed through the insulation, allowing + to ground through the pulley/shaft/bearing at a slow rate as well as pissing off the ECU..

rerouted it, ziptied it to the cooling fan support spar.