Hi everyone and thanks in advance for your help and comments!! I just bought a clean 91 RS, 305 TBI with 97K miles. Here's the catch. The car has been in storage for 10 years with just over 1/2 tank of gas. Before I go through the trouble of adding fresh gas, I want to make sure the fuel pump is working. To check it I had a friend turn the key on, I can hear the pump prime for 2 seconds when I listen though the fuel filler neck. Before that, I checked the relay by hooking it up to the fan relay and watching the fan kick on when I turn on the AC (car off). When I pour a little fresh gas down the throttle body, the car runs for about a second or two. Other than that, there seems to be no fuel coming to the TBI unit. I even disconnected the fuel supply line figuring if the pump worked, it would shoot some fuel out of the line when it primed. But it's dry as a bone. Is my fuel pump shot even though I can hear it in the tank? Sorry so breathy, just trying to paint a complete picture.

 

There is a small chunk of rubber hose, between the fuel pump and the hardline inside the tank. These have a tendancy to rot, and breakdown into nothing - thus the pump runs, but the fuel never gets pumped into the line. That could be an issue.

But before you drop the tank to investigate, try replacing the fuel filter - maybe it's just clogged. 10 minutes and $10 is worth a shot before dropping the fuel tank.

 

There is a thread that shows how to access the fuel pump w/o dropping the tank by cutting an access hole to it: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...finish-cut.jpg

 

after that amount of time the gas can turn to sludge lines could be blocked or just the filter

 

Thanks camaronewbie. I'll definately replace that fuel filter. However, I don't think it's clogged because I was able to syphon the old gas from the tank by disconnecting the fuel supply line at the front of the car and a attaching a vacuum pump to it. Of course my vaccuum pump may have been creating much more vaccuum than the fuel pump is capable of... We'll see.

Is there a step by stpe thread on dropping the tank on this forum by someone who has actually done the job? And it would have to be on the garage floor because I do not have a lift to get the car high into the air.

Thanks Stevolwevol for the pic on cutting the floor above the tank. Is there a thread other than the picture? Thanks for all you help and very sorry to be a bother!

John

 

You jack the rear of the car as high as possible (use wood blocks under the car and/or jack if needed), and support the car on jackstands. You have to drop the rear axle, and remove the exhaust if dropping the tank. Years ago I typed in a step-by-step sort of, search "fuel pump not that bad" and you should find it.

 

Your welcome. Yes I have the thread I found the pic from. Some do not like the idea of cutting a hole, but it's under the carpet where it would not be visible, and it could be used again if you needed to access the fuel pump. If I need to replace my fuel pump I will absolutely opt for this. Dropping the axle and taking down the tank..... is a REAL PITA! I'd only do it if I needed to replace the tank. Here is the thread:https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tpi/...cces-done.html