Originally Posted by camaronewbie

Does the fuel pump prime for 1-2 seconds when you turn the key to ON? You can usually hear it - might get someone to turn the key on while you have ear against gas tank (or the hump in the rear cargo area) and listen. If not, you need to look at the fuel pump relay.

The fuel pump relay is located on the driver side firewall, between the brake booster and the fender. There is a bracket there, with two 10mm bolts holding the bracket to the firewall. On the 'inner' side of that bracket, there will be 2 relays, one is for the fan (it will have a large black wire with red stripe), the other is for the fuel pump. You should be able to hold the relay in your hand and feel it 'click' when the key is turned on. If not, Mark the fuel pump relay with a sharpie, then swap it with the fan relay and see if it works then. If so, then replace relay. If not, then check the wiring and the connector for the relay to make sure no frays, scorched marks, etc.

In your car, the ECM controls the fuel pump. It sends a 12v+ signal on the green with white stripe wire to the relay that "activates" it - the ECM sends this for 2 seconds when key turned to ON to 'prime the fuel pump (ie send fuel to the injectors to start with). Then, after the car is started, the ECM detects a constant ignition signal from the distributor and constantly sends out that 12v+ signal to the relay, making the pump run always.

IN THE EVENT that the ECM or fuel pump relay isn't working, the Oil Pressure Sending Unit (OPSU) takes over fuel pump operation. When the OPSU senses oil pressure (takes 10-30 seconds) it will start running the fuel pump and thus bypass the bad ECM or relay. That's why it often takes several starts, or a long cranking period, to get the car started. Make sense?