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88 gta won't start (solved)

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Old 03-27-2017, 08:04 PM
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88 gta won't start (solved)

I have a 1988 gta 5.0l engine, I put it away for winter and it started and ran fine but about 1 month ago I went to start it and it would start then stall right away, I assumed it was a bad fuel pump because I had no fuel pressure,so I bought a new pump and replaced the old one and it fired right up and stayed running, then I shut it off and later in the day I went to start it up again and it would crank but not start, i took the pump back out and it's fine,
I have 3 wires in back of the rear seat black,tan and pink and for the pump it's black,grey and purple I have constant power to the purple wire only even when ignition is on but pump don't turn on any ideas?

Last edited by jmopar; 03-28-2017 at 06:38 PM.
Old 03-27-2017, 09:14 PM
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Re: 88 gta won't start

I believe there is also a fuel pump relay on the firewall.
Old 03-27-2017, 09:44 PM
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Re: 88 gta won't start

Yes there is a fuel pump relay on the drivers side of the firewall. The pump is controlled by the computer and you should have hot at all times on the Orange wire, and fuel pump power leaves the relay on the Tan/White wire. If you have power on the Orange wire jump it to the Tan/White wire and see if it will start. If it does you need to test the relay or find out why it isn't being triggered, etc.





Rick
Old 03-27-2017, 11:19 PM
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Re: 88 gta won't start

Thanx for the info, I'll check tomorrow and get back to you
Old 03-27-2017, 11:30 PM
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Re: 88 gta won't start

Originally Posted by jmopar
Thanx for the info, I'll check tomorrow and get back to you
Hi Jmopar,
I had similar problems. Where the connector goes through the tank gave me an intermitent connection. It drove me nuts working and then not. I'd check it with a meter and wiggle the plugin. If you see the meter jump you know the connector is no making good connection.

al
Old 03-28-2017, 08:04 AM
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Re: 88 gta won't start

Originally Posted by GeneralDisorder
Yes there is a fuel pump relay on the drivers side of the firewall. The pump is controlled by the computer and you should have hot at all times on the Orange wire, and fuel pump power leaves the relay on the Tan/White wire. If you have power on the Orange wire jump it to the Tan/White wire and see if it will start. If it does you need to test the relay or find out why it isn't being triggered, etc.





Rick
Thanks for you're help and I just checked and I have no power to any of these wires!
Old 03-28-2017, 03:49 PM
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Re: 88 gta won't start

Ok so I pulled the fuse the one between the radiator and battery and put it back in and now I have power to the orange wire but nothing on the tan wire
Old 03-28-2017, 06:43 PM
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Re: 88 gta won't start (solved)

Figured it out thanks for all you're help, it was the fuse between the battery and radiator weird thing is the fuse looks fine but was faulty.
Old 03-28-2017, 07:44 PM
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Re: 88 gta won't start (solved)

Yep that one will do it. That one was kindof an afterthought on the TPI cars. That wire supplies power to a lot of the TPI stuff like the fuel pump relay, etc.

Rick
Old 04-02-2017, 04:01 PM
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Re: 88 gta won't start

Originally Posted by GeneralDisorder
Yes there is a fuel pump relay on the drivers side of the firewall. The pump is controlled by the computer and you should have hot at all times on the Orange wire, and fuel pump power leaves the relay on the Tan/White wire. If you have power on the Orange wire jump it to the Tan/White wire and see if it will start. If it does you need to test the relay or find out why it isn't being triggered, etc.



Rick
I have the same problem on a '91 RS. I cannot find the relay. Could you be more spacific about the location of the relay "on the drivers side of the firewall?" Thanks
Old 04-02-2017, 05:08 PM
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Re: 88 gta won't start (solved)

On the firewall almost to the edge of the drivers side is a metal bracket with two identical relays behind it. The one closest to the edge is usually the fan relay and has four wires going to it. The one next to it with five wires going to it is the fuel pump relay
This is for the Camaro guy
Old 04-02-2017, 07:37 PM
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Re: 88 gta won't start (solved)

Ok, I found the relay. It looks a little different from your pic, but has the five wires. The orange wire had power, so I jumped it to the tan and white wire. It still would not start. Sounds like no fuel. I have replaced the pump and filter. Any other suggestions?
Old 04-02-2017, 07:44 PM
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Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt Torsen 3.70
Re: 88 gta won't start (solved)

Fuel pump connector on 90 - 92 is different:



I'm not sure of the pinout on this one. Power is still likely orange. But I don't know the fuel pump lead color. Whichever the biggest ones are for sure.

Rick
Old 04-02-2017, 07:50 PM
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Re: 88 gta won't start (solved)

Yea, that's what mine looks like. I'll look at the pump to see what wire to jump. Thanks.




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