1989 GTA. I'm replacing the original fuel pump with a Walbro from Summit Racing. My original sending unit had a pulsator inline with the fuel pump. The rubber spacer that is supposed to sit between the pulsator and the fuel pump was about 60% gone and what was left was a gooey mess. It's absolutely not re-useable. Where can I get a replacement? This one was in such bad shape I can't even tell what it looks like. Searched here in the forums, at Summit and just some other general searching and couldn't find anything. The Walbro pump doesn't provide a replacement, your expected to re-use the original.

 

I am familiar with a cushion sleeve around the pump. I am familiar with the pulsator. I am familiar with a rubber isolator end cap on the pick-up end of the pump. I can't picture what you're describing. If you want to assure the pulsator doesn't slip up or down, a very short bit of fuel hose, slit lengthwise and around the pressure line or pump outlet, clamped, should do it.

 

Are you trying to run a pulsator?

Modern turbine style fuel pumps don't need a pulsator.

 

This is my first ever fuel pump replacement on a 3rd gen / fuel injection engine (I get to do this again with my 2002 as soon as I'm done with the 89 because its sat for a bit and ALSO has no fuel pressure). Just following the instructions that came with the Walbro pump:

"Remove the pump by inverting the bracket. Pull down on the fuel pump till inlet end clears the pump support and swing it to the side and remove the pump and pulsator from the bracket fuel outlet tube. Save the pulsator and the pulsator to fuel pump rubber spacer for use in mounting the new pump."

The installation step calls to re-install the pulsator and the rubber space however, I have watched a couple of youtube videos and I did notice that no one seemed to be re-installing the pulsator back onto the outlet tube, rather instead, opting to just connect the fuel pump to the outlet tube via the supplied piece of rubber hose. Given your saying the modern pumps don't need the pulsator that makes sense. I can do the same and just eliminate it. Just did not want to assume eliminating it was ok since this GTA is pretty much a stock setup.

 

I'll post a picture tomorrow. There wasn't much left of it but it was sitting in between the pulsator and the fuel pump. Thanks for the tip!!

 

Just redid the fuel system on a 1989 GTA from the gas cap to the fuel injectors. Used a Delphi fuel pump and no pulsator. Runs just fine. Did a 1986 GN with a Walbro fuel pump and no pulsator. Runs just fine. About to do a 1989 Turbo TA. Will be a Walbro without a pulsator and it will also run just fine too.

To be honest I'm not 100% sure what the pulsator does. I guess it was for use with rotary-vane or gerotor style fuel pumps.

Below is a crappy low-resolution picture I stole off eBay ages ago.


Rubber Bumper that goes between fuel pump and pulsator. Modern turbine style fuel pumps don't need either of those parts.


Cool video about Walbro turbine style fuel pumps.

Take away for 3rd gens since our tanks don't have the fuel well that always stays full is to keep the fuel level at least a 1/3 of a tank or more. Fuel is the coolant and lubricant for the fuel pump. Your 2002 4th gen has the fuel well built into the fuel pump module assembly. If you really hate replacing fuel pumps on 3rd gens then keep the tank from running low on fuel.

 

Good advice above. The presence of a "pulsator" or "pulsation damper" (accumulator) in the pump discharge line was likely a carry-over from the very early days of electric fuel pumps. some of which were roller pumps (think Bosch CIS-E and other crude systems). The accumulator somehow got cut-and-pasted to later turbine pump systems, where they eventually became a failure item instead of providing any benefit. .

 

I thought the pulsator was for helping to dampen the fuel psi spikes and drops from all the 8 injs opening and closing at the same time.
For the record, i don't use them unless its requested.