Well, was on my way to work when My car felt like it was running out of gas. Pulled into gas station as car dies. Gas up...... Try to start and no go. Changed out fuel filter...... Tried starter fluid and it would start to run then die. Did this multiple times and the most I would get is maybe ten seconds running. At one time I was able to rev and in rev it died. No fuel in filter and no sound from pump.... Replace the pump or is there a relay or fuse under hood. Everything under dash is straight..... Or some other suggestion? Fuel pump have a screen that might be clogged? Filter was nasty...

 

Tachometer working?

 

yeah, tach is working. But I did notice something weird. My volts ran up to 16 right before it happened. Don't know if that helps any..... While trying to start the car again, it showed 12 volts. The car would crank and crank but would only start when the starter fluid was used but would not keep running more than 12sec...

 

There is a fuse for the fuel pump, as well as a relay. If the filter was really plugged up, the pump may have gotten clogged with crud as well. Another p[ossibility, the pump could have lost it's prime, and due to old age, doesn't have the ability to pull fuel from the tank.

 

Losing its prime could be a part of the problem. Should I syphen some through. Yum the taste of gas..... Lol. Or replace....

 

I have found that even spraying some carb cleaner into the pump, and quickly hooking the hoses up, can help when they have lost their prime. The stock pump has a check valve in it, and they do not seal well when they are dry, especially when the pump is old.

 

Oh, and if you have access to an air hose, try blowing air into the return line up by the carb. Just make sure the fuel cap is tightened down, and don't over-pressurize the tank.

 

For testing purposes only, you could run a power line directly to the pump to see if it still lives. That's probably where I'd start. If it works on a separate power line, then you'll know where to start looking.

 

If it's the original pump, I'd replace regardless. You'll have to sooner or later and that gives you one less problem to diagnose in the future

 

Just pulled the hosees to the pum and it was not dry. Tried the carb cleaner anyway and still same results. Both wires are still connected to the pump and clean. Looks like it might have already been replaced. Maybe. One of the cleanest things under the car. Where is the relay located at? The fuse is under the dash?

 

What year is the car? It does make a minor difference here.....

 

84

 

Fuel pump relay is under the dash. Do a search for "fuel pump relay trick" and you'll find a thread with that name that gives graphic instructions on how to locate it, and bypass it if needed.

 

Fuse should be in the fuse box under the dash. Could be labeled as engine, or as fuel pump.
Have been able to dertermine if power is getting to the pump? 84-85 has a fuel pump cut relay. Located under the dash, above the gas pedal. This relay gets a signal from the trailing coil, before it turns the pump on. If the trailing ignitor fails, or the relay, the fuel pump will not run. It also will not run, unless the engine is cranking. You can place a jumper wire in the connector, to bypass this. Jump from the Black w/white stripe to the bLue w/white stripe. If this allows the fuel pump to run, check for trailing spark. If the trailing is firing, make a permanent jumper wire.


EDIT: the above post refers to the same relay. Search for that, and bypass the "Evil Relay" shown there.

 

it sounds kind of controversial. Has anybody had any problems with doing this. I have only read opinions no actual faults. Just a quick question. Thanks for the assistance

 

I used a jumper wire while testing the fuel pump on an 85. The car had sat, and the fuel lines were really crudded up inside, so it could not run.
Many people have had to run a perm jumper wire, due to removing the emmissions on an 84-85. That relay is triggered by the emmission control unit, when it gets a signal from the trailing ignitor.
I don't see where it could cause any problems, as you are just bypassing the "Safety Relay", which is simply used to shut off the pump anytime the engine quits running. Prior to the 84 models, the pump would run anytime the key was on, regardless of the engine running or not.

 

emissions have been removed so I am going to have to look under again and check to see if the guy I bought it from hasn't already done it. Looks like I had two black with yellow stripe wires a white with blue wire and I think one more. I will have to double check. Doesn't look like anything was put in as far as a jumper. Everything runs only out of that box I believe