So, I replaced the fuel filter and used compressed air from all the way at the carbeurator and guess what? Fuel bubbled out from under my gas cap and spilled on the side of my car... so, I've come to the conclusion that I need a new fuel pump... and a new gas cap.

I really don't know how I'd do the electric pump thing, and the OEM pump is like, $115. Any suggestions from you veterans?

 

Why did that make you think you need a new pump?

 

Because, even after many attempts to try and turn the car over after refilling the tank with 3 gallons and trying to turn it over, still no gas was being sent to the carb.

 

The problem is that the fuel pump cut relay is not allowing the pump to bstay on long enough to prime the line and get furel up to the carb.

Try turning the ignition on and off, but not actually engaging the starter. You will hear a brief hum, or buzz, and this is your fuel pump.

You may have to do this many times before the fuel actually reaches the carburetor.
Remember- you have to fill up the return line, also.
You'll get fuel to the carb first, but the system won't be up to proper pressure until the return line is filled with fuel as well.

I would also keep checking your fuel filter.
Blowing air thru the line lifted alot of sediment in your fuel tank. It could be clogging your filter or even clogging the inlet from the tank.


Using compressed air for this is never a good idea because of the reason I just mentioned, but also as you are introducing massive amounts of air thru the fuel in the tank, effectively aerating it, you create a serious explosion hazard.

 

Hold on a minute. What year is the car? Its different for different years. Some work in the ign on position, some dont.

 

It's a 1983...

 

if $$ is an issue you can make your own rubber seal for the gas cap outa plumbing gasket material. $1.50 at ace hardware.

as for the fuel pump, you can just run the positive wire from the pump all the way to the + battery terminal and hear her humm and pump.

if the gas tank hasn't been dropped and resealed by now it's probablly due.

 

Okay, apparently I'm an idiot or something...

The "pump" that I'm looking at does NOT have any wires running to it, nor does it seem like it would. It's shaped kind of round and is located directly in front of the fuel tank on the left-hand side. It has three hoses running out of it, one on a side labeled "F", one on a side completely opposite to the other labeled "C", then one popping out the side that is cut on the end and just slides into a little hole in a cover on the side of the chassis. Please, tell me that's the fuel pump? I've been thinking for a while about how it would work without electricity, but even after examining it, it appeared to have a diaphram on the top and a ball inside which in my mind WOULD work as a pump... but, like I said, maybe I'm an idiot.

I NEED MY DAMNED HAYNES MANUAL!!! Salvo autoparts said that they'd order for me over a week ago and STILL haven't gotten it in!!!

 

As stated above, your fuel pump won't pump fuel unless: 1 the car is starting, or 2, the car is running. So, as you can imagine, if you're trying to start the car that's been ran out of gas it takes a lot of cranking before it gets enough gas through the system.
What you're looking at is not the fuel pump, it's some kind of check valve for the charcoal canister, I believe. The fuel pump is mounted on top of a cover plate near that same area. You'll have to remove the bolts and lower it down. The wires that run the pump go back up into the car and can be seen if you remove the driver's side "cubby hole", incase you want to try running a direct hotwire to it.
Running compressed air through the lines is a good idea, I think, but not when you leave everything connected...

 

Nope, thats not the fuel pump, and no your not an idiot.

The Mazda factory shop manual is online and free for viewing/download. Look in the FAQ thread for the link. The fuel pump is located on the left side of the floorpan, mounted inside a shroud. On the outside of the shroud is the fuel filter.

 

dude.... you loose.

The fuel pump is protected by a scratch plate held on by 3 bolts. it sits infront of the axel towards the drivers side.

I think you can get a manual on amazon. and there delivery is usually really fast. like 3-5days. good luck.


DAHH!!! CARL!!! you stole my response!

 

I thought it was 2 8mm bolts for the scratch plate....
heh

 

Good call.

 

As stated before - Here is a FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL.

http://www.wankel.net/~krwright/cars/rx7/85_manual.html

 

...and here's the fuel pump you need to get...



How could I resist? And the '83 has no fuel kill relay, that starts in '84...

 

So, I just wasted 3 hours replacing the pump. Installed everything correctly and then went to trying to start it.

5 gallons of gas inside, clear lines, new filter.

Hooked up jumpers because my battery died last time from cranking it so much, and yeah, ignition to the ON position and I hear the pump whirring. YAY! But, then it started to bog down, so I figured gas was moving. After about 45 minutes of trying to start, I realize that I haven't heard the pump in a while. Guess what? Pump doesn't make noise anymore.

Am I f***ed or is it just me? Any suggestions?

 

What did you replace it with?

Could you have wired it backwards? (That might kill it after a while.)
Perhaps you got **** inside it?
Was it a used pump?

 

jayroc is on it, " not the fuel pump, it's some kind of check valve for the charcoal canister, I believe. The fuel pump is mounted on top of a cover plate near that same area. "if you removed the hoses going to the check valve, you could have put them on backwards, they have to go on correctly to work....also there is a check valve in the return hose by the carb, the arrow needs to point towards the carb ,,,flows one way, may want to check to see if it is clogged as well...

 

Just a guess but i have a feeling ur fuel filter might be clogged real bad and that might have killed your fuel pump.....happens all the time cuz people dont change their fuel filters.

 

with all this talk about fuel pumps, i thought i would share what i have found. i have heard mostly negative things about the factory fuel pump and i think mine is going out. i have to bang on it every now and then because it stops working. anyway, the last time i was in the parts shop i asked about fuel pumps and they cost way too much. they did have list of other fuel pumps and i found a high performance holley fuel pump for about $40 less than stock. it looks like it would mount right up in the same place. if you do end up replacing the fuel pump, i think this would be a better option. it would also be better if you want to upgrade the carb. in the future.

 

Check your fuses first. I've had bad experience replacing things when all that happened was a blown fuse. Makes you feel dumb when you figure stuff out like that.

-Marques

 

ok, just my thoughts flame me if you like. The 81 and up fuel pumps will not operate full time unless the engine is running. Has to do with the wiring involving the trailing ignitor. Now to over come this you need your engine running to get the fuel pump to prime the float bowls in the carb to get things flowing. Get a friend with a small amount of gas and pour directly into the carb. You can also pour a little in, start it, let it run till it stalls and do over till it stays running. (thats if you have no friends available) This will keep the engine running fuel pump going. Till it can prime the carb itself.

 

At any rate man, I live pretty close to you (I think) and have a "spare" stock fuel pump if you want it. I took it off and replaced it with a holley pump, but it still worked fine. PM me if your intrested--the price?? Just meet me somewhere close to me and it's yours-- after we get plowed out from this snow.

 

It starts in 1984...I never had a problem with that feature until I got an '84...the '83 I have now, the 2 '80's before it and the 3 '79's before that would run the fuel pump all day w/o ever trying to turn the engine (not motor... ) over. Yet another reason why the Nikki has a fuel return line.