Talixans

Hello everyone, I bought a 1988 rx7 convertible about 3 months ago and it was running perfectly up until a couple days ago. It turned on and then randomly stopped. Waited a little bit tried to start it again and nothing. Started to think it might have flooded somehow so took spark plugs out and realized they were in pretty bade shape and changed them. Tried to start it again, still nothing just cranks. Kept trying to figure out the issue and realized my fuel pump wasn't pumping. Thought it was just fuel pump gone bad so replaced the fuel pump, but its still not pumping any fuel. I got it started on starter fluid and it ran fine so I know the engine is good. Can anyone please help I have a feeling it's something electrical related and that is not my specialty.

Brrraaap

Are you jumping the diagnostic connector to test your pump? If not the pump will only run when the maf is triggered or during cranking j believe

Talixans

I have tried holding the afm open and putting the key to on and fuel pump still doesn't kick on, ive also tried just cranking it and nothing. I dont really understand the whole jumping the diagnostic connector but i have read about that

Brrraaap

It’s a random connector in the engine bay that makes it so your fuel pump turns on whenever the key is on if you connect the two leads in it, I believe it is yellow and on the passenger side. In case the maf is not working or something. Have you tried checking with a voltmeter to see if it’s getting power?

Talixans

yea I know where it is. What do you mean by connect two leads to it? Like take speaker wire or something and put one end in each hole of the connector? Also never used a voltmeter so it's probably a good idea i figure out how to use one of those lol. Like I said electrical stuff is not my forte

Brrraaap

as far as the speaker wire that’s exactly what I mean, there’s plenty of videos online about how to use a multimeter they’re useful tools.
pull up your trunk carpet and remove the drivers side acces panel, there should be a four pin plug and 2 leads should be measured at 12v the other 2 are for the level sender

Talixans

do you know which leads are supposed to measure at 12 volts?

Brrraaap

no I do not, make sure the connector is jumped and the key is on, there’s only so many combinations, someone who really knows might come along with a wire color for you but it’s been a while since I checked mine

Rotary Alkymist

Keep it stupid simple... don't start tearing apart anything just yet.

1. Locate yellow connector on passenger side of the engine. It's the only yellow connector.

2. Take a wire stripped on both and end JUMP the wire meaning, bend it in a "U" shape, plug one end in one terminal and the other end in the 2nd terminal. The orientation is not important.

3.Turn key ON

4. Position yourself close to your tank. You should clearly hear the pump running.

Post results.

Talixans

ok I did this, nothing from the fuel pump. Took it out used a voltmeter on all the wires attached to the fuel pump assembly with the jumper in and key to on, no volts on any wires except 1 but its not the wire going to the actual fuel pump

Talixans

Update: got her running, one of the wires leading to the fuel pump assembly wasnt sending power so rewired it with speaker wire as a temporary fix until I figure out something permanent. Thanks for everyone's help

Rotary Alkymist

Nice, just make sure you don't run it too long. Speaker isn't rated to carry much current so you risk damaging something more expensive than a wire. 10 bucks is 10 bucks and a 100 bucks is a 100 bucks lol.

Glad to hear you got 'er running.

Talixans

very good point, thanks for all the help man. Gonna be looking for a permanent fix now