WKeene

I've got a clicking sound under my steering column in the dash. This sounds like a failing relay. Sound is audible while driving and tends to go away when I accelerate.

Can someone confirm what this is?

Also, more importantly, it appears that while this clicking sound is present, I'm not getting gas to the engine...car acts as if the throttle is inoperative and stalls. I tap the accelerator and eventually get it going.

Both problems started occurring at the same time...I think they're related.

Can someone help explain to me whats going on? What's the recommended fix?

Thanks

HAILERS

CIRCUIT OPENING RELAY




When driving, a ground from the AFM keeps the relay engaged and fuel flowing. A open circuit at the afm will cause the relay to relax and wallla....no fuel.

Try jumpering the fuel check connector on or near the front of the right strut tower. Its a two socket plug, yellow in color, maybe surrounded by a rubber boot. Just floats around, not tied down. Don't jumper anything else. Just jumper and go for a ride and see if the clicking stops.

WKeene

Hailers, thanks...
I just want to be sure about the "fuel check connector" ...is this the same thing as the fuel pump jumper.

I've jumpered that before when the engine was off to check my fuel rails for leaks after replacing the fuel hoses. Is this the same jumper?

WKeene

Hailers, you're awesome!

Was pretty confident about that yellow connector in the black boot so I tried that and BINGO,fixed.

However, I wanted to make it fail again, so I pulled the jumper off and the problem stopped repeating. Why doesn't it click anymore?

So, where do I find that AFM ground and how do I improve that connection? Is this a potential cold solder joint at the relay, or a wire replacement or tightening a connector screw....any ideas on what is causing the loose connection or open in the ground???

Does it make sense to replace the Circuit Opening Relay at this point?

Anybody else care to take a stab at this until Hailers comes back on again?

Thanks,
Walter

HAILERS

Inside the AFM, there what I call a micro switch. When the flapper door on the afm moves to open, that switch makes a circuit to the Circuit Opening Relay. It puts a ground on the Circuit Openig Relay and pulls it in.

When you jumper the fuel check plug (I forgot what it's real name is) you are bypassing the AFM and putting a ground on the circuit full time.

So I figure your problem is in the AFM. But most likely you can just pull the plug off the afm, and then just put it back on. Sort of reseating the plug. Just in case you don't know, the AFM plug pulls straight off. No unscrewing anything. Some people have unscrewed the jack on the AFM and lived to regret it. I figure the afm plug has a little corrosion on the pins or was just loose.

SO do that to the afm plug and if the problem does not come back, forget about it. Just carry that jumper in the car just in case.

HAILERS

Here is a schematic of the afm switch and Fuel Pump Circuit Terminal.
1. shows the ground as that black circle...24...

2. shows the Fuel pump circuit terminal represented by two sort of *Y*'s.

3. shows the ground wire entering the afm.

4. show how if the switch was made the ground would exit the afm.

5. shows the ground taking a splice to the circuit opening relay.

6. does not show the Circuit Opening Relay, but that's where the ground signal is a heading, which will in turn pull the circuit opening relay in and turn the fuel pump on.