So I'm stuck in Jersey, sort of...

My 87 GXL is bucking pretty wildly and finally died when I got it parked tonite. It feels alot like a lack of fuel. I made it 30 miles down the PA turnpike and it started doing it a little. It progressively got worse...

It would run fine for a little bit, then start bucking, then run fine again. Then start bucking. Especially under load.

What do you think? Fuel Pump? Filter? I gotta get this fixed so I can get back home for Xmas.

Also, if I go to an upgraded fuel pump (like a Walboro) do I need to change my pressure regulator or can I just drop that puppy in and go go go?

What is the exact location of the fuel filter? I apologize profusely for all the crap questions, but I'm not at my place, otherwise I'd go figure it out myself. Of course, this crap has to happen the day before my birthday and 2 days before Xmas...

 

You don't need to change your regulator. A cheap alternative to a fuel pump is buy the Bosch pump that's to a Supra TT...It'll drop right in, and you can get them from Autozone, Pepboys, Advance...etc. Any fuel pump for the TT or FD will drop in, as long as it's a drop in for them. The fuel filter is on the driver side frame rail. In a crappy location, but that's where it is. Hope this helps.

 

Does that sound like the problem? If a fuel pump is about to go, can it work sometimes and stall out and work some more? Or should I be primarily worried about my filter?

I don't wanna go dropping tons of money into the wrong things...

 

I'd do both. If you've never changed your fuel filter then I would go with that first. My first TII (i've owned several) never had it done by the previous owner. After changing it, it started quicker and idled better. that thing was completely nasty. BTW check ALL your fuses and connections.

 

Ok, did the fuel filter and that did me no good. Have the fuel pump but reluctant to put it in...

Has anyone had a similar problem where the fuel pump was going bad and would work good for a while, then start to die out.

It was alot like I was hitting a brick wall alot of times fast... As so...

<30 miles>vrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrroooommmmm <half a mile>bri brick brickity brick brick <2 miles>vrrrrrrroommm <1 mile>bri brickity brick

Now most of it was going up hill, seems to idle ok, tho it will get erratic at the time the bricks are comin if I put the clutch in and let it drop. I made a 120 mile drive back home today with this happing intermittenly the entire time.


Also... I noted that my shifter got extremely hot on the way back. Now my other 7 did that occasionally too, but this seemed awfully hot. Is this normal?

Do I go with the fuel pump or look to a different problem?

 

Hell your shifter could've gotten hot from your exhaust from running lean. Changing the fuel pump is no problem. Its just a cover for the fuel pump some hose clamps and 2 wires.

Check your wireing harness also. Last time my car did that I had a wire on the harness grounding out against the chassy. It also did that with my old pump when I would corner real hard. Dropped in the walbro and it hasn't done it since.

How much gas do you have in your tank or does it do it regardless of how much gas you have in your tank?

 

reset your ecu see if that helps.

 

I had asked this earlier this week and the response I got was NOT to get an upgraded fuel pump for an NA. not even an FD one, it'll just cause more problems you don't want to mess with. and you will need a pressure regulator. Get a stock pump.

 

Second that. You'll have problems with flooding and running very rich unless your N/A has been supremely modified. In which case you wouldn't have been running a stock pump to begin with.

 

Woops sorry all I meant was to throw in a new fuel pump.

I shoul've just said I put in a new fuel pump and it went away.

 

Yea, it did it reguardless of how much gas was in the tank. Looks like the pump is the Xmas day project. I was only reluctant to put it in because I didn't wanna throw a $120 dollar part into the car if that wasn't the problem... I wanted to be able to take it back lol...

Thanks for the help everyone.. guess I'll know by tomorrow..
Merry Xmas!

 

When the pump heats up they can go weak and starve for fuel like what is happening. Eaither it is the FPR stuck open, a dieing pump, or electrical ground issue with the ECU.

In your situation I would be throwing parts at it left and right to get me home. And I would not give a rats *** about what pump it was if it gets me home. If you go like TII FD SUPRA WALBORO you will need a FPR after you get home or sell or trade it to a member for a stock NA Pump when you get home.

 

stock pump flows fine....unless you're really modded. So i say scratch the walbro idea, if it's a high flow one. check the fuse on the drivers side strut mount, make sure everything there is grounded properly. All the fuses there share one ground I believe. Also behind the drivers side headlight is the fuel pump voltage regulator. Metal box that is bolted to the car. make sure you're connections are up to par. It wouldn't be a bad idea to clean them.

 

^ You obviously dont know so why are you sending him on a goose chase with his car? There is no voltage relay on non turbo RX7s.

 

If you wanna test your fuel system check out the 1/4 times and Dyno section of the 2nd gen section, where argh started a thread about 172rwhp... I made a decent "write up" of checking the fuel system...

Good Luck man!
Merry Christmas!

James

 

Ok, so I installed the new fuel pump. I'm having the same problems...


What are my options as far as the FPR goes? The FPR is open when at idle and then closes when under acceleration?

If I force it closed/remove the vacuum tube, can I run like that for a little bit without doing any serious damage to injectors and crap? Will this stop the stalling under acceleration/normal driving (65mph on highway)?


I don't have a fuel pressure guage and the only one available near me needs to be on the line. It doesn't have a way for me to Y it into the FPR.