Hello, i was hoping i can get a few questions answered on the fuel system on this 85 rx i picked up.

The car is not getting fuel and i first need to know if the fuel pump turns on with the key or if it only pumps when the engine is turning over like a mechanical fuel pump does?

I also need to know the flow rating (how much fuel it pushes through) it so i know what one to get if the pump is bad. Also is there a pump in the tank or is it just the one on the side of the body under it?

Thanks!

 

welcome to the board.

for the Gen I cars, the pump will come on with the ignition to ON, but on the S3 cars (1984-85) there is a relay in the circuit. if that goes bad, then the pump won't come on even if it's good. so check that first. you basically unplug the relay and "hotwire" the pump.

get a copy of the FSM.

i honestly never committed the OEM flow rate to memory, but it should be easy enough to find. if you do end up needing to replace the pump, then there are many better options out there and there are quite a few threads in the Gen I forum to help you make a decision.

 

It may be a bad pump. It may also be clogged pickup in the tank. The original in tank strainer has long since disintegrated. It may also be funky lines. Fuel filter? That's a once a year maintenance item, but a dirty tank will clog one every 300 miles.
The answers to your questions are all easily found searching the 1st gen section. I am a big proponent of dropping the tank, cleaning if necessary, putting a new sock on the pickup, and changing all the fuel lines. That's mostly because I bought a fuel pump once that didn't solve the fuel delivery issue I was having. 1985 12a
Good luck!