I have read alot of the posts here and tried to search but I am still comming up short. I need help.

ok... the other day I put the new OPTI and water pump on, afterwards the car started great and ran like a top.. then after I turned the car off it wouldn't restart! Hmmm I checked and rechecked all the work I had done and everything was right.

I decided to put on the Fuel pressure gauge just to see what it said.. it was at 0 psi.. Hmmm I was upset and said screw it for that day..

I went out the next day and turned the key on at the fuel pressure gauge went to 40 psi then I turned her over and she ran great! the Fuel pressure stays right at about 37psi.. I thought great, it ain't the pump The car ran fine and I even went for a drive, everything was fine.. I got back tot he garage and shut the car off and the gauge went to 0psi in no time.. try to restart.. nothing! Car will not start.. Grrrr this has went on atlest 3-4 times after the car sits for a day or many hours it will have 20-40PSi when I turn the key on when it hasn't been started for a long time but after it has been started it looses all pressure when I turn the car off. I have checked the fuses, relays, New fuel filter and everything is ok.
I have also tried to get the pump to run from the fuel pump prime connector by the PCM and I cant hear the pump running..( I think I did it right, 12+ to the connector and no sound key on and off, same thing)

So at this point it is lookin like I need to try the FP regulator, I have pulled off the Vac hose from the reg and I can smell fuel but not see any wetness.

I am about to my wits end here.. I dont want to pull that tank down till I am 150% sure that it is the pump or in the tank problems.

Sorry it is long.. I need some help..

PS I have been on shbox.com it is a ton of help!

 

Have you checked the wiring harness and connector where it goes over the axle?

 

Might need to eventually check out the f/p relay, too. On a 1997, the prime wire runs through the unoperated contacts in the relay.

 

Thanks everyone..

When I got home from work today I started the car, when the key was turned to "on" the gauge went right to 40psi, then I started her and she ran and ran and ran all the time saying 40psi. I pulled the vac line off the FPR many times and the pressure went up about 5 psi each time. The car was a full temp, never stalled, nada.. then I turned off the car then it would not start again same ole..

I replaced the filter (again) and it didnt help.. I need to find a relay, all the local places dont have them. I looked online and they are like 60$ (seems high for a relay)

Next I will try to run a jumper wire to the fuel pump power lead that is back by the tank (by the axle) if that works it is the relay. I also bought a new FPR today but haven't put it on yet, I will try one thing at a time and try to narrow this down.

So let me get this straight again.. if I put 12+ to the red wire up by the PCM the pump should run no matter what? or does the relay need to be ok for that to work? Also the key on or off? and I dont need to do anything else when I do this? I have tried may many times and I cant hear the pump doing this. just making sure I am doing it right.

Thanks again, feel free to correct me on anything

 

Any time you jumper 12v to the prime connector, the pump should run. Key does not need to be on.
As I said before, your prime connector lead goes through the relay contacts that are closed when the relay is not operated. So, if those contacts were bad, there would not be any continuity to the wire to the pump.
You could easily test these wires when the trouble is present to narrow down where your trouble is. All you have to do is find out where the 12v is stopping. Of course, it could be the pump.

 

Update!

I must be the relay, I get power at the wire that comes in to the relay from the pcm for a bout 3 secs like I should when I turn the key on, then I checked the gray wire at the over the axle connector and when the key is turned on or anytime for that matter it get no volts at all.. So in theory it is the relay right>?

 

Well new relay is in and it works, I can atlast power the pump from the red wire by the PCM, but the car will not stay running.. it powers up to 44psi when I do it manually but as soon as I start the car the psi starts dropping.. Could this be the FPR or maybe a leaky injector? I am going to go mess with it more now and see what I can find out.