Fuel Pump Problem
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2
Fuel Pump Problem
Hi. I have a 1995 Firehawk that is having a reoccurring fuel pump problem. I am hoping that as Camaro owners, you may have some insight.
In August 2008, my car was in a body shop for about a month. I picked it up and immediately parked it in my garage for a week while I was on vacation. When I came back, it cranked but would not start. The dealer replaced the fuel pump, which was probably the original one.
It worked fine until June 2009. The fuel pump sounded a little sluggish when the ignition was turned on. It cranked for a few seconds but eventually started. The dealer replaced the fuel pressure regulator but that did not solve the problem. After a few additional trips to the dealer and the excessive cranking blowing the starter, they replaced the fuel pump again.
It worked fine for a month when, without any prior warning, it cranked but would not start. It happened in a parking lot on a busy street so I could not hear if the fuel pump made any noise when the ignition was turned on. The dealer replaced the fuel pump again. They thought that it was a bad lot of fuel pumps. They also replaced the fuel filter just in case that was causing the problem.
It worked fine until mid February 2010 when again, without any prior warning, it cranked but would not start. The fuel pump did not make any noise when the ignition was turned on. I had to wait about two weeks to tow it to the dealer since my old dealer had closed and I was waiting for the new dealer that had opened up to be able to take it. I did not think to try to start it again because I assumed the fuel pump had gone bad again. I did try the morning I went to tow it. It almost started but then it stalled out. I then had it towed.
The new dealer said that the battery needed to be replaced. I did not have any battery trouble before then and it had been out in the cold for the two weeks without being started. However, the old one had been about 6-7 years old so I agreed to replace it.
It started fine after that for a few weeks. However, earlier this week, it did the same thing - no fuel pump noise and just cranking. It had been sitting all day but that is normal. When I tried to start it the following morning, I heard the fuel pump and it started. I drove it straight to the dealer. They said it started every time they tried it for the next few days. They put a gauge on it overnight and said that the fuel pressure did not go down. I picked it up yesterday and just drove it home.
Of course, when I went to start it this morning, it did not start. Same problem.
Has anyone else had this problem or have any suggestions? Thanks!
In August 2008, my car was in a body shop for about a month. I picked it up and immediately parked it in my garage for a week while I was on vacation. When I came back, it cranked but would not start. The dealer replaced the fuel pump, which was probably the original one.
It worked fine until June 2009. The fuel pump sounded a little sluggish when the ignition was turned on. It cranked for a few seconds but eventually started. The dealer replaced the fuel pressure regulator but that did not solve the problem. After a few additional trips to the dealer and the excessive cranking blowing the starter, they replaced the fuel pump again.
It worked fine for a month when, without any prior warning, it cranked but would not start. It happened in a parking lot on a busy street so I could not hear if the fuel pump made any noise when the ignition was turned on. The dealer replaced the fuel pump again. They thought that it was a bad lot of fuel pumps. They also replaced the fuel filter just in case that was causing the problem.
It worked fine until mid February 2010 when again, without any prior warning, it cranked but would not start. The fuel pump did not make any noise when the ignition was turned on. I had to wait about two weeks to tow it to the dealer since my old dealer had closed and I was waiting for the new dealer that had opened up to be able to take it. I did not think to try to start it again because I assumed the fuel pump had gone bad again. I did try the morning I went to tow it. It almost started but then it stalled out. I then had it towed.
The new dealer said that the battery needed to be replaced. I did not have any battery trouble before then and it had been out in the cold for the two weeks without being started. However, the old one had been about 6-7 years old so I agreed to replace it.
It started fine after that for a few weeks. However, earlier this week, it did the same thing - no fuel pump noise and just cranking. It had been sitting all day but that is normal. When I tried to start it the following morning, I heard the fuel pump and it started. I drove it straight to the dealer. They said it started every time they tried it for the next few days. They put a gauge on it overnight and said that the fuel pressure did not go down. I picked it up yesterday and just drove it home.
Of course, when I went to start it this morning, it did not start. Same problem.
Has anyone else had this problem or have any suggestions? Thanks!
Administrator
Joined: Nov 1998
Posts: 71,094
From: Hell was full so they sent me to NJ
Have you checked the fuel pump relay? You can bypass the relay, and the security system/PCM interlocks by applying 12V to the fuel pump prime connector near the PCM:
Courtesy of Shoebox:
http://shbox.com/1/fuel_pump_prime.jpg
PS: Lots of Firebird/Formula/TransAm/Firehawk owners in this site.....
Courtesy of Shoebox:
http://shbox.com/1/fuel_pump_prime.jpg
PS: Lots of Firebird/Formula/TransAm/Firehawk owners in this site.....
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2
I will definitely give the fuel pump relay a shot, thanks.
I tried to start it several times on Saturday and Sunday but there was no fuel pump noise. It looks like the intermittent problem is now permanent. The good news is at least now the dealer should be able to find the problem and fix it. It is frustrating though since it was just there on Friday and now I have to get it towed for the fourth time in less than a year for the same problem. Sigh.
I will try the fuel pump relay myself before I tow it there. Hopefully, that will take care of it.
I tried to start it several times on Saturday and Sunday but there was no fuel pump noise. It looks like the intermittent problem is now permanent. The good news is at least now the dealer should be able to find the problem and fix it. It is frustrating though since it was just there on Friday and now I have to get it towed for the fourth time in less than a year for the same problem. Sigh.
I will try the fuel pump relay myself before I tow it there. Hopefully, that will take care of it.
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