fuel pump is a Walbro 255 with Hotwire kit
Fuel pressure when primed with key on: 30 psi
Fuel pressure when primed with jumper under the hood: 40 psi
shouldn’t these read the same?
pressure bleeds down 10 psi fast then slowly to 0 psi.
i have the fuel rail pulled up with the injectors intact to check for leaks.
i have checked the FPR (stock) vacuum line for fuel and there is none.
any help is appreciated

 

I assume the Hot Wire kit uses it's own relay. But does the “prime” connector still run power through the stock relay/wiring?

With a totally stock system, this would be the response:

While the under hood “prime” connector bypasses the fuel enable signal, in 96/97 models it passes through a normally closed switch in the fuel pump relay.

When the PCM provides 12 V to activate the pump using the relay, the bypass circuit switch in the relay opens, and the relay closes the circuit from the PCM to the relay to the pump. Possibly a problem w/ voltage loss through the fuel pump relay, or the wiring from the PCM to the relay.

 

You nailed it Fred. There is a plug and play connector with a relay that Y’s into the fuel pump connector, mounts next to the fuel and brake lines, then has a 12 gauge wire that connects to the back of the alternator.