Coming home Friday night, engine just suddenly died. Pulled over, car would crank, but not fire. Assumed opti got wet, as I just took it through a car wash about 10 mins prior (no sputtering/popping/surging/whatever while in the car wash or after until it died, also had the fans manually switched off). Let it sit about 10 mins, and tried starting it again. This time it fired, but sounded like it was running on only 4 cylinders, and idled about 250rpm. Giving it any gas caused it to die. Was able to repeat a few times. Eventually it wouldn't fire at all.

I assumed that the fuel pump died, as I've had the low RPM hesitation for a while now, and it seemed to be a bit low on power. Had it towed home, let it sit overnight, tried starting Saturday morning - same result. Cranks and cranks, might barely catch for a split second, but nowhere near running. Also noticed the fuel pump cycled on only the first key-on. Let it sit all day, and night, tried again this morning. Figured I'd call Racetronix tomorrow morning anyways, but just for S&G, I jumpered the pump with the underhood connector, heard the pump turn on and run, and the car started, although it was idling around 450/500RPM, occasionally surging to 750 and back down, back firing any time I'd give it gas, and smells like it's running rich as hell.

Engine has approx 108K on it, opti is about 8 months old (although I really don't think it's opti related), recently replaced plugs with TR55 (no problems since). I'm going to order a fuel pressure gauge tomorrow, as I know that's one of the first things that will be asked

 

Check your relay to the left of the clutch pedal. Make sure it's clicking.

Trace the wires from the fuel pump to the relay to make sure they're in good working condition.

If you pull the plastic panel next to the drivers seat, there is a loom of wires. The purple wire is the power for the pump on my 97, not sure if yours is the same.

 

btw, which opti did you put in? OEM, autozone, aftermarket?

People are quick to blame the opti for everything, but it's really really easy to test. As is the coil and ICM.

 

It's a Delco opti. Like I said, I really don't think it's the opti. I'm thinking perhaps bad pump relay, which I'm going to pick up a replacement for in about an hour.

 

Why not test it first? It could be fine...

 

Because they're cheap, and it wouldn't hurt to have a spare on hand anyways.

 

put that $20 in the tank. You just need to make sure you hear a click. If it clicks, it's most likely not the cause of the problem.

 

Turns out it was in fact the fuel pump relay. I went to pull it out of the connector, and as soon as I grabbed it, the relay started pissing all over my hand. It was a nasty dark brown liquid that reeked of burnt electronics, and looked like chewing tobacco spit. Sprayed the connector down with electronics cleaner, popped in the new relay, and the car fired right up. Seems like it's running a bit off still (low idle, bit low on power), but I'll make a new thread for that after I get my laptop working and can get a data log going.