I have the FP gauge but i cant get it on the schrader valve. it is difficult to bend the hose and screw it onto the valve because it is so far under the cowl. AND, when I do get it bent enough it seems like the gauge wont catch the threads on the valve. Tips or tricks? Please don't make fun of me lol!

 

Does the end of the hose have a connector that matches the -4AN Schrader valve? Does it have a pin in the connector that will push down on the "core valve" in the Schrader valve?

The "fuel pressure test gauge" thay I have has a 45-deg bend at the end of the hose, that allow it to be connected easilly to the Schrader valve.

 

I have the actron one from autozone. The fitting is -4AN and has the pin. It is not at a 45 degree angle though. Can I buy an elbow for it and what would the two ends be? I could easily get it on if it was an elbow.

 

If you added an elbow, there would be nothing to push the core pin down. You would have to temporarily remove the core to test the pressure. There's an NOS -4AN 90-deg swivel fitting (#17535) that works well. Its in this picture:

http://members.aol.com/Fredrick518/Photos/bkofint.jpg

You would need a -4AN female to fit on the Schrader, and a -4AN male for the gauge fitting to connect to.

 

Where did you get the gauge with the elbow already on it? I searched a little bit and only found the type that I have.

 

honestly you should be able to go to a hardware and get the parts to make an elbow. Like mentioned above your going to need to let the car sit for a while and let the fuel pressure drop a little, then take out the schrader valve. There is a schrader valve tool, that bike shops sell (maybe even walmart) that you can remove these with. The valve screws out easily.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schrader_valve look at the pics on the right.

After that you need to get your elbow and attach it. Then you will not be fighting your gauge hose.

 

I can't remember.... I bought it when the car was new, to that's about 13 years ago.

The core comes out using a "tire valve core" tool. Any auto parts store will also have them.

You can release the pressure by wrapping a towel around the valve and depressing the core with your finger.

 

Hell, I have one I could probably send you on the real cheap. It's made by accel, and I would only use this as a test gauge as without thread lock it will leak over time, ie: longer than doing a f/p test. If you wanted it new, I believe it ran about 40 bucks, give or take $5.

 

I bought a cheeepo chinese fuel pressure gauge from Harbor Freight tools for, like 15 bucks or so, and it has several hoses and connectors. Put the one that looked like it right on and it worked like a champ. Removed the vacuum hose, and adjusted to 43.5#. Rev'd it a few times, it moved a teensy bit. Turned off the engine. Put the vacuum hose back on, removed the fuel pressure gauge. Done.

 

UPDATE for future searchers: You don't need to get the elbow for the schrader valve. You can get it on by pushing the engine harness behind the fuel regulator and then bringing the gauge under the cowl from the driver side. The valve is slightly tilted to the drivers side as well. From the passenger side you have a direct line of sight to get the gauge on the valve. Since the valve is on an angle, it creates less of an angle that the fuel pressure gauge has to accomodate for.

Thanks for all the replies guys.