Ok was just driving my camaro and it died (kinda like shutting ignition off) Car never hesitated and no check engine light nor are there any codes stored. This is a 3.8 BTW .....

After towed home and in driveway the car started right up again but could tell it wasn't running right and then about a minute later it just died.

Hooked fuel pressure gauge to it (with a known 1/2 tank of gas) and KOEO (priming first few seconds of key on) the car built no pressure. Cranking motor over still no pressure.

about 15-20 minutes later ... KOEO primed to 20psi cranking jumped to around 40psi. Started car ran for a few minutes and died again. But prior to dying pressure reading were fluctuating and dropping between 25psi and 40psi never steady. Then when it died no fuel pressure registered at all.

15-20 minutes later started again but before car died shut it off and it held 40psi for about 20 minutes with ease. Restarted and again it died.

Guys ... is this the fuel pump going bad or what? I know it is original to the car since I am the original owner of this 1997.

I know I am going to get flamed hard for this but please if you have picture of a fuel pump access door/plate and how to remove this pump and not cut the lines please post pictures I have to have this car running today. Or do the fuel lines at the sending unit have to be cut???????

Please don't add negative comments about the door/plate .... I need this car badly today so the correct way just isn't possible under these circumstances !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I just started the car and it fired right up and fuel pressure was at 40psi and fluctuating a bit. Then about 3-5minutes later it dropped to about 25psi and the engine stumbled until fuel pressure was gone and then it died and would not restart.

Could this be a bad fuel pump relay causing this? Or is it more likely the fuel pump itself or maybe even the fuel filter?

Is there a wire on the relay I can just run a jumper to the fuesbox just to see if the relay is shorting out and not sending power to the fuel pump?

 

Ok, so I took a jumper wire from the orange wire on the fuel pump relay to the grey wire which the grey wire is supposed to be the feed wire to the fuel pump and I got no fuel pressure either. Seems like after the car sits awhile it then gets fuel pressure but only for a very short time.

the fuel pump is dead huh?

 

thats what it sounds like, the lead to test it with 12 should be putting out consistent psi. Have you tried to change the fuel filter first? either way change it as you will want to even if you change the fuel pump. Oh and save your time and money buy doing the trapdoor method! took me about 3 hours of work total meticulously working from online instructions. good luck

 

I'm hoping this wire is in the same location for a V6. You should be able to test the pump from this jumper.

 

I unplugged the fuel pump relay and ran a jumper wire from my fuse box to the grey wire on the fuel pump relays pigtail. I have power on the grey wire at the fuel pump itself but do not hear the pump running. So I guess it bit the dust.

One question ... how do you remove the pump from that plastic housing???????

 

hahaha yeah I did the tin snips and trap door and really like those quik disconnect fittings on the main fuel lines. That made it a breeze to get the pump assembly out of the car. Hell with dropping the fuel tank !!!!!!!

 

I just replaced the whole assy, but I seen you carfully pry off the housing and use glue and a soldering iron to get it back together, If I can find the write up I will post it for you.

 

I just ordered the complete pump assembly enclosed in that plastic housing and fuel filter for 197.00 .... I'm not worried about sealing the hole at this point, I just want this thing running again.

 

I did look in the tank and it has at least a 1/2 a tank of gas in it so and when I move the float with key on the gauge moves right away so it's not a grounding issue with the pump. The pump had fuel in it though because a lot came out from the hoses.

 

Well I got the pump, filter, flat piece of sheet metal, rivets and white paint.

Thanks everyone for not coming in with your hack/butcher comments. This car had to be running again today out of necessity. Had it not and I not so limited in time to do the job of course it would have had the tank removed.

 

Seems to run really nice again, idles a lot better then it has in months as well. I will be adding a few pics later after I am done.

total cost was 235.00

 

I let it idle for about 45 minutes and fuel pressure stayed at around 43psi, after shutdown it maintained 40psi for an easy 20 minutes. Then when key turned to run it primed to about 48psi and then dropped to 42 psi till started. Idles really nice now and exhaust sound changed as well to. Throttle response is a lot crispier now as well.

Purist sorry but the hole was absolutely necessary. I repainted the doubler white though so it matches my floor and now if the pump ever goes it will be a 30 minute change easily.

 

I'm not sure why you feel everyone is going to get bent out of shape because you cut a hole in your car. We have the procedure for this "stickied" at the top of the forum listing. You seem to be the only one making a big deal out of it.

 

way to kick your cars butt... your car 0 you 1