fuel pump problem??

[280z]

yesterday my car lost power as it would when you run out of gas. i unplugged the fuel hose from the fuel filter and nothing came out when i tried to start the car. then i unplugged the hose before the fuel filter thinking that maybe the filter was clogged. still nothing. im convinced its the fuel pump but i was told it could be a problem with the relay or some electric problem. how can i test this?

[ChrisA]

If you can isolate the power wires going directly to the pump. Disconnect it and insert a 12 volt test bulb in its place. Turn on the key and see if the bulb lights. If it does then you know its the pump. If it doesnt light then you know you have electrical issues.

Much luck,

Chris

[280z]

If you can isolate the power wires going directly to the pump. Disconnect it and insert a 12 volt test bulb in its place. Turn on the key and see if the bulb lights. If it does then you know its the pump. If it doesnt light then you know you have electrical issues.

Much luck,

Chris

thanks chris, i tried something like that and discovered that it is an electric problem. i was told that its often the relay that goes bad. where is that located on the car?

[sblake01]

If you have an FSM, follow the test procedure outlined in it for the fuel pump circuit. There are a few things that can cause the fuel pump not to work. I haven't ever had a fuel pump realay go bad on either car. Not saying that it couldn't but it gets expensive when you start throwing parts at an electrical problem.

[webdawg1]

While you're at it (troubleshooting your fuel problem) you may/might want to look at the little screen filter on the fuel pump inlet itself. I'm not saying that's your problem as it sounds like it will be electrical in nature, but the last couple of fuel pump inlet filters I've looked at where about 75-80% filled up with tank trash. Just a thought...

webdawg1

[280z]

ok so i figured it out... it was the fuel pump but im still a little confused. i spent my saturday under my car in the movie theater parking lot changing the fuel pump and i didnt have anyone to help me so i couldnt test it with a bulb or anything since there was no one there to turn the ignition key. so after being soaked in gasoline, i got the new part installed and tried to start it up. "F***" sais marc after trying repeatedly. it wouldnt start so i decided it was an electric problem. i then realized that the fuel hose was bent in a way that the pump couldnt suck any fuel. i noticed this before i changed the pump but i figured it was ok since it had always been like that and worked fine. i had to cut the hose short so the fuel could flow more smoothly and voila, she started up and i drove her home!

i tested the old one with a 12 volt battery and the motor ran so i thought the problem was only with the fuel hose. i put the old one back on... didnt work! im guessing that the old one was working extra hard to suck the fuel through that bent hose and finally wore out, now not sucking with enough pressure i suppose...

how do the stock fuel hoses look? are they made in an "L" shape? the one i have on my car doesnt really seem to make sense.