Need Help Trouble Shooting Fuel issue

[e30pq]

Last week I took a short ride in my car (less than 5 miles round trip).

As I turned around and headed back to my house the engine died. I didn't think anything of it, restarted it and proceed up to the next street light. When the light changed i started off and the car started running rough and died.

It was acting like it was running out of fuel. My gauge read more than 1/4 tank.

I restarted the car and drove it another 1/2 mile when it died and wouldn't restart.

I came back and added a gallon of gas. Turned the ignition on and off about 4 or 5 times to build up fuel pressure and the car started. I drove it home but it ran a little rough for about a mile.

I tried the pedal trick and I got code 1282. I haven't unplugged my battery for 15 minutes to see if it comes back.

I drove the car to the corner gas station the next day (thinking my gas gauge must be broken) and the car took 8 gallons to fill. That ruled out the gas gauge being broken.

I installed a new fuel pump about 8 years ago. I've had the S50 in the car for about 3 or 4 years.

Any ideas?

TIA

Paul Q

[travis816]

loose line...mabe loosing pressure?

[e30pq]

It could be a bad fuel pump.

I plan on autocrossing on Sunday. If something is going to give out that should do it.

Any other input would be appreciated.

[m3boost]

Had the same problem and happened to be my fuel pump relay....Put a jumper wire between socket #30 and I believe #87....and try it..

[e30pq]

Had the same problem and happened to be my fuel pump relay....Put a jumper wire between socket #30 and I believe #87....and try it..

What result should I get when I add the jumper wire?

[m3boost]

What result should I get when I add the jumper wire?

with the ignition on 2nd position, you should hear the fuel pump come on...

[travis816]

well you should also hear the relay click when you turn it over.

[FredK]

I ran into a similar problem a few weeks ago. I was leaving a bar at around midnight on a Saturday and I turned the key, and had no fuel. I was listening for the 2 second buzz right as you turn the ignition to the ON position. No buzz, so I checked the fuse.

MikeK was riding shotgun, and he thought it might be a dead fuel pump. So, we took up the back seat, opened the fuel pump access hatch, and pounded on the fuel pump. The car roared to life and I was able to get home. On subsequent short drives, the car would stall and act as if it were running out of fuel, seemingly at random, but mostly when coming to a stop or while idling.

I ordered a new fuel pump the following Monday. When I looked at the fuel pump wiring, I noticed that someone had (poorly) crimped on a replacement connector. I pulled the wires right out of the crimp. I recrimped the wires and installed the new pump on Tuesday. The connection quality was still bad. During operation, I could wiggle the connector and the fuel pump would cut out. I went to the junkyard and got a connector in better condition, and properly terminated it with solder and heatshrink. The problem has been solved for now.

[e30pq]

So are you saying it was a bad pump or it was your wiring?

I ran into a similar problem a few weeks ago. I was leaving a bar at around midnight on a Saturday and I turned the key, and had no fuel. I was listening for the 2 second buzz right as you turn the ignition to the ON position. No buzz, so I checked the fuse.

MikeK was riding shotgun, and he thought it might be a dead fuel pump. So, we took up the back seat, opened the fuel pump access hatch, and pounded on the fuel pump. The car roared to life and I was able to get home. On subsequent short drives, the car would stall and act as if it were running out of fuel, seemingly at random, but mostly when coming to a stop or while idling.

I ordered a new fuel pump the following Monday. When I looked at the fuel pump wiring, I noticed that someone had (poorly) crimped on a replacement connector. I pulled the wires right out of the crimp. I recrimped the wires and installed the new pump on Tuesday. The connection quality was still bad. During operation, I could wiggle the connector and the fuel pump would cut out. I went to the junkyard and got a connector in better condition, and properly terminated it with solder and heatshrink. The problem has been solved for now.

[Spaz]

So are you saying it was a bad pump or it was your wiring?

I read that as it was bad wiring.

-Cam

[FredK]

Yep. Bad connector / wiring.