FML... Went to start my car up for school this morning and no start.

[jahnaboi]

Definitely fuel related. Usually when I start up my car, my fuel rail is primed before ignition, but I didn't hear anything this morning. Sprayed starter fluid, and it started right up. Shit cost me an absentee for my Physiology class.

Possible fixes from what I can see:

- Faulty pump / filter
- Bad connection/power lines to fuel pump
- Faulty injectors (highly doubt it)

Bare in mind, car ran great before I parked it in my garage 2 days ago. I did nothing to it to make anything change. Just drive and park, drive and park.

If it is the pump, can you say Walbro 255? =)

[jahnaboi]

Well to eliminate everything, I went and checked the fuel pump. I'm getting power to the pump while in ignition but there is no hum or buzz from the pump. Dead pump? I think so. Will power it directly, be back shortly. (Even though I'm talking to myself on this thread. Haha)

[FredK]

That happened to me before. Parked, went inside a place, came back out, no-start. It was a bad connector.

[jahnaboi]

That happened to me before. Parked, went inside a place, came back out, no-start. It was a bad connector.

I wish it was a bad connector. The connector was in perfect shape till I broke the old crummy hardened plastic housing. I used a voltmeter to check if the fuel pump was getting power when cranking the motor (ignition). I got 11.68 volts while cranking from the power connector that connects to the fuel pump but nothing was happening at the fuel pump. Even jumped direct power to the pump itself and still nothing happening.

I'm safe to say its my fuel pump. Sigh...

[FredK]

Did you try pounding on top of the fuel pump? Sometimes this gets them to run long enough to get a replacement.

[MR 325]

^ This. Also can slam on the bottom of the tank with a rubber mallet.

[lifeiskaos]

LOL. I love this advice. If something doesn't work, hit it harder until it does :D

<3 e30 owners

[FredK]

Well, sometimes it becomes a matter of survival. For example, my fuel pump connector was flaky, but pounding on it allowed me to drive right on home until I could figure out what was really wrong. I don't recommend it as a long-term solution, of course. :D

[jahnaboi]

Lol... If anyone has a new walbro 255 on hand for sale let me know... I'll try hitting the bitch.

On hand meaning I could drive to pick it up locally. =)

[JGood]

You can try to reverse the polarity to get a pump going again too. Reverse it, give it power, tap it, reverse it again, power, tap it, etc...

I've had luck getting a few more miles out of pumps by doing the above procedure. Dirt seems to get built up within the motor/propeller, and this might dislodge it. It may be just enough to get the car to a place where you can safely work on it or whatever.

If it's just the brushes, tapping on it may do the trick for a few miles as well, like others have mentioned.

[FredK]

Stop lying JGood. You know you're still using that pump after cleaning it out with some kerosene.

jk

[jahnaboi]

You can try to reverse the polarity to get a pump going again too. Reverse it, give it power, tap it, reverse it again, power, tap it, etc...

I've had luck getting a few more miles out of pumps by doing the above procedure. Dirt seems to get built up within the motor/propeller, and this might dislodge it. It may be just enough to get the car to a place where you can safely work on it or whatever.

If it's just the brushes, tapping on it may do the trick for a few miles as well, like others have mentioned.

I took the pump out, reversed it till there was no more fuel within the pump and slapped it back in and it actually worked. Interesting...

[jrdeamicis]

Good to know.

[JGood]

Stop lying JGood. You know you're still using that pump after cleaning it out with some kerosene.

jk

Dude, I wish. I've been through 4 pumps in my track car in 2 years. Every track event it seems like, the damn thing dies. Luckily the early model cars still run with a dead in-tank pump, just don't do so great pulling out of sweeping right hand turns

[JGood]

I took the pump out, reversed it till there was no more fuel within the pump and slapped it back in and it actually worked. Interesting...

Cool. Don't run it dry for too long, your gas is the pumps cooling system.