Fuel Pressure regulator...(plug/wire swap part II)

[SHOfun 93]

Okay,
Tonight I went out to the car, and piggybacked it with the 92 to recharge the battery, and cranked the car over and over still to no avail. I checked the fuel pressure both during and after cranking at it was a big fat ZERO!!! rant I went under the car and told my g/f to turn the ignition to "acc" and listened to the fuel pump and she primed herself with out a gurgle or a sputter.
I guess my question is this. When I had the stock fuel pump, she was the ever awesome 65 lph. When I put in the 190 lph pump, could that have taxed on the Fuel Pressure Regulator to the point that it won't allow fuel to go to the rails? When they fail, do they not allow any fuel to go by them and into the rails?

Also, precisely where is the FPR? How difficult is it to swap? Is this something that I hopefully can do myself in an evening? Thanks for all the feedback guys, and if anyone has thoughts, please chime in quick....I have the Lone Star meet in 5 days...tick...tick..tick... headbang

 

[projectSHO89]

The fuel pressure regulator will not stop fue from reaching the rails.

It is on the outlet of the rail and performs much like a dam at the end of a long river navigation channel. It holds pressure/volume in the rail and only releases it when it is above a certain amount (static pressure is 39 PSI).

The FPR is located on the fuel rail, just inside the intake at the DIS, and has a vacuum line attached. The inlet to the rails is the pulse dampener which sits right next to it.

You can disconnect the quick-disconnect lines and test for fuel flow at the connector to the inlet. Just be advised that a LOT of fuel can spray very quickly if you do not take appropriate precautions.

Steve

 

[SHOfun 93]

Okay....could the fuel pump be bad then even though it sounds like it is priming like a champ? Heck the fuel filter is brand new as well. I guess I can double check both of those.. Or could I have blocked off a vacuum line or fuel line when I reinstalled the intake?

Also, is there a line to disconnect to see if I am getting fuel at all???? I already bought a FPR from Autozone custom order...Looks like I need a fuel pump now...

<small>[ June 08, 2003, 09:43 PM: Message edited by: SHOfun 93 ]</small>

 

[luigisho]

Make sure you know what the malfunction is before you change the parts again. I would check the fuel filter, and the fuel flow from the pump at the tank lines. In fact, is it possible to install the pump backwards?

 

[masho95]

Yes it is possible to install the fuel pump backwards, that's why it's very important to make the fuel inlet and outlet lines when you disconnect them. When I just did my 190lph pump I forgot to mark mine and had to figure out what was what before I put everything back together.

 

[SHOfun 93]

Okay guys, I am going to disconnect the lines to the fuel filter and then prime the pump to make sure that I have fuel flow, double check the connections to the filter to make sure that they are correct, and if everything is good there, I guess I need to investigate up to the motor to see if anything is blocked up there...sound about right? shrug

 

[luigisho]

Sounds good. Has this car run normally since the pump swap?

 

[SHOfun 93]

Well I have had harder starts and longer crank times since the swap, and the fuel pump was purchased used from a friend for like $20. I think the fuel line check valve is bad, or something like that. Like I said, the fuel pump SOUNDS like it is priming well, but could there still be a fuel delivery problem without the "telltale" signs of fuel pump failure being present?

 

[luigisho]

Used pump sounds fishy to me. I'd go with the Walbro from http://www.autoperformanceengineering.com good prices and turn around time.

 

[SHOfun 93]

Ordered one via their website last night... thumb

 

[Jr's Sho]

Did you ever check for fuel pressure at the filter?

 

[SHOfun 93]

Nope, going to do that tonight to see if somehow I either the fuel filter was installed wrong, (which would be wierd, cuz the car ran before I pulled the intake) shrug But I am at wits end to find the problem. I think if I pull the fuel lines before and after the fuel filter, I can decide if it is indeed filter or pump, ya think? headbang

 

[masho95]

If you decide to remove the fuel filter lines and then prime the pump be extra careful because you will have fuel shooting from the fuel line like a fire hose. What I would do is just double check that the fuel lines are on the correct side of the fuel filter. It's kinda weird but the inlet of the fuel filter is at the top towards the front of the car and the fuel outlet is towards the rear and on the bottom. It can confuse you if you look at the real quick. Anyways if you have no fuel at the schreader valve on the fuel rails there is a fuel delivery problem either in the fuel line, fuel filter, or fuel pump. So you are looking at a pretty narrow section of problems to look at.

 

[SHOfun 93]

masho95:
it's kinda weird but the inlet of the fuel filter is at the top towards the front of the car and the fuel outlet is towards the rear and on the bottom.

So what you are telling me, is that the line coming from the fuel tank goes on the TOP of the filter? And the line going to the motor goes on the bottom? Shoot, maybe I DID put it on reversed! shrug But the arrow still points in an upward direction toward 2 o'clock when looking at it from the passenger side, correct?

<small>[ June 10, 2003, 01:16 AM: Message edited by: SHOfun 93 ]</small>

 

[luigisho]

Unless things are different in GenII's, there is only 1 place to put the fuel filter. The filter should have an arrow that points in the direction of the fuel flow which should be toward the motor.

 

[SHOfun 93]

How about the orientation of the lines? One from tank on top or bottom of filter?

 

[masho95]

So what you are telling me, is that the line coming from the fuel tank goes on the TOP of the filter? And the line going to the motor goes on the bottom?

Correct. If you trace out the fuel lines you'll see the bottom one with the 90 degree angle connector actually goes to the front of the car (outlet). So you need the end of the arrow on the fuel filter facing down. I know because my bottom connector on the fuel line broke an internal o-ring during my fuel filter installation and I had to go to a junkyard to get a new connector.

Shoot, maybe I DID put it on reversed! shrug But the arrow still points in an upward direction toward 2 o'clock when looking at it from the passenger side, correct?

Incorrect. The arrow should point down and to the left from the passenger side towards a 7-8 o'clock position. The flat end of the filter is the bottom and the rounded end goes to the top, that's why the fuel filter bracket has the little lip on it so it rests on the flat part of the filter. Looks like you just put it in backwards. Depressurize the fuel system, run the car till it dies from no fuel, and re-install the filter.

 

[SHOfun 93]

Uh oh, I might have won Shoforum ******* of the month 2 months in a row...I will keep ya posted when I check after work tonight. No time right now... headbang

 

[SHOfun 93]

Well curiosity killed the cat, and I had to roll under there before work and check..the fuel filter appears to be in correctly. Tonight I will pull the lines and see if I have pressure or not.

 

[sdpatt]

Are you sure that you installed the two electrical leads to the motor with the correct polarity? It is a positive displacement pump and only works properly when running in the designed direction.