No fuel - car stranded an hour from home

[Toolman]

I know there are a hundred fuel pump threads, and I did quite a thorough search, but could still use some help. Car left my brother-in-law stranded a couple days back. Fuel pump quit working it seems, had it towed back to his house. He tried a number of times to start it since, no dice. Does not recall hearing it prime. I get here earlier today, get in, it starts right up. Runs for a few minutes, then runs out of fuel and dies. Key on, no prime. When it did prime the first time, and while running, pump sounded perfectly normal.

Car is a 1989, 48-state car, b9b1, 110k miles. Here is what I have done so far. Ran codes, got 81 and 95. Replaced ccrm, no dice. Replaced computer, no dice. Jumped inertia switch, no dice. Checked all grounds, no problems that I can see. Checked numerous underhood connections, no problems that I can see. Test FP at EEC connector, clicking from ccrm, but no fuel pump. I seriously do not have time to replace the pump for over a week. Heck, I don't have time to be looking into it right now, as I am running behind for today. I have no test light/voltmeter with me, as I am a hour from home, but I will bring it when I come back. Any other ideas before I repalce the pump? TIA SHOforum.

 

[luigisho]

Iff the EEC and CCRM are good then it should be the pump or the sending unit. Are you getting juice on both sides of the inertia switch? If power gets past the inertia switch then the fault is usually in the tank.

 

[Toolman]

I will be back monday with a multi-meter to find out more. At least I have an extra pump laying around.

 

[Bob Gervais]

Tim, sounds like you have all the normal bases covered, but I wanted to add that this is what my fuel pump did in my 92 a couple of years ago, then died completely. I had found that if it had a full tank/cooler fuel, it would run longer. My guess is that there was a short in the windings, that would only cause an open condition once the pump heated up a little.

At any rate, replaced the pump and haven't had a problem since.

 

[zblackbeast]

When my fuel pump went out I was instructed to get under the car and smack the tank a few times with my hand nice and hard.. I turned the key and it primed and ran fine until i shut it off.. I would turn it off and go KO and it would not prime. Im thinking its in the pump like Bob said. You have covered all the "easy" stuff so theres not a lot left to troubleshoot other than the pump itself.

 

[Toolman]

THanks guys. Makes sense, as it is the orig pump, 21+ years old. I got extra, so no harm in replacing it, as I would like to inspect the underneath of the car closely anyway.

 

[hawkeye18]

I would also say "fuel pump" but it seems that base has been covered pretty well.

 

[Toolman]

Forgot to update this. After pulling a pump from a parts car, I drop the tank on the 89, pull the pump, and discover a very new Walbro 190lph pump. Now I begin thinking the wiring must be toast, as all other items have been checked. Well, upon inspecting the pump, seems the installers did not fully seat the harness into the top of the pump. It vibrated loose enough after 15k+ miles and lost contact, which is why it died suddenly, with no warning. The morning when it started for me, it must have had just enough current flowing, then of course it died after a few minutes. Anyway, I seated the plug, reinstalled everything, and the SHO runs like a champ.

 

[n8rsk8r]

How about the actual key switch in the column? I have a problem like this (somewhat). It could be that the ignition switch is bad. EDIT.. just read your last post. Nevermind.