LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

no fuel pressure

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 18, 2013 | 06:14 PM
  #1  
heavychevy09's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Green Bay, WI
Default no fuel pressure

A little background first... Back in fall of last year I was on my way home from work, stopped and filled the gas tank with 93 and was about to get on the high way when it started sputtering and then died. Pulled over and was unable to restart the car. After getting the car home and off the trailer, I let it sit for a bit, then went to start it for kicks and it did. I moved it around and then shut it off. The following day I started it and let it until, until it got warm and then began sputtering and died again, wouldn't restart. So I foolishly threw a new opti on it without doing much actual troubleshooting, that didn't make a difference. So I just put it away for the winter until today when I brought it back home.

I double checked all connections today before testing for fuel pressure, of which I'm getting 0 at the schrader valve. Check the pressure gauge on another vehicle just to be sure and it is working. I'm pretty sure the fuel pump is priming when the key is turned on. I've done some searching but not really coming up with much, any input would be helpful.

Vehicle is listed in my sig, has 97k miles on it. Only mods are a Granatelli maf and different throttle body.
Reply
Old May 19, 2013 | 04:36 PM
  #2  
RamAir95TA's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,467
Likes: 8
From: South Jersey
Default

Originally Posted by heavychevy09
A little background first... Back in fall of last year I was on my way home from work, stopped and filled the gas tank with 93 and was about to get on the high way when it started sputtering and then died. Pulled over and was unable to restart the car. After getting the car home and off the trailer, I let it sit for a bit, then went to start it for kicks and it did. I moved it around and then shut it off. The following day I started it and let it until, until it got warm and then began sputtering and died again, wouldn't restart. So I foolishly threw a new opti on it without doing much actual troubleshooting, that didn't make a difference. So I just put it away for the winter until today when I brought it back home.

I double checked all connections today before testing for fuel pressure, of which I'm getting 0 at the schrader valve. Check the pressure gauge on another vehicle just to be sure and it is working. I'm pretty sure the fuel pump is priming when the key is turned on. I've done some searching but not really coming up with much, any input would be helpful.

Vehicle is listed in my sig, has 97k miles on it. Only mods are a Granatelli maf and different throttle body.
Can you hear the pump running at all when you turn the KOEO? If not check for 12v+ at the pump. If you've got voltage the pump is bad and needs to be replaced.
Reply
Old May 20, 2013 | 09:51 AM
  #3  
Stroked96Bowtie's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 739
Likes: 0
From: DFW, Tx
Default

With that many miles, wouldn't surprise me if the pump was bad. I had 2 go out on me in my LT1 car, each time I would get pressure when the line was primed with the key on, but would quickly bleed off. Sounds like once your pump gets warmed up it dies. Fuel pumps on these cars are fairly cheap, with that much mileage its a good idea to upgrade to a 255lph anyway.

That fuel pressure gauge and shrader valve is your friend, start it up an watch the pressure until it dies.
Reply
Old May 20, 2013 | 11:43 AM
  #4  
heavychevy09's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Green Bay, WI
Default

Originally Posted by Stroked96Bowtie
With that many miles, wouldn't surprise me if the pump was bad. I had 2 go out on me in my LT1 car, each time I would get pressure when the line was primed with the key on, but would quickly bleed off. Sounds like once your pump gets warmed up it dies. Fuel pumps on these cars are fairly cheap, with that much mileage its a good idea to upgrade to a 255lph anyway.

That fuel pressure gauge and shrader valve is your friend, start it up an watch the pressure until it dies.
I have a fuel pressure tester and haven't been able to get the car to start since it stopped running last fall.
Reply
Old May 20, 2013 | 11:53 AM
  #5  
93M6Formula's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,740
Likes: 2
From: Nebraska
Default

I can almost guarantee the fuel pump is bad. if you dont hear it run when you hit the key, it's bad.
There's a check wire right next to the PCM on the passenger side of the car that if you jump a wire from the positive side of the battery to that wire, it will run the fuel pump.
Reply
Old May 23, 2013 | 01:39 PM
  #6  
heavychevy09's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Green Bay, WI
Default

Thanks for all the input guys, I'll update the thread when I get a chance to work on it again.
Reply
Old Jun 7, 2013 | 04:23 PM
  #7  
heavychevy09's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Green Bay, WI
Default

New walbro 255 and still not getting fuel pressure. Definitely hear the pump run when the key is turned on. I tried priming the pump a half dozen times (cycling the key on and off) but no luck. I did pull the intake tube off and squirt some starting fluid into the tb and it tried to start so that made me feel a bit better. Could a fuel filter be so clogged as to not let any fuel pass through? I guess that'll be my next step, I'm sure it could use it anyway.
Reply
Old Jun 7, 2013 | 09:46 PM
  #8  
CALL911's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,940
Likes: 2
From: IN
Default

Its got to be one of three things;

1) The fuel pump is not producing fuel pressure

2) There is something obstructing the fuel to reaching the motor

3) It is leaking the fuel somewhere

Walbro fuel pumps have been known to be Chinese knock offs. It doesn't matter if you get them from a reputable shop or not, they are everywhere and have been known to fail out of the box, or just months after being new. To my knowledge Racetronix are one of the only brands of 255lph fuel pump that have not been known to be in this vast group of Chinese knockoffs.

That being said, if you hear the fuel pump priming as you turn the key, it most likely is working at least partially. Sounds like you are on the right track checking the fuel filter. If age is a factor on items (and it sounds like it is), I would suggest replacing the fuel filter as a precaution to itself and other things. Once that has been cleared trace the entire fuel line from pump to Schrader valve. Be sure there are no kinks bends (besides the ones from the factory) or leaks. Its also possible the fuel line has popped off the fuel pump in the tank (that's happened to me before).

There's really nothing else it could be past this (at least for fuel pressure, starting may be another bag of worms), so this should eliminate your fuel pressure problems.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 8, 2013 | 08:37 AM
  #9  
30696bird's Avatar
On The Tree
15 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: Dalton Ga.
Default

Originally Posted by heavychevy09
New walbro 255 and still not getting fuel pressure. Definitely hear the pump run when the key is turned on. I tried priming the pump a half dozen times (cycling the key on and off) but no luck. I did pull the intake tube off and squirt some starting fluid into the tb and it tried to start so that made me feel a bit better. Could a fuel filter be so clogged as to not let any fuel pass through? I guess that'll be my next step, I'm sure it could use it anyway.


You don't have to "cycle the key", as stated earlier in this thread there is a wire hanging out next to the PCM that will power the fuel pump. I know you have a a fuel pressure gauge, but I would suggest bumping the key for one sec. when you take the fuel filter off (with a hose going to something catching the fuel hopefully coming out of course) to see if you're getting fuel to that point.
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2013 | 10:18 PM
  #10  
heavychevy09's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Green Bay, WI
Default

Back from vacation and got some time to get the new fuel filter in today, pump is pushing fuel to the filter. I tried hooking up the fuel pressure gauge to the schrader valve and got nothing again. However, when I just pushed the center pin it squirted fuel out so I'm gonna borrow a pressure gauge from a friend to see if for some reason mine isn't properly opening the valve causing it to read 0 pressure.

I really appreciate all the help thus far, I haven't gotten a lot of time lately to work on the car but I can't wait for it to be back on the road.
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2014 | 02:38 PM
  #11  
JR 427's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: DFW TX
Default

Mine is doing something somewhat similar. Did this ever get figured out?
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2014 | 02:57 PM
  #12  
heavychevy09's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Green Bay, WI
Default

The pump was just fine, my fuel pressure tester wasn't properly engaging the connection at the rail. The opti was to blame.
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2014 | 05:35 PM
  #13  
JR 427's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: DFW TX
Default

What's "opti"?
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2014 | 05:45 PM
  #14  
SilverSS07's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 411
Likes: 1
From: Ocala Florida
Default

Originally Posted by JR 427
What's "opti"?
Do you have an LT1?
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2014 | 05:48 PM
  #15  
JR 427's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: DFW TX
Default

Ls1 1999
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2014 | 05:59 PM
  #16  
ahritchie's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC
Default

Originally Posted by JR 427
What's "opti"?
Wrong section dude!
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2014 | 10:03 PM
  #17  
SilverSS07's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 411
Likes: 1
From: Ocala Florida
Default

Originally Posted by JR 427
Ls1 1999
Figured you had an LS since you weren't familiar with the opti .
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:14 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE