Fuel pump issue?
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 521
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From: Spencerport, NY
Fuel pump issue? I think I am expieriencing issues from my fuel pump starting to crap out. I was driving down the road and it just died out for no reason to speak of (didn't want to start back up right away either), gets 200 mi to a tank of gas after a tune up but it may need a computer tune after the OR LTs and Y, and the performance is not where it should be for whats been done to the car! If the fuel pump was going out, then it would get poor performance and maybe mileage due to low fuel pressure and possibly cause intermitten hesitation under full throttle in higher rpms (3800-4500), and die out unexpectedly when crusing down the road at 50, right? What do you all think?
I replaced my stock fuel pump at around 155k miles. At decent rpms in 5th and 6th the car would stutter out at very light throttle for me. For instance if I wanted to go from 75 to 80 it would fall on its face at very light throttle, where as when I first got the car you would have no issue doing such a thing. It would occasionally miss int he upper rpms at WOT and I had to wonder if I was getting the fuel I needed or cooking the #6 wire again. I have a fuel pressure gauge in the car, after the Walbro/racetronix goodies were put in I noticed even at idle my fuel pressure was up higher and steady, I had a noticeable drop with the stocker when first taking off from a stop and it would wobble a bit at idle.
The racetronix wire is supposed to keep pressure steady at WOT, well the pressure was higher at idle, so I'm assuming my unit was tired.
The racetronix wire is supposed to keep pressure steady at WOT, well the pressure was higher at idle, so I'm assuming my unit was tired.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 521
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From: Spencerport, NY
I hope its not my opti too! Its got probabaly about 2500mi on the Billet MSD unit. It was the first time it ever just shut down on me. I had the stereo up and my exhaust isn't loud(but maybe not for long) so i didn't hear or see it stall out but I think it just cutout suddenly. I tried turning it over a bunch of times and it didn't even pop or anything. It didn't help that my starter is crapping out on it too (has a spot on it that when cranking it, it suddenly sound more like Im grinding it). I sat there on the side of the raod for a minute or so and it fired up like nothing happen! I don't get it but my feeling is that its fuel related only because if the opti were to go bad suddenly why would it start back up?
could be the pump, could be the opti. my guess is probably the pump, hell you will prob need one eventually (IMO i felt more secure to swap out to the walbro before mine left me stranded) i am really doubting the opti, usually they would cause a miss more than just cut off. put a gauge on it and try it out all around
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 521
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From: Spencerport, NY
could be the pump, could be the opti. my guess is probably the pump, hell you will prob need one eventually (IMO i felt more secure to swap out to the walbro before mine left me stranded) i am really doubting the opti, usually they would cause a miss more than just cut off. put a gauge on it and try it out all around
and holding my car back topend and making it run high 14s/ low 15s! 
If you have to mess with the fuel pump Ill have to recommend cutting a hole in the trunk to get access to it. I know, I know, cutting holes in cars is forbidden, but in this case I think anyone else that has gone through the trouble of dropping the rear end, taking the shocks loose disconnecting the whole tank, and swearing alot will agree. To be honest, the time it took to make the hole and make it look good was the same time it took to go through all the Bull__it of doing it the right way, BUT, anytime I need to get to my fuel pump, I can do so in under a minute. Already came in handy two times.
Last edited by REBORN Z28; Oct 8, 2007 at 09:02 PM. Reason: wrong wording.
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 521
Likes: 0
From: Spencerport, NY
If you have to mess with the fuel pump Ill have to recommend cutting a hole in the trunk to get access to it. I know, I know, cutting holes in cars is forbidden, but in this case I think anyone else that has gone through the trouble of dropping the rear end, taking the shocks loose disconnecting the whole tank, and swearing alot will agree. To be honest, the time it took to make the hole and make it look good was the same time it took to go through all the Bull__it of doing it the right way, BUT, anytime I need to get to my fuel pump, I can do so in under a minute. Already came in handy two times.
Anyways here is the update:
I narrowed the issue I had with the monetery stumble at 3800-4000rpm down, it was happening at WOT in 3rd gear. I changed out the computer to a PCM4less that has a tune for pretty much the same set up with the LTs ORY Blocked off EGR and AIR pump removal. Car seems to run better, doesn't smell like its running rich. Not any smoke out the back under WOT to mention... drove it about 40 miles total and when I pulled into a parking space later that night when I got home, it stalled out on me again! I didn't really try to fire it back up but did turn it over a few seconds and it didn't fire. So I just went inside and went to bed since it was 1AM. Now I haven't been able to check fuel pressures yet, but does this sound more like the fuel pump? I am going to be replacing it as soon a I get a 100 bucks to throw at it since they are on sale the NewEra (local speed shop) and will need one eventually anyhow...
Yes, get a FP guage, put in on the windshield and tape it, do some WOT runs and if it drops more then 2 psi then the pump is ****. Racetronix make a great unit, a fairly easy install, I cut the trunk lol.