How to tell if Fuel Pump isn't working properly?
 

for almost 1 yr, whenever the engine is cold or if the max has been sitting ( engine turned off) for a few hours or overnight , I have issues starting..

the starter would turn and turn and turn, nothing...
I turn the key to off position, re-try, nothing, off position again, re-try, nothing again, repeast approx 5-6 times and eventually it would start.

I think I might not have enough pressure in the gas lines because from the off position to on, if I wait, eventually my gas gauge will raise by 1/8th of a tank..

Also, the car would start, but quickly choke and stall...
then I would have to turn the key to start again and sometimes will start immediatly and other times i would give it some gas as I am turning the key and it would start ( I know that's bad since I can kill the 02 sensors that way)..

now question is, is it my fuel pump that going bad? if so, how can I test/trouble shoot myself to see if it is the fuel pump or not?

now keep in mind, if the car is "warmed" up or already in motion, I have no issues when pressing on the gas... only on cold start ups( even in the summer, when it's blazing hot, I still have issues)...

can anyone help? please?:wtc: :bustrun:

Buy a fuel pressure gauge and tap into the fuel rail. Check pressures in the morning just before, during and after the initial cranking of your engine.

test pressure as njmaxseltd has stated, and i'd bet you have a bad fuel pressure regulator. sounds like the pressure is leaking down as the car sets for extended times. but be sure

I'm having the same issues ... please keep us posted

Where should I tap into? what would be the best place to do so?
should I simply replace the fuel pressure regulator? wouldn't it throw an error code? also can I buy this at Canadian Tire?


edit: I just realised you guys don't have Canadian Tire in the States.. Doh! :D

Hello? anyone?

What's happening bro...my 95 used to do the same thing...while on the on position(car off) hold down the gas for like 5 to 10 sec. and then start it. It should work

But u sshouldnt have to press the gas pedal at all to start it....its not a carb car with mechanical fuel pump......ur bleeding off fuel pressure some where....could be the FPR or a bad injectors..pull ur plugs to see if any of them are really rich....an effective but PITA way of testing fuel pump is to disconnect the bottom hose from the fuel filter...put a lil extension piece of hose and put that into a botte....turn the car on so the fuel pump activates.....that way u know if ur getting fuel....then try putting a gauge near the rail...just t-off before the regulator a stick a frickin air compressor gauge from Lowe's in there....to see if u got the right pressure 3.0bar...if it sits for a while and bleeds off check for leak everywhere....who knows u may find a reallllllly rich plug when u pull them and tht could be ur culpret

when you say fuel rail, do you mean the the fuel injection rail?
also, if I have a rich plug, how do you resolve that issue?

thanks for the info :D

yes....a rich plug would need to be replace....but if its rich u prolly have a leaky injector on that cylinder and u will have to replace that injector....hopefully fixxing the starting issue....cause when the car sits it could be leaking fuel form that injector in the combustion chamber and on that plug...and the leaking fuel is causing loss of pressure that it normanlly held in the system when the car is off......so check ur spark plugs and comapre them to this

http://www.centuryperformance.com/spark2.asp

it will look like the carbon fouled one....being too rich and stuff....


but again just a suggestion

Thanks for the info.. I will surely look into this ASAP..quick question, can I take out the spark plugs with conventionnal ratchet set or do I need a special "socket"??

Thanks again for the info and the link... since I've had my plugs replaced less then 3 months ago, if they are black again, that means it's the fuel rail I need to replace.. right?..:nervous: