Hello all;

Drove home one day and my van would not start the next. Engine cranked, and cranked, and cranked... but no joy. Realized that after all this cranking and pumping the pedal I should smell some gas -- but didn't.

Discovered the fuel pump fuse was blown. Replaced the fuse and cranked the engine.

Cranked, but would not start, then I saw smoke coming from under the hood. Some sort of short circuit, but the replacement fuse did not blow!! (It melted... and yes it was the right replacement 10A).

I disconnected the battery as quick as I could. No fire, but quite a bit of smoke. There is no "smoke smell" inside the passenger compartment or near the glove box -- so I am hoping the ECM has not been damaged. Also, I can't see any physical damage to the wiring -- but there is a faint "electrical short" smell still in the engine compartment.

I removed the melted fuse and reconnected the battery. No problems. Engine cranks, and cranks, and cranks.

Began testing with a volt/ohm meter. The hot side of the fuel pump fuse is OK (12v). However, the oil pressure sender/fuel pump relay side of the fuse is shorted to ground. I pulled the relay, but can't find the oil pressure sender, so I can't unplug it.

I applied the 12v battery to the gray wire on the pump relay socket -- but can't tell if the pump is working (I have to work in an outside parking lot at our apartment complex and listening for the hum of the fuel pump is next to impossible).

My haynes manual says the fuel pump is in the fuel tank -- so it's not easy to get at.

Is anyone able to offer some advice (bad sensor, bad pump, etc.) or answers in resolving this. I would appreciate it.

TIA.

Charles...

if you saw that much smoke, surely something burned out. I would try to find what melted.

if you saw that much smoke, surely something burned out. I would try to find what melted.

Well of course something burned out!!

Telling me to try and find what doesn't help much -- I know I need to do that.

What I am looking for is some advice on where to look and what to look for.

The Haynes manual shows the electrical connections, but not where they are physically located.

Some I can figure out... like where the fuses and relays are. But the wiring harness and the location of all the C100, C200, P100, P101, S212 items in the Haynes diagrams eludes me.