Fuel Pump Issue. HELP!

[deadlysyn08]

Ok, so after stalling out in a major intersection with my 98 sohc 5 spd neon I looked into the problem and discovered it to be my fuel pump and filter, I bought a new filter/regulator unit as well as the internal motor for the fuel pump (didnt make sense to pay the extra 200 for a plastic housing..). The install went perfectly and all the parts alligned and snapped into their respective places. I took the car for a test drive and imediately felt some issues. After accelerating through first I went to shift into second and the moment i stepped on the pedal to accelerate in second the car lunged foreward seeminly like it was suddenly starved for fuel. This issue also occured in third and fourth gear. In all gears the car had no power for around 5 seconds and then it seemed as though gas had gotten through the lines again and it was off like normal. I should note that the tank had about a 1/4 gas in it at this point. So I took it to the gas station and filled it up and had no issues until the next day while executing a freeway cloverleaf exit ramp (you know the fun loopy ones) anyways, while going around that at about 40 mph with a half of a tank i had the same sudden loss, then regain of power. The issue continued all the while under a half tank along with severly worse lags in the time between loss and gain of power, as well as losing it around your everyday right hand turn. So I removed the pump again to inspect it and found it without any issues. Anyone have any similar troubles?

[mopar_rocks]

It may or may not be a problem with the fuel pump or fuel system itself. You may be experiencing an electrical problem which only occurs when the body shifts such as when making a turn. (just a thought and I have seen it where a connection was corroded and when the body shift occurred, it was just enough to make that connection non conductive.) I see alot of other posts about the Neon losing power or stalling completely while taking a turn. Personally, I think the problem may be something bent/broke within the assembly inside the tank as you stated that the problem seems to arise when you're at or below 1/2 tank and non-existing when above 1/2 tank. I'm curious to see what the answer is to this one as there are so many different remedies to what seems to be the same "problem". I always replace the entire unit and never just the pump. One reason for this is it's a faster repair time. Another is I've never had any problems with the install where as I have with just replacing the pump. (usually the pump itself since it was aftermarket.) A complete assembly runs around $220. HEY!!! NO CRAP!!! You're from Saratoga Springs too huh??? If you need a hand let me know. I'm willing to help ya out if need be.

[deadlysyn08]

Well after VISUALLY inspecting the unit we found nothing out of the ordinary. The only issue that we saw was that the rectangular filter "sock" on the end of the unit can be detached (which we did for the installation) and upon looking at it a second time we found that there is a rubber O-ring inside that appears stretched. We placed it back inside the unit in its appropriate position hoping that maybe upon the first installation we might have not placed it in correctly. Unfortunately the same issue occurred. Do you have any idea as to why, if this is an electrical issue, this would only begin to occur after rplacing the pump?

[mopar_rocks]

... or it was electrical to begin with. Constant power on and off from a bad connector, or one really good short, will take out a pump. I'm not saying it is electrical at all though. I just mentioned it as I have seen it. I still say there is something bent or broken (possible o-ring damaged) in the assembly which is allowing the fuel to escape the line shortly after the pump itself when not submerged under fuel. Am I making sense?? I hope so ... only trying to help here. Of course I could be completely wrong ... it's been known to happen ..... rarely of course!! LMAO! Seriously though, it's the 1/2 tank or below leading me to believe that there is a break somewhere in the assembly allowing fuel to not travel out of the tank OR it's allowing air to be pulled into the fuel line which would give you the starving for fuel symptom you described. It's always hard to diagnose anything without it in front of you, but hopefully this will give you an idea what to look for.

[Bear]

Or you have condensation in the fuel, drop a can or two of HEET, Dry Gas, Water Out(it is cheap)in the tank and see what happens.

[itsjoe1]

idk if you have it fixed yet but im pretty sure i know the simple little problem that alot of people make, when people pull that regulator out the little tiny O ring at the tip of the reg ussually stays in the pump assymbly and when you put a new reg in it comes with a Oring already on it so there for if that has an extra o ring it wiill not seal and keep fuel pressure so your car will lag fuel, so pull it off and stick a small pick in there and pull the old one out and you will be ready to rock!