Bad fuel pump??
K2sInteg98
06-09-2005, 11:43 PM
Couple days ago i was driving my 92 safari v6 and i was waiting at a redlight and all of the sudden it shut off. Towed it home and it hasnt started since. It turned over, and i would give it gas and it would revv for a little bit then shut off. Now i try to crank it and it wont start. It turns over but doesnt stay cranked. The van has been sitting in the garage undriven for about a year. But throughout the year, i always went and cranked it and it always cranked and stayed on without any problems. I kno that gas gets old, i figured the bad gas could have clogged my fuel filter. I added new fuel first of all, then changed the filter and still wont start. I bought a fuel pump but arent sure if i need to change the one i have now. I looked into the carburator and when i crank it, i can see fuel dripping out going into the engine. Is it suppose to be more then just a dripping?? From my searching, i noticed the problem always leads to the fuel pump. Is my problem also the fuel pump?? if it needs to be replaced, where is the fuel pump at??? inside the tank??? and if anyone has any tips when installing the fuel pump please let me know. I need the van to start to take it to a car show, its a show van with a loud sound system, 36 12's to be exact. but besides that, please tell me what i need to change. I have heard people saying it will cost about $800 to install the pump, is it really that hard???
K2sInteg98
06-10-2005, 11:09 PM
any reponses?? i have a feeling it cant be a bad fuel pump because we looked at the carburator and it is getting fuel. Can the problem lie in the sparking system? car has new spark plugs, perhaps problem is either bad distributer or ecu gone bad? any help please
deadlydisk
08-26-2005, 07:53 AM
It sounds like the fuel pump is bad. When my 1991 Safari's fuel pump failed, the symptoms were very similar to yours (intermittent but complete failure). I am assuming that you have a fuel injected engine with an electric fuel pump (you said carburator in your post, but the '92 vans were all EFI).
Most of the other components in the fuel delivery system show performance deterioration before they fail, but the fuel pump performs fine, but suddenly and completely fails once in a while.
The easiest way to check the fuel pump is too listen for it. Each time the key is turned on the fuel pump runs for 2 seconds to pressurize the system. Take off the gas filler cap, and listen at the fuel tank fill hole. Get a friend to turn the key to the "On" position (don't crank the starter or try to start the engine). You should hear a whirring sound as the fuel pump pressurizes the system. Turn the key to the "Off" position and wait at least 10 seconds for the pump to reset itself. Then repeat the sequence several times by turning the key to "On" and listening for 2 seconds, off for 10+ seconds, etc.
If you don't hear the whirring every time, it's probably the fuel pump, but if you already bought a replacement, you might as well install it anyway. It's easy to do, but can be time consuming.
The fuel pump is mounted on top of the fuel tank, and hangs into the fuel. The tank must be removed to replace the pump. Put your vehicle on jack-stands, and prepare some sort of lift to hold and lower your fuel tank (which is heavy, especially if it has gas in it). If you use the tire jack for this, put a 12 inch square piece of plywood or similar between the tank and the jack to protect the tank. Peel the plastic shroud away from the tank to access the three small hoses that lead to the engine (these are on the front, right hand side of the tank). Disconnect these hoses. Also disconnect the hose for the filler neck. Then remove the tank support straps, which have one bolt on each end attaching them to the frame. If these bolts are rusted solid, try an impact screwdriver ($20 at any tool store, requires a hammer to use) with the appropriate socket.
The tank can then be lowered. If you used the tire jack to support it thus far, it will probably be unbalanced when you begin to lower it, and it is useful to have a friend to help support it. You can then replace the pump itself. Use the instructions that cam with the pump, and re-use as many connectors as possible.
Re-install the tank, and you should be able to start your van like normal.
Most of the other components in the fuel delivery system show performance deterioration before they fail, but the fuel pump performs fine, but suddenly and completely fails once in a while.
The easiest way to check the fuel pump is too listen for it. Each time the key is turned on the fuel pump runs for 2 seconds to pressurize the system. Take off the gas filler cap, and listen at the fuel tank fill hole. Get a friend to turn the key to the "On" position (don't crank the starter or try to start the engine). You should hear a whirring sound as the fuel pump pressurizes the system. Turn the key to the "Off" position and wait at least 10 seconds for the pump to reset itself. Then repeat the sequence several times by turning the key to "On" and listening for 2 seconds, off for 10+ seconds, etc.
If you don't hear the whirring every time, it's probably the fuel pump, but if you already bought a replacement, you might as well install it anyway. It's easy to do, but can be time consuming.
The fuel pump is mounted on top of the fuel tank, and hangs into the fuel. The tank must be removed to replace the pump. Put your vehicle on jack-stands, and prepare some sort of lift to hold and lower your fuel tank (which is heavy, especially if it has gas in it). If you use the tire jack for this, put a 12 inch square piece of plywood or similar between the tank and the jack to protect the tank. Peel the plastic shroud away from the tank to access the three small hoses that lead to the engine (these are on the front, right hand side of the tank). Disconnect these hoses. Also disconnect the hose for the filler neck. Then remove the tank support straps, which have one bolt on each end attaching them to the frame. If these bolts are rusted solid, try an impact screwdriver ($20 at any tool store, requires a hammer to use) with the appropriate socket.
The tank can then be lowered. If you used the tire jack to support it thus far, it will probably be unbalanced when you begin to lower it, and it is useful to have a friend to help support it. You can then replace the pump itself. Use the instructions that cam with the pump, and re-use as many connectors as possible.
Re-install the tank, and you should be able to start your van like normal.
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