Ignition Switch and Low Fuel Pressure
COClone
07-18-2006, 03:18 PM
Hey Gang:
I'm hoping somebody can please help either diagnose, or clarify for me the following:
1994 Grand Am w/ the 2.3L SOHC
Automatic Tranny, about 114000 mi on it.
6 month old battery: alternator is less than 2yrs old; year old plugs + wires.
Past three months or so, when the gas has been low (quarter tank or so) going downhill and stoppping, the car would sputter and either die, or almost die. I attributed it to low gas, promptly filled up, and went on my way with the vehicle running fine.
More recently, with a full gas tank, going uphill and stopping on an incline, the car would do the same: sputter and die, or almost die. It also started to not like to start when hot (ie shut off for 1-5 mins) and would at times not start at all. Took it in to a shop, told me that the fuel pressure was low at incline (made sense) and just replaced the fuel filter. Told me to bring it back if it did anything else.
Well...three weeks later, the car died at work, would not start. It cranked and cranked, radio worked, A/C and that stuff worked when cranking, just didn't fire. So I had to get it towed. Told the shop's mechanic that I suspected a fuel pump (if it was replaced, it was replaced w/ less than 30,000 mi on it so would still be at the end of its service life) but that was a shot in the dark so I could get a cost estimate of "worse case" scenario. He diagnosed it, told me that the ignition switch was bad, and had that replaced.
Car starts fine now, runs good (haven't had to make any sudden stops on inclines/declines though) and seems to be okay. So my question is:
Can a fault ignition switch be the cause of low fuel pressure?
Should I replace the fuel pump before it goes (especially if it is orig. equipment)?
If so, where and how hard is the fuel pump to get to in this?
Should the new ignition switch fix the entire problem? I know that it's a far reaching question, but what else would/could cause the stalls at inclines/declines?
Thanks for all of your help in advance!
I'm hoping somebody can please help either diagnose, or clarify for me the following:
1994 Grand Am w/ the 2.3L SOHC
Automatic Tranny, about 114000 mi on it.
6 month old battery: alternator is less than 2yrs old; year old plugs + wires.
Past three months or so, when the gas has been low (quarter tank or so) going downhill and stoppping, the car would sputter and either die, or almost die. I attributed it to low gas, promptly filled up, and went on my way with the vehicle running fine.
More recently, with a full gas tank, going uphill and stopping on an incline, the car would do the same: sputter and die, or almost die. It also started to not like to start when hot (ie shut off for 1-5 mins) and would at times not start at all. Took it in to a shop, told me that the fuel pressure was low at incline (made sense) and just replaced the fuel filter. Told me to bring it back if it did anything else.
Well...three weeks later, the car died at work, would not start. It cranked and cranked, radio worked, A/C and that stuff worked when cranking, just didn't fire. So I had to get it towed. Told the shop's mechanic that I suspected a fuel pump (if it was replaced, it was replaced w/ less than 30,000 mi on it so would still be at the end of its service life) but that was a shot in the dark so I could get a cost estimate of "worse case" scenario. He diagnosed it, told me that the ignition switch was bad, and had that replaced.
Car starts fine now, runs good (haven't had to make any sudden stops on inclines/declines though) and seems to be okay. So my question is:
Can a fault ignition switch be the cause of low fuel pressure?
Should I replace the fuel pump before it goes (especially if it is orig. equipment)?
If so, where and how hard is the fuel pump to get to in this?
Should the new ignition switch fix the entire problem? I know that it's a far reaching question, but what else would/could cause the stalls at inclines/declines?
Thanks for all of your help in advance!
GTP Dad
07-18-2006, 08:37 PM
Welcome to AF!!
The problem is voltage when the ignition switch was bad full voltage was not going to the fuel pump. When additional fuel was needed the pump couldn't draw enough amps to pump enough fuel. If the pump isn't acting up keep on driving. Why fix it if it ain't broke. Also if you keep a quarter of a tank of fuel in this car the pump will remain cool and last for a long time. Running a tank low on fuel can cause the pump to overheat and fail.
The problem is voltage when the ignition switch was bad full voltage was not going to the fuel pump. When additional fuel was needed the pump couldn't draw enough amps to pump enough fuel. If the pump isn't acting up keep on driving. Why fix it if it ain't broke. Also if you keep a quarter of a tank of fuel in this car the pump will remain cool and last for a long time. Running a tank low on fuel can cause the pump to overheat and fail.
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