97 achieva-- listen to my problem...

I no longer drive my achieva... I bought it last year and it broke down on me 3 times in 5 months. So I bought a new car. I want to sell the achieva now. So, I usually would start the car every day and let it run, take it for a short ride, so that it's not just sitting and dying...

The one day I started it, and I didn't have much gas in it. I let it run and started cutting the grass. Well, I forgot that I had the car running. So when I realized it, the car was no longer running because it had run out of gas, but the ignition was still turned to on. So I added more gas, but the car wouldn't start. Now, the fuel pump is no longer turning on when I turn the ignition (used to be able to hear it hum).

Does this mean the fuel pump is no good because of this? Or is there a reset button or something else I should try? I already replaced the fuse in the fusebox in the engine area.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

not sure on your car but enersa switch should be in truck.you can see if it got tripped but not sure why it would?? but you should be able to ck voltage from there.check behind the side panel behind truck side trim.Good Luck

sorry, what is an enersa switch? I looked in the trunk, but the only thing I found was a remote function actuation module (also don't know what that is).

some cars have a fuel pump cut-off(inertia switch) in trunk encase rear end collision.

is the trunk the only place the inertia switch would be?

If there isn't one, or it isn't the problem, would I need a new fuel pump based on the scenario I described above, or could it be something else?

Thanks.

#1 you need to check for 12v to pump.there is a conection(some where) where you can verify this.do you own a manual??if not i recemend you get one.
BTW will the car start with carb cleaner????

I haven't tried to start it using anything else. Should I? The car tries to turn over as it is, but it never starts because the fuel pump is not kicking in.

I do have the manual for the car.

yes when we are not sure on a no start you need to no if you have fuel/spark.the easiest way to see if its a no fuel is to spray carb cleaner into air horn/throttle body if it starts you need to ck fuel system

Lost the link to this forum... another question I have...

There's a fuse in the fuse block near the battery for the fuel pump. But are there any other fuses, censors, circuits related to the fuel pump that I could check?

Thanks.

Ok, this could be multiple things, but if you leave a F/I car running the fuel pump without a 1/4 tank of gas or better, you are going to burn the pump up. The pump is cooled by the gasoline around it. Good news is there is prolly no real damage to the car, but I'm sure the pump is fried.

Like they said, take the air cleaner tube off the end of the throttle body, have someone crank it, and spray a bit of starting fluid (carb cleaner, anything flammable really) in there and see if it cranks over. If it fires over a few cyls., then it's a no gas situation. Being a parts guy for years, I would replace the fuel pump even if you think it's ok. If you ran it out of gas, or close to it, the pump is at best close to fried.

My sister bought a '98 formula (which has a $400 pump in it BTW) and it canned the first time she ran it out of gas. I've seen it many times, and it usually only takes one time. This may not be the pump this time, but replace it anyway. If you don't now someone soon will have to, and they may not be happy with you. Plus other than the pump being $100+, it's a small car, with a light empty weight gas tank. It really shouldn't be that hard.

The easiest way to tell if the pump works, is to listen for it to pressure the fuel line when you turn the ignition to 'run' before you start it. You may have to get someone else to turn the ignition to run for you, but if the pump works you should hear it spin up for a couple seconds then stop. It should do this every time you go from 'off' to 'run' on the ignition. It may be a very short run if the fuel line is already at pressure, but it will always try to pressure the line. I can always hear mine spin up when I turn the ignition, especially if I have the door open. You can hear it in the car normally. If you turn the key, and you don't hear a *wizz* then stop, the pump is fubar. I mean, the car was running fine, it was at least close to out of gas, and it died on you. Now it won't start. It's the fuel pump. Double check anyway, but I'm fairly positive that's it.

Hope this helps.

-Dan

there are several ways to really diagnose a fuel pump. You can disconnect a line under the hood and watch for fuel to spray when you turn on the ignition switch. OR you pull out the back seat, disconnect then jump power directly to the fuel pump. BE CAREFUL! You're messing with gas and electricity.

Maybe I should rephrase myself. You WILL hear the fuel pump if it's good. You can't access fuel tanks under the backseat, and blowing a bunch of gas everywhere if the pump is good is stupid.

You should be able to hear the pump in the car, out of the car, with the door open or shut. If you hear the pump and it still doesn't start, there is a pressure valve at the end of the fuel rail on the motor. Check for pressure there. There is no need to open a fuel line just to test.

But, like I said. This guy ran the car out of gas. REPLACE THE PUMP NOW! It's not an old mechanical pump. You can NOT run these F/I cars out of gas. End of story.

-Dan