2000 Passport - Won't turn over, fuel pump relay buzzing/clicking

[jmoyles]

Having a wierd problem with 2000 passport. When I turn the key to start, the following happens:

[A] the fuel pump relay "buzzes" for about a second

[b] about a second after that, a device on the fuel rail starts making a rapid clicking sound that goes on for about 2 seconds. While this is happening, the internal check engine light seems to be flickering rapidly on/off in sync with the clicking. If you are standing in front of the truck, facing the radiator, the clicking is coming from some sort of sensor or device that is at the back right corner of the fuel rail (close to the firewall). It is some sort of cyclinder that has a wiring block with 2 wires on one side, and what appears to be fuel in/outs on the other.

[C] During this whole process, the fuel pump sounds very sick. It's running, but it sounds like crap.

[D] after the above, the engire doesn't turn over. It doesn't do anything. If I restart the engine start sequence, the same behavior happens.

Some things I've tried that didn't change the behavior:
I've tried moving another relay of the same model into the fuel relay position
I've checked all of the fuses, both in the engine compartment, and the block on the left side of the dash; all good.
I've cleaned the posts of that relay (and all the others)
I've left the vehicle without any power (unplugged the battery) for hours
Cursing. Lots of cursing.

Now at this point, it sounds like a bad fuel pump, but these 2000 Passports have tricked me in the past. Has anyone else had experience with this, and if so - is this a fuel pump issue, or is their an uphill electric/sensor issue here (like whatever is making that clicking noise (see [b], or some sort of fuel cutoff switch gone bad)?

If it is a fuel pump issue - how hard is it to change to the fuel pumps for this model vehicle?

[amigo-2k]

What are the codes from the CEL?

[jmoyles]

Originally Posted by amigo-2k

What are the codes from the CEL?

Ryan - I'm assuming CEL=Check Engine Light. How do I check for a code?

- J

[Ramblin Fever]

Have you checked the starter?

Just throwing ideas out, because when it clicks, makes a sound very similar to what you're describing.

[jmoyles]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

Have you checked the starter?

Just throwing ideas out, because when it clicks, makes a sound very similar to what you're describing.

Thanks for taking the time to reply Ramblin - We thought about the starter being at fault here pretty early on.

We've tracked the buzzing sound to the fuel pump relay (you can feel it vibrate with your fingers on it) and the clicking down to whatever that doohickey is on the back right corner of the fuel rail (fingers again).

- John

[jmoyles]

Another quick question - is the doohickey at the back right of the fuel rail (if you are standing in front of the vehicle, facing the engine) the fuel pressure regulator?

- J

[2eyefishclaw]

you have a poor ground causing this issue or a weak battery
if the batt and connections are ok remove the ground strap from the alternator bracket clean it real well and reinstall it also check the ground strap at the battery tray

[amigo-2k]

just an FYI 2eye is a Isuzu mechanic at a dealership....