fuel pump power

[8isenuf]

Well here is another issue. 1998 Windstar 3.0L, a few months ago, my van died and we were getting no fuel. Checked the fuel pump, and there is no power to the circuit to the pump. check the fuse under the dash and it was good. Wires seemed OK, and we were forced to run a new circuit to the pump, which has remedied the problem, but it isn't the right remedy. Anyone know where to look to fix it the right way?

[sahib]

If you have by passed the inertia switch with your "kwik fix", you have a very dangerous situation. I don't know where it is located but your owners guide/manual should tell you. It may well be the culprit that is causing your loss of power to the fuel pump. This switch is designed to trip and break the circuit to the pump so that it will not pump raw fuel into the engine compartment or anywhere else should you have an accident. I looked in my Haynes book and it doesn't even mention it. Rectify this problem pronto, please.

[8isenuf]

Originally Posted by sahib

If you have by passed the inertia switch with your "kwik fix", you have a very dangerous situation. I don't know where it is located but your owners guide/manual should tell you. It may well be the culprit that is causing your loss of power to the fuel pump. This switch is designed to trip and break the circuit to the pump so that it will not pump raw fuel into the engine compartment or anywhere else should you have an accident. I looked in my Haynes book and it doesn't even mention it. Rectify this problem pronto, please.

Excellent reply.....We already tried to reset the inertia switch but it did not solve the problem, we were thinking about bypassing the inertia switch (which is on the drivers side floor by the left foot) to see if maybe the switch is defective and is not allowing current to flow through. What do you think?

[sahib]

I have to eat my words, Haynes does so mention it in section 4, they just don't list it in the index. I believe the inertia switch is the last component the wiring passes through before getting to the fuel pump. If you have votage to one side of the switch you should have voltage leaving on the other side. When checking you will have momentary voltage to and from the switch as there is a fuel pump relay under the hood (possibly the problem?) in the fuse box located there. This relay just allows voltage momentarily to the pump to achieve pressure to the rail. It will not kick in fully until the engine is running. You would have to have a test lamp or VOM connected to the inertia switch and watch while you or an assistant turns on the key and there should be a momentary light or needle deflection on the VOM. You may have noticed a whirring sound before your troubles began, this being the pump being energized and then shutting down until start up. I'm not a mechanic by trade so maybe some of the more knowledgable posters will be a long with more and better procedures. Good luck.

[8isenuf]

thankyou.