how do i check fuel pump

[davidrobert2]

I ran out of gas, put 2 gals. in and it started right back up. Stalled a minute later and won't start. How do I check the fuel pump?

[tblake]

turn the key to on, but not crank, and quickly jump out and listend towards the back for a fuel pump priming. If you hear sort of a buzzing sound and it stops, you pump is probably still working. Also could check all the fuses. There is anothe rmethod i know of requiring a multimeter and access to the fuel pump fuse. Im not very familiar with the older vin t 3.1's, but if you have access to the fuel rail shrader valve, you can just turn the key to on and back off and push the center in with a screwdriver and gas should skyrocket out.

[davidrobert2]

I did the thing with the schrader valve and nothing came out. Is there a fuse or some other electrical gadget I should check before calling a garage and getting it towed. Its really not a good week to have to shell out a couple hundred dollars on my car.

[tblake]

yes, check the all the fuse blocks. I think there is on in your glove box, and two under the hood. Look for anything labled fuel pump, or fuel pump relay. Even try to find the relay its self under the hood somewhere, im not sure where you could look. To me it sounds as though your pump has flew south.

[richtazz]

When you locate the fuel pump relay, there should be a short (I believe Green colored) wire with a black connector on the end that isn't connected to anything coming off the relay harness. This is a jumper to bypass the relay and send 12 directly to the fuel pump. Take a piece of wire and hook it directly to the + battery post (or jump post near the left strut tower if the battery is inaccessible) and the aformentioned jumper. If the pump turns on, then it may be just a bad relay. If the pump doesnt kick on, it's toast.

[davidrobert2]

I'm going to try replacing the fuel pump myself. Can you tell me step by step how to do it? or example, should I disconnect the battery? Unhook all the lines. then drop the tank? Do I need any special tools? I have complete sets of SAE and Metric wrenches and sockets, will I need anything else?

[corning_d3]

Mine takes about 3 gallons to fire up if I ran it dry. It depends on how level the surface is.. You haven't stated whether you can hear the pump running or not, if it didn't fry it running it dry..

[Blue Bowtie]

Another possibility is that running the tank empty has washed all the sediment in the tank ont the fuel pickup (sock filter). and prevented any fresh fuel from even getting into the pump. If it does, you may also have slugged the inline fuel filter with this same sediment and debris.

Don't condemn the fuel pump until you have diagnosed the problem fully.

[davidrobert2]

Thats what I want to do. I really don't have the money to spend on repairs. I was told having the fuel pump replaced will cost around four hundred dollars. Is that a reasonable estimate? Tell me if this sounds right. I am going to check the relay ( I'm not sure how to do this), I'm going to replace the fuel filter and I'm not sure what to do about this sock filter you mentioned.