Third Gen Down

[Darren]

Alright guys I knew it was coming given the problems I have been having. Car died this morning, no fuel getting to the engine. So Fuel pump, bad injectors, clogged fuel filter? Can someone give me some tests that I can do to help narrow the culprit. If its the fuel pump does anyone have the measurements to cut the floor handy so I dont have to search all over online?

If there is any test I can do under the hood to help narrow this down please let me hear them!

Thanks guys.

[DETROITMUSCLE]

rent or find a gauge to test the pressure. The fuel pump should be an easy diagnosis though. Listen for it to prime with the car keyd on. if thats good start with the filter those are cheap.

[steddy]

On the 3rds, that whirring sound before you start, just after you turn the key is the FP. Jeff's right on. Start (minus the key on) with the cheapest and easiest first. How long has it been since you changed the fuel filter? I believe it should be every 30k.

[Darren]

When out to start working on the car, and the car started right up. First turn of the key... Fuel pump going out? I am going to change the filter right now just to do it. I have no idea the last time it was changed, however should I just change the pump too?

[DETROITMUSCLE]

did you hear the pump prime each time you turned the key? If so I'd get a pressure gauge, maybe murrays or w/e has one you can loan. Take a pressure reading before the filter and after and report back. If the pressure is low or dropping after startup then the pump is going bad.

[Darren]

did you hear the pump prime each time you turned the key? If so I'd get a pressure gauge, maybe murrays or w/e has one you can loan. Take a pressure reading before the filter and after and report back. If the pressure is low or dropping after startup then the pump is going bad.

Yeah the fuel pump is dead, or dying... I changed the filter and the car started and after it sat for a while same thing no start, then start. The pump only primes when the car starts, you can hear it then the car wil start and then you dont hear and it wont start. You get the picture. So I am thinking about just going to do the trap door method. I am doing some research on this right now on TGO, opinions on that before I start to cut a hole in my floor?

[DETROITMUSCLE]

you may want to pm Sean (kammi10) I believe he has a lightly used walbro 255 for sale.

[meissen]

Just to clarify, Darren, when the car won't start - do you still hear the pump priming or no? Because if it requires several tries to start the car, if it's like the LT1s it could be the pump or it could be something else. What I mean is that the fuel lines are supposed to stay pressurized after you stop the car for so long and then start bleeding down at a few PSI per hour. If you have to prime multiple times before the car starts, it could be something else is not allowing the fuel lines to fully pressurize and get fuel to the injectors.

[TrickyTransAm]

Yep. Could have a bad injector thats leaking down, but to me - it sounds like the pump.

Best bet is a fuel pressure gauge. Mine's a cheapo harbor freight jobby-doo, but it works fine. Just dont loose the o-ring.
Works great for also pumping out fuel before you drop the tank.

Either way - I think I would replace the pump. Usually if the fuel filter hasn't been changed forever... the pump won't be happy with the loss of backpressure and will poop out shortly thereafter anyway.

I'd get a couple of buddies together and drop the axle. I'm not one for cutting holes in sheet metal.

[Fox Slaughter]

Darren I got a fuel pressure tester if you want to borrow it.

[kammi10]

you may want to pm Sean (kammi10) I believe he has a lightly used walbro 255 for sale.

that is a fact i do have one for sale.. it was on my car last year and thats it.. and u know how much i drove my car last year

[meissen]

Yeah, it does sound like a fuel pump more and more. Just remember, Darren - everyone ends up replacing those metal lines with rubber hoses anyway so do like my neighbor did and just cut yourself a nice trap door, cut the metal lines off, replace.

[Kwazrollinz28]

i cut the door, but kept the metal lines gotta keep it stock looking haha

[TB2]

Wow, thats terible Darren. You know the only fix for that is a nice 350, or maybe an LS motor. haha. Yep, sounds like the pump. Good luck.

[WMCCjames]

On 3rd gens you have to cut an enormous hole to get the pump out due to the metal lines. Cutting the metal lines to get the pump out is not something I would do or recommend...but there are lots of people that do it that way.