Another Fuel Pump thread -Resolved

Black rubber hose in tank split. Not sure if pump was also going, but think not. The way the car was running, split hose (only split a little) made alot of sense, except the occasional no start.


Cross posted from my sky is falling thread.  

1992 Caprice that we just got.  96K dealer maintained (receipts do NOT show a fuel pump).

Ok.  get in it and it starts, put the wagon in drive and it dies.  Now it cranks and won't start.  I'm in the swayle and on a little sideways incline so I think the fuel gauge is off.  Run to station and get 2.5 gal.  No change.  

UPDATE: Got car pushed into the grass so it was more level. Now it started and idles fine. Put the air cleaner back on (checking spray pattern) and pull it into the driveway. Flash Gumby stopped by to help me get it back in the driveway. Leave it run for a couple min rev it up, seems fine.

Well darn, I guess I was low on gas. So he leaves (has to go back to work) and I decide to drive it to fill it up to find out how far off the fuel gauge is. I go around one left and it almost fuel starves.....thinking yep the gauge is whacked. Fill it up and it takes under 8 gals. Give it some more and it takes only a little and shuts off again. Crap the gauge is right it DID have half a tank.

I start it up and on the first right turn I give it gas and it stalls mid corner like a fuel starve......throw it in neutral started right up and drove home taking the corners slow.


Guessing the fuel pump is going?  Usually when the quit they just up and quit without warning.  Wife mentioned it stumbled a bit this morning when she drove it.

Fuel filter maybe?  Scott said the spray pattern on the TBI looked good.  I'm afraid to have it quit while driving ala Robert on the way to wagonfest last year....

Soliciting ideas.....

Presuming that you'll need to pull the tank , do yourself a favor. You are about to find out how much fun it is to drop a tank will a fulll load of fuel in it.

Get a transmission pan drain plug from advance/autozone etc and put it in while the tank is down.
Next time (and there will be a next time) it is very easy to drain the fuel via the plug.

lakeffect wrote:

Presuming that you'll need to pull the tank , do yourself a favor. You are about to find out how much fun it is to drop a tank will a fulll load of fuel in it.

Get a transmission pan drain plug from advance/autozone etc and put it in while the tank is down.
Next time (and there will be a next time) it is very easy to drain the fuel via the plug.

not the first full tank drop, prob the 4th time over 3/4, I got my game set on that

ok so anyone use the Carter setup?

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1037326,parttype,6256

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=296462&cc=1037326
says it comes with wiring harness

Mine's a Walbro, but I'm pushing more horsepower,

How's your fuel filter?

I'm running a carter pump. the pick-up hose that came with the replacement was a little short compared to the one that was in my tank. It's been almost a year since I dropped it in there. Although the one I pulled out was also a carter. I'm not sure how long it lasted, or when it was put in by the previous owner. All I can say is that when the pump started going bad it would not provide enough fuel flow when you tried to accelerate aggresively. I would be like "press petal down hard" car falters while at the same time I hear the fuel pump get louder (whirring sound), then a few seconds later the car would gradually gain power (accelerate).

Well it looks like it'll be an airtek as that what Advance and Auto zone have. NOT going with a Bosch and I put an Airtek in the OCC about 10K ago and so far so good.

A friend of mine who works in a parts store said that a Delphi is a good pump. I got one from Advanced, and was going to install it. I have decided that the issue is not the pump, and am still using an AC Delco.

Isn't it advisable to replace the entire assembly, rather than just the pump itself? I see two full assemblies on Rockauto: Spectra SP127B1H for $118 and Delphi HP10014 for $220. They also have just the pumps for $75 and under, but since it's a PITA job why not make everything new, right?

I ask because I am in the early stages of diagnosing a situation in which the pump does not come on with the key and there is zero fuel at the test port on the rail. I'm priing parts to be prepared.

Do not buy the Spectra pump under any circumstances.

The assembly is usually not the culprit, the pump and wiring are often the issues. If you are not getting fuel, I would change just the pump, and make sure the wiring is in excellent condition (solder them if you feel the need). The Delphi pumps are available from Advanced Auto as well, and If they have a 25-30% discount on line, can be less than Rock Auto, although I believe Rock Auto will match prices. Rock Auto has a 5% discount code on the forum. If you go on line at Advanced Auto and chat with the rep, they will often give you a 30% discount. Both will charge you a shipping charge for on line purchases, and the Delphi pump is not a stock item for Advanced Auto. The charge is about $10 either way.

What is wrong with the Spectra pumps? My mechanic just put one in my wife's '04 Tahoe.

I'll probably go with a Delco for the Roadmaster, unless you guys have a different rec.

I'm also trying to see what options there are for replacement harnesses, because I am reading that the in-tank ones can go bad.

Bull wrote:

What is wrong with the Spectra pumps?  My mechanic just put one in my wife's '04 Tahoe.

I'll probably go with a Delco for the Roadmaster, unless you guys have a different rec.

I'm also trying to see what options there are for replacement harnesses, because I am reading that the in-tank ones can go bad.

A lot of people got burned using the Spectra pumps, and had to drop their tanks again a couple of months later. So the B-body community hasn't trusted them since then. Maybe Spectra cleaned up their act, but why risk it?

I was mistaken when I told you that I used a Delco. I used a Delphi FE0114.

NAPA has the replacement harnesses for a few bucks. I think the other stores do too.

The pumps usually come with a new harness. The also come with the intermediate hose, and clamps. You do have to buy the sock separately. It is required to validate the pump warranty.

Delphi manufactures for Delco. They are the same but usually cost a little less.