Fuel Pump Problems
I've got an inline Fitech furl pump that seems to be acting up. I've always had to wait a few second with the ignition on before cranking for the engine to start especially first thing in the morning. Many times the engine will not start after a longer run and then letting the truck set for a while. It will eventually start after waiting and cranking and waiting and cranking.... not a real dependable situation.
Today I had to call the tow truck...again! I drove to the store and came out and would not start. I could not hear the whine of the fuel pump at all when the ignition was turned on. No fuel pressure at all. I figured the pump died. A couple of hours after the tow truck brought me home, I turned the key, got the familiar whining pump noise and the truck started. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I've gotten to the point that I don't feel comfortable using my truck very much because it's just not dependable!
Is this an in tank, in line or FCC?
Ok can narrow it down by probing your Fitech fuse on the fuel pump Orange wire when you turn the key on for prime. Make sure you are getting a signal from the Fitech. Most likely you are.
Are you using a relay or running the pump directly from the Orange wire? How is the pump grounded?
Sorry, I meant to mention that it is an in-line pump and I am using the orange wire directly to the pump with no relay and the pump is grounded directly to the frame of the truck.
As I mentioned in my previous post, after setting for a couple hours the pump started working again. When I turn the key on now I can hear the pump priming and the engine will start and run. I assume if the pump is priming that it's getting a signal from the FiTech?? My troubles always seem to be when the system has run for a while and everything is hot. Sometimes it takes a while to get it going but I can always hear the pump. This is the first time I wasn't hearing the pump priming when I turn the key on.
Sounds like a pump issue. Inline pumps are known to overheat.
What is the vehicle? I would recommend an in tank pump....
'65 Chevy pickup, 350/700R4, dual saddle tanks.
I was thinking it might be a pump problem related to heat. I think I'll try a different brand pump. I ran an in-line pump on this truck for 15 years with a GM TBI system and never had an issue. I hate to have to mess around with putting two in-tank pumps it. We'll see what happens.
Thanks for your input.
Hope it works out. The TBI pumps are low pressure. The higher pressure pumps create more heat.
Many want to point to drag race cars with inline pumps, but they get driven for a few minutes at most. I look at the fact that the OEMs have been using in tank pumps for decades. Must be a reason and I'm not smart enough to reinvent the wheel.
Curious about your saddle tanks. Are they from a Square Body? If so you can get 87 TBI pickup assemblies and put hi pressure pumps in them.
These tanks came with the truck when I bought it 20-some years ago and they fabricated from 1/8" steel plate and custom fit the space between the cab and the rear wheels on the outside of the frame rails on the long wide bed. I wish the wide body tanks would fit!!
It does seem rather strange to me though that a new inline pump would only last just a few months before acting up. I guess everyday driving is rougher on them than racing....
Getting warmer now. More heat issues. Winter months and that pump may work just fine.
It's really not that hot here yet....only got to 105 yesterday!
Put in a nice new fuel pump. My first outing was great drove about 12 miles to do some volunteer work. After 6 hours the truck started right up and drove beautifully. A couple of hours later I drove about 6 miles to the hardware store after 10 minutes setting, it started and died immediately. Waited another 20 minutes during which time I to start it several times and it finally ran. During my attempts to start, I could not hear the fuel pump priming. Finally it did prime and it started momentarily and then died. Finally everything started functioning properly.
I'm fairly certain my problem is not the fuel pump. It's almost like the ECM (or whatever the proper term is) works intermittently when the system is hot. At any rate, I'm right back to not having a dependable ride. I may try to get 12 volts for the pump from a different source rather than the FI system. Any negatives to that?