Another FI /Fuel supply issue

[emosfiat]

I have another question about the wonderful FI system on the 1980 2000. It was running fine then all of a sudden (while on the road for a test drive) it just ran out of fuel and died. I had to set for a short while with the ignition on to run the fuel pump. I tried to restart with no luck. Waited some more and tried again. It wanted to start but it seemed to be starving for fuel. After several attemps, I was going for a tow. When I got back to it it started and ran enough to get back home before it died again. It ran fine until it felt like it ran out of fuel. I am thinking fuel pump. Any thoughts?

[jfrawley]

My '82 had the exact same symtoms a while ago, except once mine quit the first time it never restarted. Replaced fuel filter and defective pump.....problem solved. Hope this helps.

John

[kristoj]

You may want to check for correct voltage at the fuel pump before replacing just to be sure. Advance Auto sells a Bosch fuel pump for under $100 (check here). So if it looks like the original pump, you may want to replace pump and filter proactively anyway. Mine was original, so I replaced it last summer with the Bosch unitl from Advance prior to the long drive to FFO. Didn't want to get stranded in the middle of nowhere for a $100 part.

[So Cal Mark]

sounds more like an electronic ign module failure

[emosfiat]

Mark, I replaced the ignition module and attempted to change out the fuel pump with a new one. The new pump would not pull fuel from the tank even after priming. I put the old pump back on and it pulled fuel to the rail and return line. Tried to start the car. No luck. Got spark to plugs. Got fuel through the rail and return. Car will turn over and kick off with the starting fluid. I had the air tube off
of the Airflow and plenum while spraying the starting fluid. Replaced the air tube and the car started and ran so smooth that I thought I had unknowingly fixed the problem. I drove it around for a while. It did not die out so I parked it for the night. The next day it would not start for anything. Got a new pickup coil comming. Will replace and try again. When this thing starts and runs it runs real good. I have not changed or cleaned the injectors but I have Lucas Injector cleaner in the tank. I have not changed or replaced any other sensors on the FI system. I did not thing I needed to at the time. Can you advise? Thanks, Emo.

[So Cal Mark]

you'll have to diagnose the problem when it's occuring. Have you checked the cold start injector? When it won't start, you'll have to find out if the injectors are pulsing

[rlux4]

Emo, if your ignition switch and dual relay are hooked up as original, the fuel pump will not be activated until the key is in the "start" position. Then the fuel pump continues to run until the key is turned "off". Mark is right. If you are getting spark to the distributor when the car isn't starting, you need to check the injectors to see if they are pulsing. A noid light is the best tool for this check. Pull the connector off the easiest injector to reach (#1) and plug in the noid light. You'll need to cup your hands around it to see if it's getting pulse signal because it's so slight, any outside light will make it hard to see. If you have spark to the plugs, and your pulse signal is getting to the injectors, and you have fuel flowing at a good regulated pressure, the problem will be a leak somewhere in the air supply.
Let us know how it's going.
Ron

[emosfiat]

Thanks for the advice. I think I might have solved the issue. I replaced the pich up coil and the darn thing started and purrrred like a kitten. Took it for a spin and I actually made it home. Got my fingers crossed that this time it will keep running until I get all the systems checked and replace as I need to. Thanks again to all. Emo.