Expert: Van - 8/17/2005

Question
not getting  fuel. I have put on a new fuel pump,checked fuses. it ran fine took around block& now it won't start.all fuses are good,but it won't run. thanks  

Answer
Hi Carla,
First, you need to listen to see if the fuel pump comes on and runs for about three seconds just as the key is turned to run.
If not, I assume you checked the fuel pump fuse on the firewall under the hood.

So...if it runs, then there is some other problem, but make sure the pump runs first.
If it doesn't run, there is a relay that may not be working, also located on the firewall.
Again, the fuse on the firewall is where you check that...with a test light. Connect a test light to the fuse, and see if it lights while cranking the engine. As long as the fuse has power, the pump should run. You can even use a jumper wire to jump power to the fuse, which should run the pump.

Here is a bad scenario for you.
I have dropped the tank on exactly that same truck, and installed a new pump, only to have it act the same way.
Dropped the tank again, removed the pump unit, and the problem, which was the problem with the orriginal pump also, was the wires INSIDE the tank, going from the top of the pump unit, to the pump. The top ends of the wires were connected by rivets through the top, to the connector. The rivets were LOOSE, thus only making connection intermittently. Smacking the bottom of the tank when someone was cranking the truck would make it run sometimes.

Good luck,
Van