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Symptoms of a dead fuel pump?

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Old 04-17-2015, 07:43 AM
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Default Symptoms of a dead fuel pump?

Anyone here ever had a fuel pump die while driving? I was just humming along on my way home and felt a little buck when I tip'ed into the throttle. A moment later when I got back on the throttle, nothing happened...just the feeling you get when you turn the car off while in gear and press the throttle.

I've checked the CEL comes on with the key on- not a dead main relay that seems to happen with Miatas. I can hear the fuel pump relay click when turning the key on and again after ~2 sec. I jumped the GND and FP pins on the OBDII port just for fun. The FP relay did not click as to be expected. I am not hearing the pump prime when turning the key to ON. The car will fire up briefly...maybe 1-2 seconds, then dies.
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Old 04-17-2015, 09:31 AM
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You can tell for sure by undoing a fuel line and trying to start the engine. Will be very messy if you're wrong though. Find a friend who doesn't know much about cars, and tell him it's very important that he stare straight into the fuel line while you test it.

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) mine was dead when I tried this so I didn't spray fuel everywhere. Your mileage may vary.
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Old 04-17-2015, 12:05 PM
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I'd find it hard to believe a fuel pump would just up and die all of a sudden. I'm more inclined to think it's an electrical issue. Ground or connector vibrated loose?
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Old 04-17-2015, 12:11 PM
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A friend had mice in his garage eat the wires going to the fuel pump over the Winter.
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Old 04-17-2015, 04:57 PM
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While doing an oil change this weekend, I noticed a portion of the drive shaft was particularly clean. The wiring that runs along the ppf had enough slack to touch the driveshaft. It ate through the outermost harness loom cover. The actual wires were untouched, but were exposed as a result. It was just a matter of time before the actual wires would have been damaged.
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Old 04-17-2015, 05:17 PM
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Well, I went ahead and ordered a DW from FM. I'll get under the car Mon/Tue and look around. I doubt wiring under the car.
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Old 04-17-2015, 05:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Doppelgänger
Anyone here ever had a fuel pump die while driving? I was just humming along on my way home and felt a little buck when I tip'ed into the throttle. A moment later when I got back on the throttle, nothing happened...just the feeling you get when you turn the car off while in gear and press the throttle.

I've checked the CEL comes on with the key on- not a dead main relay that seems to happen with Miatas. I can hear the fuel pump relay click when turning the key on and again after ~2 sec. I jumped the GND and FP pins on the OBDII port just for fun. The FP relay did not click as to be expected. I am not hearing the pump prime when turning the key to ON. The car will fire up briefly...maybe 1-2 seconds, then dies.
Yes, I had my OEM fuel pump die a slow death, replaced it with an Autozone fuel pump.

One year/20k miles later, just cruising down the road, bam, dead. Very possible.
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Old 04-26-2015, 11:45 PM
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Welp, I replaced it with the DW 325 and it primed and fired right up.
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