Fuel Pump Problems

Home Home and Auto Automobiles Repairs Fuel Pump Problems

Hi Bob,
I am working on a 1988 Honda Accord with a electric fuel pump The gentleman that owns the car has had three fuel pumps installed in the car last year. All of them were Carter pumps. I got the car with a dead fuel pump. I checked the voltage and ground and found both to be okay. I then installed a new fuel pump {Carter} and started the car and ran it up to temperature and checked the current draw with a low amp probe on a Snap-on Modis and it was okay. I drove the car down the road, brought it back and parked it. It sat for a week. Then, I moved the car and it started right up.

After sitting for about another week, when I tried to start the car, it would not start. I got it back in the garage and did some checking and found no fuel pressure. When I replaced the pump originally, I also blew out the fuel lines and replaced both fuel filters. I checked for voltage and ground and again had both. I ran a jumper directly from the battery to the pump and all it did was hum but no fuel out of pump. The fuel in the tank is not real old and the tank is very clean. I then ran a ohms test and had 7.7 ohms. I called Carter tech support, and they did not have any specs available as to how many ohms a good pump should show. I am going to install a new fuel pump and put new terminal ends on the wires to the pump. Then I am going to run the car and monitor the voltage for any drop or spike. I'm also going to monitor the current draw on the wires. If you have any other ideas as to what you think could be eating fuel pumps, I would appreciate any and all input on this little issue.
Thank You,
Dale

Dale,
You should check for ethanol compatibility. I don't know what part of the country (or world) you are in, but a lot of places are starting to blend ethanol with gasoline. If the pump is not ethanol compatible, the pumps could simply be failing because of that.
Good Luck!
Drive Safely!
Bob, The Auto Answer Man

If you have a question for Bob, send it to AskBob@stretcher.com He's able to answer many of them personally and we'll include the best questions in future issues of The Dollar Stretcher.

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