Indy Rev

Long time 944 owner jumping into the tank. I didn't want my introduction to be a no start, but.... Stats 86.5 auto w/ a jumper wire from the battery to the fuel pump. Not sure why the previous po did this instead of fixing it properly, but he did. I have no contact with him having bought the car from a fellow lister in between who will remain un-named since he has no fault in this shoddy work.

The car turns over, I have good spark, w/ jumper attached to the fp I can here it click. Spark plug feels/smells wet. I cleaned the ground strap and point in the rear. Also in pic 1 the wire connection was broken open. I cleaned the pins but am not sure if the po has the wiring in the proper slot. The car did run a month ago when it was put on the trailer to be transferred here.

I have also tried starting the car w/ the alarm connected and disconnected.


Sorry for the long post. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Indy Rev

I have confirmed that the injectors are firing with a simple light. I rechecked the spark plug and it is not saturated, only a slight wetness; and it doesn't reek of fuel. Next I guess I need to pop the fuel rail.

Bill Ball

You say you have spark and injectors are firing.

Shadetree but informative test...3-5 second blast of starter fluid or carb cleaner into the intake. If the car then starts and runs briefly, you know the problem is lack of fuel. Maybe some don't like this test, but it's worked for me every time.

Looks like there are all kinds of electrical issues. The fuel pump should do more than click if you apply 12V to its positive post. It should whir steadily as long as it has power. I'm going to guess the shadetree test will confirm lack of fuel and you will find the fuel pump is not pumping.

Indy Rev

I think I've narrowed it down to the fuel pump. There is no pressure at the rail. The pump clicks when receiving 12v but it doesn't spin.

Indy Rev

Thanks Bill. That's exactly what I have founds time to find a new pump

Hilton

Before you buy a new external pump..

Its also worth checking the in-tank fuel pump - they have a common failure mode where a short rubber hose inside the tank (joins the internal pump's motor to the tank outlet) breaks and allows bits of junk into the external pump, jamming it.

You might be able to un-jam the external fuel pump - give it some pulses of battery power alternately forward and backward (ie reverse polarity). Yes, fuel pumps have a finite lifetime, and they often die - but before you start spending $$$ you probably need to get the car running so you can checkout the other systems and figure out a priority list of expenses

Indy Rev

Thanks Hilton. Unfortunately it's toast. I took it out and added 12v to it and it just buzzed then tripped my power supply. I did go out and try to reverse it and it did the same thing.

Indy Rev

Ok here is a question. Before I burn out a new fuel pump, if the only way to get the external fuel pump to work is to jump it externally; doesn't that mean the internal one is not working unless I try to jump it at the relay? If I jump it at the relay does that fire both fuel pumps?

Thanks for the help

The Forgotten On

yes, it fires both pumps. I would recommend getting a fuel strainer and getting rid of the internal pump.
You only need it in areas where it gets hot or has a higher altitude. It is there to stop the car from vapor locking.
With the jumper put in by a PO you are only firing the external pump.

76FJ55

Could be mistaken but I don't believe the 86.5 has an internal pump. I think it is just running a strainer in the botom of the tank. easiest way to tell is look where the fuel line exits the tank. if there are a pair of wires connected to the tank at that location then it has the internal pump, but if there are no wires, which is what I suspect, then you only have an external pump.

Indy Rev

Thanks for the input. I will check this morning for the wires.

Indy Rev

ITS ALIVE! Thanks Hilton for the thought of un-jamming it. I used a impact gun and spun it in its housing then grabbed the BFH and gave it a few whacks the blew air through it both forward and back and that little motor was finally tired of me effing with it and came back to life.
Now its time to find out why it needs jumped. Off to the relay.

thezonster

My 86.5 came with no in tank fuel pump.

Bill Ball

Your hammer approach seems to have revived the dead pump, but I wouldn't trust it to run for too long.

elgreco

Keep it mind that that pump had the wires jump the wrong way for about a minute. But it did run after that. I drove it down the block used e brake to stop it.