I didn't realize that that was the particular year. For the OP's benefit, you could have also pointed out that the proper pump is very specific to that year as well, and has a separate part number
Can't find it right now, but Greg Brown knows the number, and I'm sure Roger too.

 

I see Greg beat me to it...Never mind.

 

Hello again,
Well I have determined it is definately the pump that died. I called in for a new pump (which I think is specific for the 87 & 88 years) and a new filter while I was at it. Also I did look for the inline wires and there were none - so it's just the one external fuel pump. On the upside, by this happening it made me put the car up in the air and there are other things that need tending to. Time to change fluids but more importantly I noticed both of my exhaust hangers have broken plus the material that wraps the wires under the car has degraded so I can take care of that while I wait for the new pump.
Curious though..... has anyone had a fuel pump go intermitent or do they just outright die?

Thanks ,
Brett

 

Pumps are like many things these days - lifetime warranty - warranted to work until they stop, then the lifetime is up. The can go loud when working hard, any sort of behaviour you can think of. If it pulls current but doesnt hum/whine, it sounds jammed on debris. Try reverse polarity briefly. Check the state of the in tank filter through the top access - remove round black cover on rear deck, remove gauge head fitting, and with low fuel you can see the filter with a TORCH. Mine was very very broken.
jp 83 Euro S AT 55k

 

A torch eh?

 

When checking the fuel strainer just make sure that you use a English torch (flashlight) not an American one (burning stick).............(Ain't we got a wonderful lingo?)

Myles

 

Yep in this context Torch = Flashlight (for those without recent "Queen's English" language ties).

An unfortunate lack of comprehension here could lead to a premature smouldering death...

Alan

 

Hey. Not all of us colonials would stoop to using a burning stick. Many of us have lighters.

 

Fortunately I was aware that a "torch" was a flashlight (lots of web friends from the other side of the pond) but yes that could be mistaken here in the US!
I think this is a good idea, I will take a gander before I put the new pump on just to make sure. Of course all this working with gas tanks is becoming annoying this year..... I just finished dropping the tank on my Dodge motor home a few weeks ago. I think my wife thinks I am into sniffing gas or something!

 

I was just screwing around being an idiot.

I hate doing anything involving dropping a gas tank... techs just say you get used to the fumes. I can't. I get high and can't focus worth ****. Done enough warranty sender units to know.

 

As Churchill said 'two countries separated by a common language'.....
Sorry about forgetting to use 'flashlight', but I couldnt imagine too many people using a burning stick lately.
jp 83 Euro S AT 55k

 

Slight diversion.......I have a fuel filter to replace the in tank pump to hopefully avoid the event it destructs and jams the external pump.....do I now need the older external fuel pump version?

 

Usually the external pumps designed for use with the in tank pumps will be noisy without the internal pump. Bosch apparently changed the design slightly, because these external pumps did not have to do any sucking.

I've never gotten too deep into it, but I'm guessing that the difference may just be a lower amperage motor in the external pumps that are force fed.

 

thx Greg......the external pump part number does change after the '89 MY and the addition of the in-tank pump but theres no detail as to output volume/motor amperage etc. for either pump in the tech spec books.

Apologies to the OP for the diversion.

 

Hello again everyone,
Well a little follow up on my problem. I did replace the fuel pump which had been done before (the claw marks from a vice grip gave it away) and after a couple of turns of the key it fired right up. Now I am back to the other end of the problem which is poor running. Basically it starts and idles fine and even on acceleration everything is fine.... but when you let off the gas the motor drops RPM's and it either stalls or nearly stalls. Any thoughts of where I should start looking on that one?

While I was under the car I did recover all the wires since the sheathing has fallen apart - plus add a little tranny fluid (oh that was fun!). Also threw in a couple of muffler hangers that had broken.
Once again thank you everyone for the excellent information helping me sort through this. Maybe just Maybe this car will make its way out of the garage in the near future (that would probably make the wife much happier...)
Brett