I drove the car(87 TC) to work today, drove it to lunch, drove it to the parts store.
Ran fine, no hints of something wrong.
I get ready to go to the bank...it starts, then dies right away! Won't start again!
Put the good 'ol fuel pressure tester on and NO PRESSURE. Damn, that tester was the best $40 I've EVER spent.
This will be the FIFTH time I have to drop the tank. I don't know what to do about replacing the pump.
I don't think the parts stores have a pump with enough volume.
Is there a Mustang pump that flows more than a T-Bird?
If I tell them 87 T-Bird, it tells them the stock pump. Don't want that!
I just got into an arguement with a guy at one of the auto stores. He said that a bigger pump and adjustable FPR will kill the engine and wont give you more power. I won't be buying anything from them!
I don't have time to get one online, plus I STILL have the 255 that I ordered that caused me to drop the tank twice...need to send that back.
HELP PLEASE!
Tim, sorry to hear this news. Are you sure it isn't the safety shutoff switch or the relay.? Also, if it is the pump why not use the 255? I just put one in a week ago. Also have you checked the voltage to the pump. If your not getting full voltage to the pump that may be why they fail so often (brown out)
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88 TC X 2, 86 SVO, Main TC with K&N, 3"DP to 2.5"duals through Dynamax, Ric valve at 17+ and disconnected KS.
Elite Bodega 16" chrome wheels. Autometer pod w/ A/F and Vac/boost gauges. New engine: Total Seal rings and TRW pistons, ported and polished head w/ cc'd chambers,1.59"exhausts, SS valves, gutted upper, knife edged lower, A-230 cam, Race Engineering Adj Cam Sprocket, Crowlers, ARP head studs, and rod bolts. Walbro 255 HP pump and T-3. Centerforce II, KB subs and jack rails.
Pete,
I haven't checked the voltage yet. It quit right a quitting time, I just pulled it into the shop for another day...or at least until I got ahold of you guys!
The last time I had a fuel pump problem, I burned up some wiring. I had to bypass the inertia switch.
Well, I put in the 255HP and it ran fine for awhile...
until the little chrome thingy that holds the little spring thingy in place came off and both were sucked into the fuel line.
I got both out of the line, put them back on the pump, crimped the chrome thingy and put it BACK into the tank. It drove fine for about 2 weeks and it came off again.
That time I said screw it and put in the pump that was in the car. I don't know what size it is, but its a Walbro too.
Right now, that 255 pump is setting at the shop(work) waiting for me to send it back with the chrome thingy still in the fuel line.
I don't know how to get it to stay on or I would use it again.
Where's the relay?
What sould the voltage be?
On 87 & 88's the fuel pump relay is intergrated into the "integrated controller", the odd shaped black box on the front passenger shock tower. Make sure that you have a good ground for the fuel pump at the rh floor pan, its looks like just to the right or under the passenger seat,(G208) also want to check that the fuel positive side wiring has not been compromised. It could show 13 volts yet not pass enough current to safely feed the fuel pump. These pumps typically draw 6 amps, put an ammeter in series with the positive OR negative wire with the fuel pump running to check current draw with the engine also running. If you do not have such equipment or knowhow, have someone do it for you. It is a real pain to drop these big tanks, even when they are only 1/3 full, so whatever little cost someone would charge would be worth not being stranded again. And please, re-connect the inertia switch for you own protection. If you have ever seen a fuel burned vehicle in a wrecking yard, it is something you will never forget. Ed
I tried to get the rundown to see if it was the pump or something else.
I switched the black box...nothing. The EEC...nothing.
Ignition switch...nothing.
Traced down wires for power...figured out there was power.
It WAS the pump!!
Put in a 190 and it works fine. Let's see how long this one will last.
Thanks for all your help.
Glad you got it going again Tim ! Ever get that "What next ?" feeling ???? I'm hoping I can do away with any more problems for a while myself too...
MAN, I hate that feeling!
I haven't had that feeling as bad as you did Dan.
We know how these cars are, yet we still love 'em...are we all crazy? Neah, were just crazy for these cars!
I don't know what it is. I've been talking about selling the black 87 to get a boat or pay some bills, but recently I've been seriously thinking about keeping it.
After all the shit my car has put me through lately...Hesitation, VAM, fuel pump, fuel pump, FUEL PUMP, hesitation, miss, vibration and FUEL PUMP, I want to do it some more with the black one!
Listen to how my last week was.
Last Friday I heard that an old family friend died in Chicago, after work I took off to the funeral. My wife called me on the way there (she had to stay home)and told me that her brother (who I don't care to much for) was coming into town and she had to pick him up at the train station in Carbondale, IL(11/2 hours away)at 9:30 PM on Sat. night. Saturday during the day, she went to look at a house and backed into a tree. Her car is all riced out and were taking it to Atlanta to a car show in mid Sept. Anyway, she messed up the rear bumper (has to be painted)and knocked off the ground effects. Saturday night on her way to get her brother, she gets a speeding ticket($75). Monday night, she gets something out of my car and LOCKS it!! I couldn't get into it at all!! I had to find a ride to work...I get home with the slimjim kit only to get it stuck in the door! At this point, I ready to throw a damn brick through the window to get in. I call my boss, he comes over to help get it open. It takes 3 of us to bend the top of the door enough to get a hanger in. While this is going on, my two girls fry the power wires on the golf cart. I get back to my car, the door is open. YES!
Wait, their looking at me funny. They scratched the roof with the hanger!! The whole roof has to be painted. Friday, the car runs fine. About a half an hour before work is over, I'm getting ready to run to the bank. Car starts and dies right away...and the rest is in this post.
Sorry this is so long, but I've had this built up in me!
Geez, Tim... I thought bad luck came in threes, not 17s!!!
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Jeff Korn
88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 20 psi, forced air intercooler, water injection, bypass valve, Ranger roller cam, subframes, etc., etc.. // 86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP nitrous, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.... // 91 Escort: Bone stock winter car // 00 Windstar (wifes vehicle)
Yep Jeff,
They ALWAYS come higher than 3 at a time with me!
I'm just glad last week is OVER.
Ya know there's something I forgot...if you can imagine that.
Saturday was my birthday!
I was gonna work on the car Saturday, but the wife wouldn't let me.
I did have a nice birthday. I got the car running again on Sunday.