Help for a pathetic newbie

[blue62]

Originally Posted by rkmore

Thanks for all the feedback. I really appreciate it.

The car has been running fine.

I took the battery out to replace the fuel pump (which was a bit of a pain).

The old one had a bearing going bad, it would run then squeel occasionally.

The new pump is running and I jumpered around the relay ran it into a graduated cylinder and the volume seems good.

I don't have a pressure tester but it is about the only thing it can be at this point.

Before you say it, not it was not an OEM pump, it was a Carter. Should have know better.

Unless there is some sort of pump priming procedure I don't know about or something then it is just me being penny wise and pount foolish :-(

Thanks again

1998 Boxster, manual

You say you jumperd around the fuel pimp relay to test volume flow.
Is the relay working or is it possible that the relay is bad.


There is a possibility that you have air in the fuel line.
Perhaps jumpering the fuel pump while pushing the presta valve on the injector fuel rail will bleed the air out.
If that is the issue.

When you crank it over does it even fire??? sputter??

The first thing to do is Spray some starter fluid into the intake while cranking to see if it fires.
Then you will know for sure if it is a fuel issue.
Don't get carried away with the starter fluid.

If it does not fire on the starting fluid then you need to test for spark at the plugs.

[rkmore]

Originally Posted by blue62

You say you jumperd around the fuel pimp relay to test volume flow.
Is the relay working or is it possible that the relay is bad.


There is a possibility that you have air in the fuel line.
Perhaps jumpering the fuel pump while pushing the presta valve on the injector fuel rail will bleed the air out.
If that is the issue.

When you crank it over does it even fire??? sputter??

The first thing to do is Spray some starter fluid into the intake while cranking to see if it fires.
Then you will know for sure if it is a fuel issue.
Don't get carried away with the starter fluid.

If it does not fire on the starting fluid then you need to test for spark at the plugs.

Thanks for the ideas.

The relay is working. I hooked a very thin wire to the switched side of the relay and to a meter and it shows 12v when I try to start (but not rest of the time so I am sure it is the correct pin)

Not even a single cough when cranking.

I am hesitant to take the cap off the presta valve since I have read that you can't re-use an old cap once you take it off and I don't have another cap.

Where would be the best place to squirt a little starter fluid? Pull out the air cleaner tray maybe?

Thanks again for all the help. This is a very good forum!

[old911doc]

The simplest explanation is that there is air in the fuel line. It got in there when the fuel pump was changed. The Schrader ( not Presta, like on bicycles) valve on the fuel rail is there for the purpose of purging air from the system, and to attach a fuel pressure gauge ( many of which have bleeder valves like tire pressure gauges). The cap is the same thread as a tire valve cap, 4/$1.
Press the Shrader valve pin down while an assistant turns the ignition key from off to on; several repetitions may be needed. When fuel sprays out, release the valve. The engine should start.
Depending on whether the car is on level ground, you may not get all the air out at first try.
If the fuel system is delivering fuel under pressure, there is some other cause. Ignition failure would be next. An easy way to test would be to remove one coil from one plug ( two small bolts, 5mm Allen wrench) and stick another spark plug in it and hold it against the engine to ground it while your assistant turns the ignition key to Start. You should see the plug spark; if not, consider crank position sensor failure.

[blue62]

Originally Posted by rkmore

Thanks for the ideas.

The relay is working. I hooked a very thin wire to the switched side of the relay and to a meter and it shows 12v when I try to start (but not rest of the time so I am sure it is the correct pin)

Not even a single cough when cranking.

I am hesitant to take the cap off the presta valve since I have read that you can't re-use an old cap once you take it off and I don't have another cap.

Where would be the best place to squirt a little starter fluid? Pull out the air cleaner tray maybe?

Thanks again for all the help. This is a very good forum!

Pulling the intake tube from the air filter box off of the throttle body would probably be best.
Your going to have to open the butterfly to get the starting fluid down to the intake valves.

Taking the cap off of the Schader valve will not hurt anything tell you get another cap.

[rkmore]

There is a split in the plastic nipple on the output at the top if the pump.

Will pump some fuel if there is no pressure required so it passed my flow test but as soon as even a little pressure required just squirts back into tank.

Finally resorted to powering the pump directly with my power-probe while I looked into the tank with a flashlight.

What a pain in the rump.

Thanks for all the help! Greatly appreciated.