Intermittent Problem with Fuel Pump???

[customa4]

I was driving the other day and the car died as I came up to a light. Tried to start it and it just wouldn't start. I was trying to gas it to see if it helped as I was cranking and it seemed to not help at all, almost like I wasn't even pushing the gas. I got out of the car and unplugged the MAF to see if maybe there was a big air leak and that might have been the problem. Did nothing. I popped the backseat off and turned the key to on, no sound. Tried it a couple times and still no sound. Checked for pressure at the fuel rail and got a little spray to come out. Once I got all of the pressure out, I turned the key to the ON position a couple more times, got no sound from the pump, checked the schrader valve at the rail, no pressure. So I figured it had to be the pump and had one overnighted to me.

Fast forward to today. I came to the car and decided I'd check it out one last time before I started working on it. I popped the lid off of the fuel pump and turned the key to the ON position, fuel pump made a sound and primed. I turned the key off and tried it again, pump primed again. I tried to start the car and it fired right up with a perfect idle. Let it run for about 15 seconds and pressed the gas pedal, car died. So I waited a few seconds and turned the key to the ON position again, pump didn't prime. Tried again, nothing. So about 5 or so times I tried to get the pump to prime and it doesn't activate. It sounds like the pump is the problem. Any advice? I was just about ready to tear into it and change it out.

Just verified that there is spark.

[Let it snow]

Remove the electrical connector from the fuel pump. Check for voltage at pins 1 and 4 while starting/cranking engine. You should have battery voltage. If you have voltage plug back in try again. If you have no fuel pressure with confirmed voltage, it would seem to be the pump. If you have no voltage when cranking it is not the pump.

[old guy]

Remove the electrical connector from the fuel pump. Check for voltage at pins 1 and 4 while starting/cranking engine. You should have battery voltage. If you have voltage plug back in try again. If you have no fuel pressure with confirmed voltage, it would seem to be the pump. If you have no voltage when cranking it is not the pump.

Good advice. You can also read through this thread. It's rather lengthy since the OP wanted to make damn sure it was the fuel pump before replacing it. There are a lot of different diagnostic steps outlined in the thread. Clicky click®

[customa4]

I just put the multimeter on the connector and did get battery voltage while cranking. Plugged the connector back in and no prime at all from pump when I tried to start it.

[customa4]

Fuel pump swapped, back on the road again.