914 Fuel Pump Issue, Not Getting Fuel Options

[travisre914]

'73 914 1.7 -- fuel pump replaced about 3000 miles ago. car died last night. left sitting overnight-went back this morning and it started. ran for a bit, then died again. can spray starter fluid in intake and starts briefly. so, began to check fuel pump. fuel pump is not running. meter shows power to fuel pump. relay seems ok (clicks when key is turned on). so, thinking of ordering fuel pump. does this make sense that it would have stopped last night, but worked for a bit this morning? when it was working this morning, could turn key on (but not turn engine over) and hear fuel pump run for a few seconds. cannot hear that now. What else could it be??? as you can probably tell from post, i am a rookie!!! thanks.

[underthetire]

'73 914 1.7 -- fuel pump replaced about 3000 miles ago. car died last night. left sitting overnight-went back this morning and it started. ran for a bit, then died again. can spray starter fluid in intake and starts briefly. so, began to check fuel pump. fuel pump is not running. meter shows power to fuel pump. relay seems ok (clicks when key is turned on). so, thinking of ordering fuel pump. does this make sense that it would have stopped last night, but worked for a bit this morning? when it was working this morning, could turn key on (but not turn engine over) and hear fuel pump run for a few seconds. cannot hear that now. What else could it be??? as you can probably tell from post, i am a rookie!!! thanks.

I am assuming it's still an FI car. Never use starting fluid in the FI on these cars. The plenum is stamped sheet metal and can blow apart. If you are sure your getting power then yes, it could only be a fuel pump. IMO i would pull the pump out and bench test it with a known 12VDC. Remember, the fuel pump only runs for a couple seconds when you turn the key on. If it's a carb car, the cheaper Empi fuel pumps fail a lot. Get the Faucet brand made for Empi.

[travisre914]

'73 914 1.7 -- fuel pump replaced about 3000 miles ago. car died last night. left sitting overnight-went back this morning and it started. ran for a bit, then died again. can spray starter fluid in intake and starts briefly. so, began to check fuel pump. fuel pump is not running. meter shows power to fuel pump. relay seems ok (clicks when key is turned on). so, thinking of ordering fuel pump. does this make sense that it would have stopped last night, but worked for a bit this morning? when it was working this morning, could turn key on (but not turn engine over) and hear fuel pump run for a few seconds. cannot hear that now. What else could it be??? as you can probably tell from post, i am a rookie!!! thanks.

I am assuming it's still an FI car. Never use starting fluid in the FI on these cars. The plenum is stamped sheet metal and can blow apart. If you are sure your getting power then yes, it could only be a fuel pump. IMO i would pull the pump out and bench test it with a known 12VDC. Remember, the fuel pump only runs for a couple seconds when you turn the key on. If it's a carb car, the cheaper Empi fuel pumps fail a lot. Get the Faucet brand made for Empi.

thanks. it is still FI. if i recall, the pump i had put on awhile back was a rebuilt pump. maybe go with new one this time.

[SirAndy]

What he said. Bench test it (And don't run it dry!) ...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) Andy

[swl]

back a while ago there was a thread where the guy tracked an intermittent fuel pump down to the brushes - they were sticking. He cleaned them up and was back in business. Made a lot of sense to me. If a little tap with a hammer brings it back to life then the brushes theory gets stronger.