Fuel Pump Dead?

[Liger Zero]

Hey guys, Ive been searching everywhere to try and find my answers but have no luck at all. The thing is I have a 1995 Eclipse RS which is all stock except a CAI. The past few days I started developing an issue where I would go out and start my car without an issue then drive for a little, go into a store or whatever and when I came back out to restart the car it would act as if it would fire up then die immediately. I continued to crank it and eventually after some sputtering it would start but have a very low and rough idle and keep dying. After several times of this happening it fires up and I can drive it home. When I went out again afterwards to try and restart it the car acted as if it was starting normally then died and that was it. Now it just cranks and thats it. I accessed the fuel pump under the rear seat and had my girlfriend try and start the car while I cheaked the fuel pump and it did absolutely nothing. So I unplugged it and tested the connector from the wiring harness with my voltmeter (while she cranked the motor) to see if it was getting any power and sure enough it was.

Is there anyway that I can test the fuel pump itself to see if the connector is bad or do you think I have a bad fuel pump? I went to autozone to buy one and he also asked me if I want the fuel pump assembly that includes the sending unit. Is there a way to tell if my problem is just the fuel pump or the sending unit? or both? I dont have much money right now so Im not looking to spend money needlessly but I do need a car. Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks in advance!

 

[bryanwheat]

IF you have a fuel pump problem than you just need the pump. You would only need the sending unit if you damage the one in your car installing the pump. I would check fuel pressure before even considering replacing the pump.

 

[Liger Zero]

Ive never tested fuel pressure before. But does that affect whether the pump functions or not? I thoguht that when the pump gets power it cycles?

 

[4g63tc]

^ The Answer is Yes, Fuel pressure does affect the way a car runs. (kinda Vague, I know.)

+1 on the Pressure Test, you may have a leak in the line which is bleeding off pressure, and the pump is having to work to rebuild it. (kinda feels like you ran out of gas)

this sounds like your issue due tot he fact the car runs fine after the Fuel lines are "refilled" and or re-pressurized, then after the car sits it starts doing the same thing over.

 

[Liger Zero]

Ok, I know that fuel pressure affects how the car runs. What I was asking is does fuel pressure affect the fuel pump from cycling over??? The fuel pump does not function at all when attempting to start the car BUT I checked the connector for voltage and it does have power all the way to the pump! So I am assuming that the fuel pump is dead. Im just trying to verify what all I need to do to test things before I go out and buy another pump.

 

[dino4g63]

Yes I agree. If you have power to the pump and there is no fuel pressure, the pump is a possible problem. I would check the fuel filter first.