1G Will not start but cranks, possible fuel pump fail?

[deyoungtsi91]

I cannot get my 91 TSi started. I bought it 2 weeks ago and have had no problems starting, it was starting right up. Now it will not start. I have checked for spark and I have spark on all 4. It cranks but doesnt fire. I cannot hear the fuel pump either. I had a friend try and start the car while I was right by the fuel tank and heard nothing. BTW regular service has been done on it and it is all stock. But over the past week or so I have been getting a hard shuttering feeling like its not getting enough fuel around 4000 rpm at WOT. My best guess now could be the fuel pump because it has 143,000 on it and its about 5 degrees out. All the sensors and ecu were replaced by the previous owner about a year ago but the fuel pump is original.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

Apply 12V directly to the hot side of the fuel pump. If you don't get fuel then, then the pump is dead. Replace the pump and return to boosting.

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

There is a fuel pump test connector located on the firewall right above where the battery sits. You can give that connector power on a wire coming from the battery positive to test your fuel pump. If you give it power you should hear the pump run. If it doesn't run you may need to go to the back of the car at the sending unit and check for power there. If you have power to the connector at the sending unit and the pump doesn't work it's most likely a bad fuel pump. Just remember that you will normally only have power going to the pump when you are cranking the engine and/or once it is running.

Here is a picture of what the connector looks like on the firewall.

Good luck

 

[Tyeler18]

So before asking, why not test the pump and find out for yourself?

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

So before asking, why not test the pump and find out for yourself?

Maybe the OP doesn't know how and that's why they are asking.

 

[Tyeler18]

Maybe the OP doesn't know how and that's why they are asking.

He should've stated that in his OP.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

Perhaps they didn't know that they could test the pump so easily. I sure didn't know on my first DSM when my fuel pump went out.

Good info Grave. If I could give you rep again, I would.

 

[deyoungtsi91]

Thank you for the help. I am going out in a bit to test it.

Turns out it was the fuel pump. I put a new one in and it fired right up.