Fuel pump driving me crazy

[reno]

OK, about a week ago I stopped at the circle K to get some muchies and when I returned to my truck, it would not start, like it was out of gas. I waited about 3 minutes and tried again and it started right up. Now this morning it does it again, except I am still in my driveway. I take my kids car to work.

I come home from work and try to start the truck again, it starts right up. I test the fuel pressure at the schrader and get about 31PSI running and around 40psi KOEO. Took the connections at the pump off, not to bad, but cleaned them with electronics cleaner, took a pick and scraped inside the terminals to try to make sure a good clean contact is made then put a dab of electric grease (like for lightbulbs) inside the terminals. Before replacing the connector, I took 200 grit sandpaper to the male connectors on the tank to clean them and then replaced the connector.

Then I replaced the relay and cleaned that connector as well. Now do I have good pressure? And if this continues, what else is left besides the obvious,a new pump? What is the best way (easiest) to find a break in the wire if it stays intermittent?

 

[bottledgt]

hmm, you might tap a wire into the hot wire at the pump and rig up a test light in the cab. if it dies and the light is still on, then it has to be pump. if not ,then its in the wiring

 

[pillen140]

when fuel pumps fail, it usually happens intermittenly(if thats how you spell). i would probably replace it, before it leaves you stranded..

 

[reno]

All replaced now. New fuel pump installed. I always thought either the pumps works or it does not, not slowly dieing, another thing I now notice is when I remove the fuel cap, I hear pressure being released, just always thought my cap was defective and never got around to getting a new one .

 

[mountainkowboy]

My 86 would do the same thing, my pump was ok, but my sender was on the fritts. I believed that my tank had a bunch of crap in it and was plugging the fuel sock. When I pulled the tank out to check, it was clean, so I changed the pump/sender unit and then changed the inline filter...............that was the problem.

 

[almostclueless]

Those pumps lead a hard life and do end up sometimes failing intermittently. It's a good idea to replace the pump/sock/filters, even the fuel pump relays on an older injected truck. The stuff other than the pump is all inexpensive.