Fuel pump problem

[striker_29]

My fuel pump is hooked up to a manual switch so I have to cut it on and off myself. It is a Walbro 340, and it is probably about 6 months old. Lately when I drive the car and stop somewhere say at a store, when I get back in the car and flip the switch the pump doesnt come back on. I have to just let it sit there a few minutes and then it usually will come on. This has happened several times and seems to be happening more frequently every day now. Is this just a sign of my fuel pump going out, or could it be in the wiring somewhere? Sounds like the pump to me, but its fairly new. I'm not the best at troubleshooting electrical problems, any ideas or suggestions are welcome. TIA...Mark

 

[Jimn8or]

I'd look in the trunk where the trigger wire [copper colored] connection is. This wire is very rigid and sometimes the solderless connections don't hold too well.
HTH
Jim

 

[Chuck Leeper]

PUMP??

IS it hotwired? Is the relay out in the open? Are you switching the main lead or the power to the relay?
Try to leave the sw. closed and try to start the engine.. Does the pump run for a couple secs then stop? If not and you are using the stock wire to trigger the hotwire relay, then the OEM relay could be fubar..

 

[striker_29]

Chuck, I didnt hook any of this up so I cant answer some of your questions. The guy I bought the car from said it had a "home made" hot wire kit on it. I think he just put some heavier guage wire somewhere as it was explained to me. I have some relays on the drivers side under the hood, but I'm not sure if any of them is for the fuel pump. Thanks for the input guys, scratching my head on the electical stuff.

 

[Chuck Leeper]

???

Does the pump come on for 2-4 sec's when the key is turned to on????
1 of the relays you mentioned could be the culprit.
Start over on the hotwire kit and BE SURE B4 you crater the engine or worse yet, burn the damn thing down w/ an electrical fire!!!
Did you do the check w/ the "hidden" sw like I asked???

 

[striker_29]

Hey Chuck, not sure about the hidden sw, not sure really what that is I have a brand new hot wire kit ready to go on, gonna have to get a buddy to help me install. The fuel pump does not come on with the key, only the switch. I can turn the pump on or off by the switch without the key in the ignition. Thanks again...Mark

 

[Chuck Leeper]

SW only??

Mark, it sounds like the last guy bypassed the OEM control of the fuel pump.. I'd find out what he did. I had understood that the sw. was in the line to the pump, but the OEM stuff was there too.
Sounds like the last guy just ran a wire and heated it up on 1 end, went thru a sw. and then to the pump. The reason you are having problems is most likely the sw won't carry the load the pump is putting on it. I'd look at the pump REAL carefully, if that's the case as it's been run at low voltage and could be toasted!!

 

[striker_29]

Thanks Chuck, I am gonna talk to him and find out what the heck he did. The pump is controlled totally by that switch, and it is acting up more and more. Something is up for sure. I am gonna get the hotwire kit on there, and probably install a new pump. SHould I hook it up a different way without the switch somehow? Thanks again for your help...Mark