possible fuel pump problem?

[tb3]

My 84 gn is all stock and has 64,000 original miles, i have only owned it a few months and it has been running fine except the other day i noticed that it would hesitate like it was fuel starved every once in a while when you give it gas. I don't know any other turbo buick owners so this site is my only link to help. I had a t-type back in the early 90's when i was in high school, but haven't had a turbo buick for over 10 years till recently. I know my fuel pump is original, and i've been told that when elect. pumps start going bad, they get louder, and i think this one's louder than normal. So I've ordered one up and should be here by weeks end. I also am going to be putting a new coil pack on since it has the original. I know it could be a huge number of things causing this, but thought this would be a good start. Is there by chance any thing somebody would recomend that might be a good and quick and easy check to do for something like this, and i know that "motor hesitating feeling like its fuel starved" is kind of vague, but it's all the describing I have at this point.

 

[Jerryl]

My 84 gn is all stock and has 64,000 original miles ............ I know my fuel pump is original, ............ I also am going to be putting a new coil pack on............ I know it could be a huge number of things causing this, but thought this would be a good start. Is there by chance any thing somebody would recomend that might be a good and quick and easy check to do for something like this.

You have the right approach. Change the fuel pump and that may solve your issue. Be sure to look at/verify the fuel filter and the fuel pump sock.

Try to either purchase some kind of scan tool or, find someone local with one. This will give you LOTS of info on how the car is performing, and, get you to an actual tune. Without a scan tool and/or data, you will/may be replacing good parts and shoot in the dark on may issues.

As far as the coil pack .... Measure across the towers and you should see no more than 12.5-13K ohms. Don't recall the exact number since GNTTYPE is still down.

Verify your plugs and wires if you suspect the issue to be ignition related. These two things are crucial in these cars. Good 8mm wires and plugs gapped at 0.035 should do the trick.

Again, Congratulations and good luck!

 

[tb3]

thanks, i installed a new fuel filter when i first got it. I will be getting a new sock with the new pump. i will ohm out the coil pack. i haven't removed the plugs or wires yet. The t-type I had was a carb-turbo, so I'm going to have to get hip to all the fuel injected computer related stuff. I plan on doing lots of reading up on a scan tool and most likely purchaseing one. i'll post a reply to my post if a new fuel pump fixes it. I suppose a fuel psi guage will be a good thing to have around also

 

[Jerryl]

thanks, i installed a new fuel filter when i first got it. I will be getting a new sock with the new pump. i will ohm out the coil pack. i haven't removed the plugs or wires yet. The t-type I had was a carb-turbo, so I'm going to have to get hip to all the fuel injected computer related stuff. I plan on doing lots of reading up on a scan tool and most likely purchaseing one. i'll post a reply to my post if a new fuel pump fixes it. I suppose a fuel psi guage will be a good thing to have around also

The basics of FI are really not that difficult to understand. You may want to read all you can on the following sites;

http://www.vortexbuicks-etc.com/index.html
Note that most of this info applies to cars 84-87.
There are subtle differences between the Hot Air and IC cars, all of which can be addressed here.

http://www.gnttype.org/
Often referred to as "The Holy Grail of Turbo Buicks"
(Site is down at the time of this writing)

http://www.turbobuick.com/
Of course, this site. There is TONS of info on this site.
Get REAL familiar with the "sometimes not so friendly" search function.

 

[84GNGary]

I just replaced my stocker with 42k on it. Was not really having a problem with it I just replaced it to avoid one. The fuel sock was all crumpled up too.
I always had a stumble when I stepped on the gas hard from a stop. The new pump solved my problem. Now if I do that I have to let off of it because the tires start spinning and I have a posi too. Still have the stock injectors & fpr have not installed the hot wire kit yet. Also while you have it out here are instructions to clean and fix your sending unit. Most likely it is not working.http://home.comcast.net/~84gngary/sendingunit1.html

 

[tb3]

well i feel pretty stupid. I can't even believe I'm going to post this. I decided to check the schrader valve on the fuel rail and see if it would spit fuel at me, and although a couple drops worth of fuel came out, it was mostly air, a lot of air. I had a 84 t-type back in high school in the early 90's, and although its been 10 years and I haven't been in a turbobuick since I recently aquired another,... a ton of stuff has came back to my memory. Such as knowing where the needle on the guage was compared to how much fuel was actually in the tank. When I last drove it, the fuel guage was almost on empty but I could still see the needle fluctuating with the movement of the car. I was wanting to run it low on fuel so I could get as much of the old fuel out as I could. I've only ran one tank of gas through it since I've bought it, and it had been sitting for months. I figured I still had at least 2 gallons left based on the needle still moving and knowing that my old t-type would still have 2-3 gallons when the needle was in the same spot. I just went to the gas station and brought back a 3 gallon can of premium, then turned the key on so the pump would build up some pressure, noticed that it got quieter soon as it picked up some fuel, then started it and drove it, and its not hesitating at all now when I drive it. I guess I was about running on vapors when I had drove it home last. Looks like I'll have a spare fuel pump now.I deserve a huge wedgie for this one. I feel really really stupid.

 

[tb3]

hey 84gngary, I'm going to go ahead and replace my pump when it gets here just for some preventive matintance like you've done. I figure my sock will be all crumpled too, and since you've posted the link, I will check out my sending unit too. thanks for the info! At least this wasn't a total waste of time.
also, thanks for the turbo links jerryl, I have recently become a member of gnttype.org, the other link is also really good for some troubleshooting. I do plan on buying a scan tool and doing lots and lots of reading. The less I post on this messageboard is probably the less I look like a idiot.

 

[Jerryl]

.... The less I post on this messageboard is probably the less I look like a idiot.

It is actually the opposite. We have ALL done some pretty stupid things with these cars and if you want some "stupid stories", we can start the funny pages.
Don't beat yourself up. It is no worst than putting in a motor and forgetting to snug the spark plugs. Of course, "I" would have never done that.
Glad you got it working.