Hello, just found this forum, trying to figure out where to start on the fix for my 1991 Track 1.6 8v. The truck has been in the same spot for almost a year, with an almost empty tank of gas, drove it around about a month ago after a jump start. Today, I tossed in a new battery and a gallon of fuel, cranked over fine, but no start. In front of the TBI unit theres a 1/4" hose with a small filter I think that goes in to the TB. Pulled it off, and it smeeld like gas (fuel line I guess). Cranked over, no fuel came out. :-/

Problem:
Did the fuel filter get clogged with garbage after this long? Is the fuel pump dead (how to check)?

It was kind of late and dark to start on any thing else, but tomorrow morning I will pull the fuel filter and see if its the problem.Praying to god that it is. I have a haynes manual just in case.

If you have any suggestions, please feel free to say something, thats the reason I posted here.
TIA
-Mark

One thing to try is loosen the fuel line at the inlet of the filter and turn the key to the on position. The fuel pump should cycle and leak. If not its probably the pump.

Later,
Bill

Thanks, I did that earlier today, nothing happend, there was leaking but very little, just dripping. From what I understand when the pump is on, it should pump at a decent pressure, there should be quite a flow. Maybe its seized up, so I tried tapping the tank to no avail.

I am trying to find the fuse or realy for the pump. I am using a haynes manual to help but the diagrams are almost uselss, the wiring on this thing is just a mess from the looks of it. There are three relays next to the fuse box, but the manual says there should be only one  . A new pump is 170.00 somthin dollars, maybe a junk yard will give for 50.00.

If any one has any idea where the fuses are for the fuel pump or any other usefull components, please let me know.

-Mark

You might have to put more gas in the tank for the pump to prime, i have a external pump on mine from like an 87 ford f-150 there like 70.00 bucks from napa. if you can't find a used one! and be real careful pulling a fuel line with pressure when you get it back!

There is a way to jump the fuel pump to
work and keep running with the key on.
I'll look it up and let you know.
The thing on the front of the TBI you
speak of is the fuel pressure regulator,
not a filter, but no gas from there is an
indication of no fuel flow, there is an in tank
pre-filter (mesh screen), and the after tank
filter, which is on the frame cross piece just in
front of the tank, just follow the 2 lines, you
will see it, it's about 4" long and 2" Dia. with
Banjo fittings on both ends.

I would doubt it is the pump, but it could
be the filter got full of junk, actually now I think
about it, you got a dribble of fuel, it's not the
pump, drop the filter and let the pump blow the
crap out.  Catch the fuel to see if there is a bunch
of junk, also, take the filter all the way out and blow
(with your mouth), after you clean the gas off and see
how easy or hard (should be real easy) it is to blow
through, Hard = replace but let the line run clean
before putting on the new one.

One problem is that you will have to drop the tank to check
the pre-filter unless you have a 4" body lift, and then it's
still a tight fit, 6 screws I think and it pulls straight up out.
don't worry about the screen filter, it's on tight and it's flexible,
quite a bit larger than the hole but no worries, it's made of plastic.

I'll re post with jumper instructions for pump

hope this helps, Good Luck
Darrin

OK here it is, in Haynes manual # 1626 (US)
version, for year model 1986 to 1989, page
124 in figure 4.8 it says "To check fuel pump
relay, jump terminals 1 and 2 of the relay
connector and turn the ignition switch to ON."

If the fuel pump now works, replace the relay.
The relay is on the left side under the dash by
the fuse panel and has 2 plugs, a 4 wire and a
6 wire.

Good Luck,
Darrin

I would doubt it is the pump, but it could
be the filter got full of junk, actually now I think
about it, you got a dribble of fuel, it's not the
pump, drop the filter and let the pump blow the
crap out.  Catch the fuel to see if there is a bunch
of junk, also, take the filter all the way out and blow
(with your mouth), after you clean the gas off and see
how easy or hard (should be real easy) it is to blow
through, Hard = replace but let the line run clean
before putting on the new one.

hope this helps, Good Luck
Darrin

I pretty much did this ealier yesterday, I removed the banjo fitting from the inlet line on the fuel filter. I have relay information on th fule pump in my Haynes manual (its a 1991) but according to the manual there is only one relay next to the ECU not three.  

This thing has been probably wired and rewired by a monkey. In the fuse box theres a jumper wire on one of the fuses goin god knows were.

To drop the tank, I would probably be able to do that my self, but I only come home for the weekends and live in Boca,FL during the week at school. The thing about dropping the tank in my parking lot, the condo assosiaction would probably have a brain hemmorage if they saw me do that. :-/

What I read in the manual, when the key is in the on position, the fuel pump turns on to build fuel pressure before the engine is started. So today I'll probably Take of the inllet line off the fuel filter and see what happens. I was doing this solo yesterday, So I couldnt see the change my self.

Thanks for the info.
-Mark

Check the gas too, I pulled up into my driveway
once, engine running, next morning it wouldn't
start, needed some gas and fired right up, that
would be a little embarassing  if that was it.

Yeah, it could be low enough that it lost it's prime after it stoped running.