Hello All. Please forgive me if there is clearer information around that I should have found. I have searched but find only partial information.
I have a 89 TBI 305 that does not start. It starts if I feed gas at the TBI but the pump is not priming nor pumping gas to the TBI.
Before I go to drop the tank I want to be sure that the pump is the culprit. I have read around here the existence of some test method that will force the pump to run. Can anyone provide details to such method?
I have checked the relay and found no apparent issue there. I do not know where the fuse if any is located so I have not checked for that.
Thanks in advance for any help.

jim

 

i was thinking it was like mine and on the passenger side but then found this

.if I remember right if you look in the wire loom near the firewall where the harness comes through (just to the right of the brake booster) there should be a single red wire with a male spade connector on it....this is the fuel pump primer wire...if you put battery voltage directly to this wire it should make the fuel pump run bypassing
the relay.

so it sounds like this guys memory is like mine. lol. couldnt find any pictures of the 98's location, anyways this is what mine looks like and its on the passenger side between the firewall and the wheelwell.
http://shbox.com/1/fuel_pump_prime.jpg

 

Hi Craby, thanks very much for the response. I will look but I believe the picture you showed is for a 95 or so 4th gen. Mine is a 89 third gen. No big deal as many of these features were common for those years as well. I hope it is that easy lol.

peace

jim

 

under the dash, on the right side, is the assembly line diagnostic link. the lower, furthest right pin is the fuel pump test. it will bypass everything else and will send power to the relay or pump (im not sure which though) if you run a power wire directly from the battery. if all you hear is a click, then the relay is at least getting switched, but could still be burned out. try switching it with a known good or new one. if that doesnt fix it, then it will probably be the pump

 

thanks kid. i was goin on old worn out memory and some other guys worn memory.lol

 

haha. i know that my 95 blazer has that little plug on it. i used it to drain my tank before i replaced the fuel pump in that truck

 

Craby, no problem man. lol
Microkid, thanks for the suggestion. I am waiting for the sun to come up to go play with the car. It is about 38 degrees out right no brrrrr!
Anyways, I have heard of the pin on the ALDL to do this test with but I have read before to do the lower left one.
Regardless, I have held the relay in my hand while turning the ignition to the "run" position and have not heard or felt it click yet. I am replacing it anyways since it is only a 11 dollar part and I opened the casing to check it out lol.
I will post results.
thanks all.

 

Well, I replaced the relay and did the ALDL trick to no avail. No noise from the pump and the car won't start. I will explore the pump harness in the back of the car as a last resort. I feel the pump is bad.
thanks all for the suggestions.
regards,
jim

 

are you getting the relay to click at all when you send power through the aldl?

 

After replacing the relay I did not try the ALDL trick. Good suggestion and will try that tomorrow. I spent the day on my 4th gen fixing wipers and replacing brake rotors etc. These cars are fun!!! lol.

jd