Hey everyone. So about two months ago, I was low on gas when I parked and shut my car off. It was freezing out too. I put heet and seafoam in the tank, waited a few days, and it started right up. Now, two weeks ago, the same thing happened, only it was warm and seafoam didn't win this battle. It cranks, but it won't turn over. Both times this happened, it would chug while changing gears. I checked for the following and this is where I'm at..

I cleaned the injectors
changed spark plugs and tested for spark (thumbs up)
swapped out fuel pump
The air filter is like new
I did a fuel pressure test with no psi.. fuel is not getting to the rail. It only spits out a llittle bit of fuel. Apparently I don't have a fuel filter, only a strainer which is pretty much new as well. The gas tank is also spotless. I'm about to just buy a new fuel pressure regulator and see if that's it, but I thought I'd get some second opinions first. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Brett

 

Does the fuel pump run? Is it getting power to the wires at the tank? Is the ground wire OK? There is going to be a fuel pump relay, it's more reliable than the ones used before 1996 but it could still be bad.

If the pump is the same as the old type with two screw terminals, make sure you didn't hook up the power wires backward on the new one.

 

Yes, the fuel pump turns on. It pushes out a tiny bit of fuel to the rail, but it's about a half or quarter cup of fuel. What we did to test it was we relieved the fuel pressure by pulling out the fuse and trying to start the car. Then we put the fuse back, unhooked the fuel line from the injector rail and tried starting the car. No fuel came out of the line.

So it is either the fuel pump relay or the pressure regulator?

 

So you hear the pump running for the prime cycle every time you turn the key on but don't crank? But none comes out the line? You can also force the pump on all the time but not be distracted by noise from the engine by disconnecting the small wire at the starter. Now when you turn the key all the way the pump should come on and stay on but of course the starter doesn't turn.

If the pressure regulator is bad it would be stuck open (bypassing back to the tank), that would be apparent by removing it and blowing air through the ports.

 

Yes the pump comes on. It did before we swapped it out for a new one, but I have the same issue. I'm about to check both things in about an hour so I'll let you know what I find. I appreciate all the help so far.

 

Okay, so I can't blow air through the fuel pressure regulator. I took out the fuel pump relay and now I don't hear the fuel pump start up. I am going to go grab a new one, hoping that it works. If this isn't the problem, then it has to be some sort of wiring that is bad, right?

 

so after all this trouble, it absolutely has to be a wiring problem. There is no clog in the fuel line. Fuel comes out of the fuel pump, but it just pours out. I'm not 100% sure, but I think roughly 45lbs of fuel pressure should yield some spewing of fuel. Barely any fuel gets to the rail still. The car starts fine with starter fluid.

 

Is there a fuel filter right outside the fuel pump? I'm not talking about the one up in the engine compartment.

If there is a filter back there, maybe it's clogged.

 

It turns out it was the key the entire time. The key just went bad for no reason, so the fuel system wasn't starting up. Crazy..

Thanks for all the help though. At least I know just about everything about my fuel system now. :-P

 

Give attention to the posts on the ignition system - there is a recall - you should be able to get it fixed for free. Your model is a 2003 though and I'm not sure the recall covers that model.