Car just stalled on me....and I am stuck at work......help !

[sunny_8]

Guys, Gals,

I drove to work today, turned a corner into my work parking lot and the car stalled on me. Tried to start her up kinda stutters and dies.

I did notice a high pitch whining sound from the rear of the car for a few months now.

I am thinking its the fuel pump.....but how can I test it.....without taking it out ? I am at work....and now stuck

Thanks,
95 Olds Cutty Supreme Convt
3.4L DOHC

[Mach10]

A howling fuel pump isn't usually a good sign... Without a pressure guage there isn't a lot you can do to actually TEST the fuel pump.

Stuttering then stalling probably means it isn't getting enough pressure.

Let it cool off... Possible it might (*might*) get you home once it has some time to chill out.

But you're more than likely going to have to replace it.

[sunny_8]

So i just went outside ....car starts RPM goes to 2K, then when coming back to 1200 it starts to sputter and giving gas keeps it sputtering and then it dies. You can smell a lot of gas in the car.....

Right at the time the engine dies, you hear a pop....I think its just the fuel left over.

turning the ignition to the first clikc, I hear the fuel pump priming.

Is there not a pressure relief valve which I can use to see if fuel is getting to the FI's ?

thanks

[Mach10]

Well, the fact that it starts suggests that it gets some pressure... checking the relief will tell you that the fuel rail is at more pressure than atmosphere... Not a whole lot else. But the valve is right by the power steering pump.

One other possibility is a vacuum leak at the MAP sensor. If the engine thinks it's at WOT, it'll flood out really quick.

[sunny_8]

ok so I can assume that fuel is getting to the fuel injectors ?

Funny thing is that this all happened in a second, meaning the car was running fine all the time then all of a sudden it flipped out...

I was thinking some hose fell off or some crap like that......the MAP is at the rear center right ?

Thanks,

s

[sunny_8]

so I took it to the mechanic......in about 3 minutes told me its the fuel pump.........said its only got 8PSI pressure....he showed me the gage when the car was off......

Anyway...he wants $350 to install...said he has to drop both exhausts whole tank then replace the entire fuel module.....he said the fuel pump sits inside it......

is $350 resonable ? I saw the pump for $60...I live in chicago...IL

thanks,

[Mach10]

Fuel module?

Uh, the pump just pops out. There's a single electrical connector on the top, the pickup screen on the bottom (which should be replaced, btw), and sometimes a modulator valve (not sure what else to call it; smooths out any pulses in the fuel line).

There are 2 other things to check when fuel pressure SUDDENLY cuts out;

The pump is suspect, that's true, but I would also consider looking at the fuel filter (I've seen the elements come loose and jam the outlet), and I would make sure the pressure regulator hasn't decided to crap itself.


In my experience, fuel pumps can and do go south, but when the output drops that fast, they usually burn the windings out almost immediately. More often you get uneven pressure, or low pressure. Just not usually THAT low.

I would probably have them check the fuel pressure right off the main fuel line BEFORE the regulator, just to make sure it isn't the problem.

Some words of temperance, however, before you get your hopes up and order a whole whack of diagnostic labor:
First, fuel filters usually deteriorate rather than shutting down all of a sudden. Lopy idle, random stalling, surging/fading at cruise etc.

Second, fuel regulators go just like pumps, but they generally tend to peg wide open, and cause an over-rich problem. Stalling at idle, very low idle, extremely strong smelling exhaust, and abhorrent fuel mileage.

At the end of the day, it's up to you to decide what you want for your car; Either to trust that the mechanic has tested the rest of the fuel system properly, or to be a suspicious bastard.

Bear in mind I may not be the best source; I'm horribly biased against mechanics. I've been screwed WAY too many times, so I pretty much do all of my own work with the exception of alignments and machine work. If you have a good mechanic, and he's never done wrong by you, and you trust him, go with that rather than some schmoe on the internet

[Doubt_Incarnate]

if your suspicious, then test it yourself. you can probably get a fuel pressure gauge somewhere cheaply, and after that all you have to is apply power to the fuel pump relay so it switches power on to the pump.

[sunny_8]

fixed the fuel pump module....can runs fine....no worries...the mechanic was a buddies friend....never did him wrong...but I aint him..anyway...its done now...thanks for helping me out.....

Where is the fuel pressure regulator ? I want to see if it "looks" new........and if i got jacked for 350..

thanks,

[Doubt_Incarnate]

it should be right on one of the fuel rails. should have avacuum line attached to it.