Greetings all. My first post.

'96 Caravan w/3.3L and 270,000 miles. Yeah, she's been around awhile!

The wife was reporting a hard time getting the van to start on a couple of occassions and then after a -10 night in Michigan, it wouldn't start at all, even though I had the factory-installed block heater plugged in.

I was thinking fuel-line freeze, but rejected that after a warm up.

I've got spark, but I'm not hearing the fuel pump pressurize whent he key is turned on. Over the last several weeks, I've turned the key on and have heard the pumpt TRYING to pressurize. Sounded a little weak. Nonetheless, it did finally start after several weeks of sitting in the garage. I took it for a ride and then left it running in the driveway for about 20 minutes. It then stalled on its own and now I can't get it started again. Can't hear the fuel pump.

I replaced the fuel pump relay (they are only $8). I did not replace the Auto Shutdown Relay, though I switched that with the old Fuel pump relay.

So, does this sound like my fuel pump is dead or could it be something else?

Very interested in your thoughts.

Thanks,

Tim

 

The easiest way to find out is to attach a fuel pressure gauge to the test port on the fuel rail. Otherwise, you're kinda shooting in the dark. Fuel pumps aren't cheap, so you don't want to be replacing them if they're not at fault.

 

Shooting in the dark around fuel?

I did see a post that said to simply check test port by carefully pressing the pin in to see if any fuel comes out. Since I don't have a gauge, I did that and zilch, nothing came out of the port.

So, having resigned myself to replacing the pump, is there anything tricky about dropping the tank and pulling the pump? Looks fairly straight forward, but I'm wondering if there are any words of wisdom that anyone might offer?

Thanks for you consideration and response.

Tim

 

I have the same problem right now.. My wife has had a few occations where it would stall right after starting, but for the most part ran OK.... but now, nothing. I checked the test port, nothing. I pulled the rubber tunnel off the throtle body and shot some starter fluid in, and it fired up, and also connected a timing light to one of the plugs and go light, so I think spark is good. So I think it's the pump for me as well. I called Canadian Tire ( you might know it if you're in Michigan and cross the boarder..!!) and he said the proper one is $300 something, but recommended I could get just the pump for an older model which is the same and found a 1990 3.3Lt one is about $165. I have had the tank off before and it's not to bad. I think it was 2 straps hold it up and then a plastic ring/cap holds the sending unit/pump assembly to the tank.

 

Thanks Ronklo...

I found a pump at AutoValue for $158 (US). Given I've got 270,000 miles on it, I'm tempted to hit a junkyard for one.

I do have another question. Of course I had just filled the tank when the pump went and tonight I tried to put a syphon hose down into the tank but it got hung up on something. Anybody know if there is some kind of screen in the way, and if so, What's the best way to empty the tank before trying to drop it?

Thanks for considering!

Tim

 

I wasn't able to get a pump by itself right away, and needed to get this fixed, so I bite the bullet and bought the $350 whole unit.. I was hoping my pump might be OK and having another issue and be able to take it back for a refund, so I left it in the sealed bag it came as long as I could... I had about 1/2 a tank, so I tried a few things before I swapped it. 1st I disconnected the electrical connection to the tank and connected a 12v bulb to the outer terminals of the plug to see if power was getting to the pump. When I turned the key to on (not start), nothing.. When I turned to start, I had power for a second, then off. Sometimes it would stay on a few seconds, so I thought might be a computer or electrical issue (just had the computer replaced a few months ago, and tuneup a couple months ago). Then I thought might just be that way. Then I turned to the pump, and took a resistance reading... Had about 15 ohms and tried to connect power. There are 3 pins. The one on the end by itself is ground, and the other end it for +12 to the pump. I used a couple small jumper wires and a piece of lamp cord, and connected 12v to it.. and nothing.. then I checked my jumpers to the pump again, and it dropped to 2.8ohms.. more like it.. I found an intermittent.. If I stoped the pump, it would not restart unless I banged the bottom of the tank. I got it going and drained off most of the tank. At 1st I disconneded the quick connect on the line, a couple feet from the tank, put it into a gas can, and ran the pump, but it was slow. I could hear the pump change speed, so I decided to put the new one in. It's cold here, so I had to get the van into the garage. My driveway is on a slop, so had to get the van up the driveway. I had done some testing earlier in the day, and was able to get the van running. I used my weed sprayer ( pump up 1-2 gallon plastic tank with spray wand, and removed the wand, and adapted a freon hose to it... I know, not the safest, but I was very careful, and made sure it was sealed real good. I connected it to the fuel tube test port in the middle of the front pipe the injectors are mounted on. Put some gas in, pressurized the tank, disconnected the fuel pump repland and got it running enought to get the van up the driveway...
All in all.. it took 4 hours, . I raised the back left wheelup about 10", and dropped the right side of the tank some to replace the pump. Not too bad a job... and works great now.