Fuel Pump Debugging

MrMagoo · #1 (**permalink**) 03-02-2004, 05:54 PM

On cars with carburetors, can the engine still run with a bad fuel pump? If I turn the fuel pump shutoff switch to the off position, my fuel pressure guage indicates 0 psi, yet the engine still runs. Of course, the reason I tried it was because it shows 0 with the switch "on" as well. Sometimes, I have seen it go to three, but usually it's 0. Also, I am noticing fuel starvation at higher RPMs. I checked the voltage at the fuel pump and it's correct with the switch on, so I assume I have a bad pump.

Bruce Edwards · #2 (**permalink**) 03-02-2004, 06:10 PM

If it moves enough to fill the carb it will run. Were is the pump on the car? Were is the fuel filter? What kind of pump are you running, brand name?
I would like to help but need a bit more to go on.

MrMagoo · #3 (**permalink**) 03-02-2004, 06:28 PM

It's in the rear of the car, near the fuel tank behind the passenger side rear tire. It's some generic brand. The car was manufactured in Durban, SA so it's probably from a local source. There is an inline filter near the carb, an Edelbrock Weber 650 cfm four barrel.

Bruce Edwards · #4 (**permalink**) 03-02-2004, 06:33 PM

Try a flow test on the pump. Take the line off on the pressure side and place one end in a gallon contaner. Have someone turn on the car and check to see how much flow you have. It should fill the contaner up pretty fast if it is work correctly. If the fuel is slow to move or has no pressure to it you may have a bad feed line or a bad pump.