Issue repriming 98 Sable fuel system

Chris Hill · 01-16-2011, 12:32 AM

I'm working on a friends 98 sable with the duratec engine. The old fuel pump was bad and I replaced it. I'm now having a hard time getting the fuel pump to reprime the system. It has atleast 14 gallons of fuel in it. To my knowledge, the fuel pump only runs 1-2 seconds when the key is turned on or while cranking the engine. The fuel pressure test valve does not have fuel in it when cracked.

Is there a way to run the fuel pump without cranking the engine to prime the system or am I just forgeting something?

Thank you,

Chris

Rich Biebel · 01-16-2011, 09:38 AM

I have replaced a lot of fuel pumps in gm vehicles with efi. Never had any issue with needing to prime one more than a couple key turn ons.

Running the fuel pump seperately would be difficult......You need to id the fuel pump wires and also their polarity. If you have a connector near the pump you could to do it there.You would have to add some jumpers onto the connector pins. Not an easy task...

It would be easier to hook up a fuel pressure gauge and see if you have pressure at the engine during the key on 2 second cycle.....

Our fleet of GM work vans went thru fuel pumps pretty regularly back in the 90's at around 70K miles......I changed them all and also did some others.......

Chris Hill · 01-16-2011, 10:11 AM

I can hear the pump run now so I don't think it's the relay. I for sure do not have fuel at the rail but currently do not have a fuel pressure gage for it. I guess the next thing is to take off the outlet line and cycle it so see if fuel comes out and if not work my way back to the pump again. Do I need to take any special precautions to working on an in take fuel pump? Working on an electrical device surrounded by gasoline bothers me.

Thanks for your help.

Jim Blankenship · 01-16-2011, 10:48 AM

chris , replace the fuel filter also a cloged filter kills more pumps than anything .
i take it it is the in tank pump ? some fords has a low presure pump in tank and a high presure pump under car . If tank was out better look for a crimped/pinched line .

hope this helps jim

Chris Hill · 01-16-2011, 07:41 PM

It appears the issue is a stuck check valve just after the pump before the fuel leaves the module assy. Going to put a new one in tommorow and see what happens. This vehicle has been sitting for about a 18 months.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions and help

01-16-2011, 12:32 AM	#1
Chris Hill Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 655 Likes: 8 Liked 244 Times in 26 Posts	Issue repriming 98 Sable fuel system I'm working on a friends 98 sable with the duratec engine. The old fuel pump was bad and I replaced it. I'm now having a hard time getting the fuel pump to reprime the system. It has atleast 14 gallons of fuel in it. To my knowledge, the fuel pump only runs 1-2 seconds when the key is turned on or while cranking the engine. The fuel pressure test valve does not have fuel in it when cracked. Is there a way to run the fuel pump without cranking the engine to prime the system or am I just forgeting something? Thank you, Chris __________________ Chris Hill https://ihmusedparts.com

01-16-2011, 09:38 AM	#2
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,314 Likes: 25 Liked 544 Times in 213 Posts	Re: Issue repriming 98 Sable fuel system I have replaced a lot of fuel pumps in gm vehicles with efi. Never had any issue with needing to prime one more than a couple key turn ons. Running the fuel pump seperately would be difficult......You need to id the fuel pump wires and also their polarity. If you have a connector near the pump you could to do it there.You would have to add some jumpers onto the connector pins. Not an easy task... It would be easier to hook up a fuel pressure gauge and see if you have pressure at the engine during the key on 2 second cycle..... Our fleet of GM work vans went thru fuel pumps pretty regularly back in the 90's at around 70K miles......I changed them all and also did some others....... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R

01-16-2011, 10:11 AM	#3
Chris Hill Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 655 Likes: 8 Liked 244 Times in 26 Posts	Re: Issue repriming 98 Sable fuel system I can hear the pump run now so I don't think it's the relay. I for sure do not have fuel at the rail but currently do not have a fuel pressure gage for it. I guess the next thing is to take off the outlet line and cycle it so see if fuel comes out and if not work my way back to the pump again. Do I need to take any special precautions to working on an in take fuel pump? Working on an electrical device surrounded by gasoline bothers me. Thanks for your help. __________________ Chris Hill https://ihmusedparts.com

01-16-2011, 10:48 AM	#4
Jim Blankenship Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: nashville tn Posts: 149 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Issue repriming 98 Sable fuel system chris , replace the fuel filter also a cloged filter kills more pumps than anything . i take it it is the in tank pump ? some fords has a low presure pump in tank and a high presure pump under car . If tank was out better look for a crimped/pinched line . hope this helps jim __________________ Jim Blankenship 3086 STK

01-16-2011, 07:41 PM	#5
Chris Hill Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 655 Likes: 8 Liked 244 Times in 26 Posts	Re: Issue repriming 98 Sable fuel system It appears the issue is a stuck check valve just after the pump before the fuel leaves the module assy. Going to put a new one in tommorow and see what happens. This vehicle has been sitting for about a 18 months. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions and help __________________ Chris Hill https://ihmusedparts.com