Fuel pump

GODCHOSEN71 · 11-01-2009, 10:26 AM

my fuel pump will not come on I replaced it and I know it is getting power, but its only getting a little over 8 volts at the pump. There are right at 12 volts coming out of the fuse box. can someone help please.

Cuda_Jim · 11-01-2009, 10:33 AM

Year, Make, Model, Engine size, Mileage is all good info to know when searching for answers.

GODCHOSEN71 · 11-02-2009, 10:11 AM

It is a 1998 ford contour LX, 2.0 Liter, 4cyl, almost 239,000 miles.

phantom_smack · 11-02-2009, 10:21 AM

bad fuel pump relay,bad ground,high resistance in the inertia switch.What is the battery voltage when you turn the key on at the battery ?

Cuda_Jim · 11-02-2009, 10:54 AM

Did you replace the entire assembly or just the pump?
The power comes from the relay through the Fuel pump inertia switch then to the pump via the Violet w/ Orange Stripe wire.
Did you try to reset the inertia switch? It's located down by the driver-side feet on the bottom of the "A" pillar. There should be 12V on both wires if the switch is OK.
Check the ground, Black wire.....vehicle rear end, in luggage compartment, LH-side

The fuel gauge wires are
White/w Red stripe and Black/w Blue stripe

GODCHOSEN71 · 11-02-2009, 02:12 PM

I am totally lost. I took my fuel pump out and hotwired it and it ran, I put it back in and it will not run. I have the voltage going to it but will not run once its in the tank. The inertia switch is depressed. the voltage at the pump is approx. 8.19 volts.

BroncoJoe19 · 11-02-2009, 02:17 PM

How do you know that you have voltage going to it?

Assuming that you are correct, then you have a bad ground connection.

The power has to go through the motor to ground in order for it to run.

G O R T · 11-03-2009, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GODCHOSEN71

my fuel pump will not come on I replaced it and I know it is getting power, but its only getting a little over 8 volts at the pump. There are right at 12 volts coming out of the fuse box. can someone help please.

98 was the year they switched from the return system (vacuum regulator and fuel return line) to the returnless system.

With a returnless fuel system, the pump is wired to a box under the car near the front of the tank. This box reads the fuel pressure sensor and runs the pump at the desired speed. I have never delved into this but I hear that bad grounds to this "pump driver" box are a problem.