88 300ZX fuel pump advice

[NOWUZME]

Wow, I'm new here, but so happy to have found you guys. I have an 88 300z turbo shiro with recarro seats, while metallic pearl paint -- I love it, and i've been loving it even though its sitting in my garage for too long; It won't start and I think it's either the fuel pump or a relay or something related to the fuel pump. I can access fuel pump from inside back, but am afraid to open things up. Am I okay opening that big circular area? Can I remove the fuel pump (if I have to) without dropping the tank?

Thanks to anyone who can give me some guidance.... In fairness, I asked Evildky in a private email but after thinking about, might be unfair to evil so here I am.

Best regards,

NOWUZME

[NOWUZME]

ps: NOWUZME is going to be my license plate once I fix her up (if the plate is not too expensive)

[amc49]

You often can hear the pump spin up with key on if you quietly listen.

If they run ethanol in your local fuel, well, that kills fuel pumps in cars that sit for awhile. Ethanol is pretty much transparent in vehicles that are used every day but let them sit and the problems begin. It attracts water which then combines to form acid which then eats the pump internal wiring insulation to bring them down.

[NOWUZME]

Yea I get that. Can I pull the pump without dropping the tank?

[Ace2cool]

This is the z32 tech area. I'll move this to classic Z, as yours is a Z31. As far as replacing the pump, I'm not sure if the Z31 has an access door or not.

[evildky]

Yes you need to drop the tank to replace the pump, the access panel is for the fuel sender. Before you go dropping the tank, check the fusible links next to the battery as well as the fuel pump fuse. You can also check for voltage at the relay located inside the rear quarter panel passenger side forward of the wheel arch under the seat belt mechanism. The pump gets turned on by a transistor inside the ecu and I've seen them fail as these cars age.