Car won't start after changing fuel pump

[q45_owner]

This sucks the car won't start now. I put the fuel cap back on first after I got done then put the fuse back in the box and it started for a split second then stopped. I could hear the pump a little bit when I had it in the accessory power position which I waited for a 10 seconds to repressurize the system before firing the engine. Like I said it started very very briefly and stopped. I tried again and again after that. Nothing at all- no start up. Did I do something wrong? Is the tank too empty? I had only a small amount of gas that didn't even wet my shirt just drip a little here and there. Could it be I hooked up the wires (red and black) wrong to the fuel pump, they're secure but I'm not 100% certain they're not in each others places though I'm pretty sure I got them right. I had someone try to jumpstart the battery because I thought it might have died from the doors being open and such and the battery test indicator light not lit on the battery. Still wouldn't start. This is frustrating. Thanks for any help

[DAEDALUS]

You're saying that now when you put the key in and turn it to "ON" the pump doesn't even come on at all? You're using a brand new factory pump?

[q45_owner]

No the fuel pump does seem to come on, I can hear something very lightly(humm?) and the usual light clunk or clink from behind the seats after the fuel pump is done humming(lightly). Yes this is a brand new factory fuel pump I got from Infiniti of Scottsdale. I wonder if leaving the fuel tank lid off for 3-4 days with the door slightly open in 90+ degree weather had anything to do with it. I closed it all the way I could with the cap on the door.

[maxnix]

1.) I wonder if leaving the fuel tank lid off for 3-4 days with the door slightly open in 90+ degree weather had anything to do with it. 2.) I closed it all the way I could with the cap on the door.

1.) Yes, that would put a drain on the battery to the extent any bulbs were burning, and shorter bulb life. Wonder why you left the door open?

2.) What is "it"? What cap on which door and why? Please explain.

[3Q Jay]

if you can hear the pump hummm, then you probably did get red/black correct. provided it does actually crank and not fire, my guess is you are out of gas.

[Q451990]

The pump is a DC motor... I suspect it would just spin backwards you reversed the polarity. I assume you put the fuel pump fuse back in, and then confirmed that it's still OK?

Heath

[q45_owner]

1.) Yes, that would put a drain on the battery to the extent any bulbs were burning, and shorter bulb life. Wonder why you left the door open?

2.) What is "it"? What cap on which door and why? Please explain.

I left the rear car doors open for 2-3hours between working."It" is the fuel filler lid. I left it slightly ajar for a few days.

if you can hear the pump hummm, then you probably did get red/black correct. provided it does actually crank and not fire, my guess is you are out of gas.

That might be the case I was thinking that also. It does crank and not fire.

The pump is a DC motor... I suspect it would just spin backwards you reversed the polarity. I assume you put the fuel pump fuse back in, and then confirmed that it's still OK?

Heath

Yes I put the fuel cap back on then I put the fuel pump fuse back in. How can you tell if it is spinning backwards? I used common sense and whatever memory I had to say to myself that the black wire is mounted further away than the red wire so it should go to one side and not the other.

I'm still trying to take in any possible options of what it may be before I call a tow truck to get gas just in case that does not work.

[DAEDALUS]

There should be (+) and (-) symbols molded into the pump just below the terminals.

You could disconnect the hose off the fuel filter, submerge the end in a container of gas, and then turn the key to on. Which way does it flow?

[q45_owner]

I didn't know there were symbols. Anyway just by looking at the old fuel pump I know I was looking at it from the hose connector side (sideways) with the filter facing towards the left and because that nozzle on the other side would have gotten in the way of screwing back in the wires. Looking at it this way since the positive is on the bottom, that is the one I screwed the red wire to and the black to the negative, pretty sure.

[q45_owner]

Done! I went and got a gas container and bucket to do that fuel pump test thing in someone else's car- went and took out the seats, sun deck and stuff...to the part about blue female harness connector and blue male connector and noticed I hadn't pushed it far enough into the female! I didn't want to go any further- it was almost like my third time taking out the fuel pump since I almost forgot to put back on the new O ring on when I just about had the fuel pump back in the hole already. So I went closed the gas cap put the fuel pump fuse back in the box and it started. What a simple mistake damn, though I truly thank you all for all the assistance you guys gave me. You guys are great.