KA24de acts like its out of gas. please help!

[maniacman9558]

ok first off i did some research and yes i found people with the same problem but none of them solved my problem im having with mine

so i have 93 240 n/a ka24de and was driving and it started acting like it was out of gas. so i replaced the fuel pump and it solved the issue for about a month or two. then it started again! replaced the pump again and it stops for about a month again. then it started doing it a 3rd time, so i figured theres no way its the pump again so got a brand new fuel filter, fuel pump relay. and new MAF, and that didn't help. so go another new pump (carter brand this time instead of airtech) and if fixed it again for about another month or so. now its starting to do it for a 4th time!!....so my question is, am i just burning through pumps that fast or is there somthing else that could be causing this?? i havent checked my injectors yet, could that be the issue? or maybe my spark plugs, wires, or dizzy? im at a loss and if it is my fuel pump again why would i keep burning them up so fast?? any suggestions would be a huge help. thanks!

[OutToWinPAHC]

I assume the new pumps come with new strainers? If not is it all hard and clogged up? Also try doing the injector O-rings, and when the injectors are out soak the tips in seafoam (I use a shot glass for this)

[maniacman9558]

yea that was replaced each time i replaced fuel pump. so pull the fuel rail out and check the o-rings and soak the tips in seafoam? i will go ahead and try that. if anyone has other suggestions feel free to let me know. thank! gonna check my ecu tomorrow to see if its throwing any codes as well.

[OutToWinPAHC]

Brainfart, whats your fuel pressure? I bet the regulator is on its way out.

[maniacman9558]

ill have to check that after i get off work today. but if it was that,why would it stop every time i replace the pump?

[biggie]

Also checked the tank for junk in it that could be clogging the pumps?

[maniacman9558]

thats what i figured as well but in the 3 times ive had my fuel pump out i havent seen any setiment what so ever. and ive noticed that when the car idles it kinda sputters slightly. and i have a feeling my air regulator is starting to go out because my idle like to hang up around 1500 then after a few seconds it will drop to the normal 7-800. could that be causing my problem?

[biggie]

^ that almost sounds like you have an AT ECU in a MT car (higher idle for a couple seconds, then drop to normal).

[maniacman9558]

it doesnt always drop after a few sec. somtimes its stays up there for awhile so thats why i figured it was the air regulator sticking. and just checked my fuel pressure and its 37psi at idle and like 43psi at trottle. i also noticed that if you floor it right off the bat it will sputter befor it gets to about 2 grand but if you just start out normally its fine

[compactfean]

I had that same sputter and I had to set my tps to. 35 and reset my timing and it went away. Your fuel pressure is perfect so I don't think its your fpr. How does the wiring look to your fuel pump and sending unit? Maybe try hard wiring the pump with its own 30 amp relay and larger gauge wire? If there is to much resistance in the wire you will keep going through pumps.

[OutToWinPAHC]

That makes no sense electrically, just saying because I am an electrical engineer.

[maniacman9558]

alright noob question. what are you talking about when you say sending unit? and as for as the sputtering when i first hit the throttle i just fixed that, dizzy was a little off. but still she acts like shes not getting enough fuel

[compactfean]

That makes no sense electrically, just saying because I am an electrical engineer.

I always thought that if there is to much resistance for example, from a short, or bad wire, that's what can fry things. Like if you have a short in trailer wiring and keep blowing light bulbs...see what im saying? If im wrong can you elaborate?

[OutToWinPAHC]

A short is minimal resistance or none which Voltage / resistance = current (amps) Therefore a short or a device that is going bad for example a pump where the internal motor winding start to go bad and the resistance / impedance goes down the current goes up and will clear the fuse, burn out a relay or even melt wire.

Thinking about this I wonder if there is an issue with fuel demand, something is causing these pumps to go bad whether it be clogging and overworking, or pushing into a blockage. The pressure on the rail is good, but I am leaning toward injectors now.

[compactfean]

alright noob question. what are you talking about when you say sending unit? and as for as the sputtering when i first hit the throttle i just fixed that, dizzy was a little off. but still she acts like shes not getting enough fuel

The sending unit for the gas gauge ...the only reason I bring that up is because the wiring for it is right with the pump on the tank cover.

[OutToWinPAHC]

It is possible to runt he pump at a lower voltage causing it to generate more heat lower voltage would cause more current and now blow a fuse, can you check voltage to the pump with it running?

[maniacman9558]

ok yea hopfully this weekend or tomorrow if it finally stops raining here in south eastern pa ill be able to pull the fuel rail and look at the injectors. and if there is an injecter or two bad is there an easy way to get the injecters out other then the "pull like hell and hope you dont break them" method?

[maniacman9558]

i should be bale to yea. what would be the easiest way to check that while its running?

[compactfean]

That crossed my mind earlier because before I got my fpr, I tried pinching off the fuel supply line to lower my fuel pressure at the rail to see if my afr would lean out a bit during idle to see if that was my issue and I popped a fuse.....thought is was the pump at first. Maybe check the. Solid lines under the car for any dings or kinks?

[compactfean]

It is possible to runt he pump at a lower voltage causing it to generate more heat lower voltage would cause more current and now blow a fuse, can you check voltage to the pump with it running?

Bingo!! This is more what I was getting at. Now my question is will resistance in a wire cause less voltage? Or would it be amps?

[maniacman9558]

alright yea ill have to check that also.

[compactfean]

i should be bale to yea. what would be the easiest way to check that while its running?

Back probe the plug with a safety pin or gator clips.

[maniacman9558]

wait. you talking about checking the tps or fuel pump? because my fuel pump doesnt have a plug, its just a + and - wire that gets attached to the pump with little bolts.

[compactfean]

The plug that's under the little cover with the arrow on it. U can back probe that plug

[maniacman9558]

oh haha didnt even know there was a plug under there ill have to grab my volt meter tomorrow and check that. im assuimg it should be 12v?

[compactfean]

When running between 13-14.

[maniacman9558]

ok yea ill check that tomorrow and ill get back to you guys on what i came up with

[maniacman9558]

alright sorry it took so long for me to get back to you guys. but i believe i figured out the problem, i looked for the plug and what i found was kinda scary! the guy that had it befor me cut the plug off and i guess figured it would be sufficient enough to just twist the wires back together and wire tape them......one of the wires wasnt even connected and as soon as i touched the rest of the bundle the hole thing fell apart. so im going to buy a new pump and use some crimp-on splices and shrink wrap them and see if that solves my issue. thanks for all your help everyone i really appreceate it!!