I was trolling around here trying to get tips and figured I should repay the favor by passing along this little discovery (translation: I want to revel in my glory): my fuel pump controller unit was obviously fried with a on obviously singed lead, visible at the harness. I was reconciling myself to the $500 a new one would cost (couldn't wait for scottsdale -- although this is a tip I will use in the future), but rather than blow the $500 per week it costs to keep this thing running on the control unit, I decided to screw around, literally, in an quixotic attempt to indulge my ocd. So I unscrewed the metal plates from the control unit and actually took a peak at the circuit board. And lo and behold, the backside of the singed lead, where it attaches to the pcb had obviously blown the solder joint. I got out my 15 year old iron, resoldered the joint, and tried it out.
Ohmygawd, it worked! Tres cool. Anybody who doesn't want to spend the dough on this unit might take a peek inside first.
Q45 fuel pump -- How I saved $500
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Q45tech
- Moderator
- Posts: 14296
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2002 3:19 am
- Car: 1990 Q45 342,400 miles 22 years ownership with original engine
1995 G20t 5 speed 334,000 miles 16" 2002 wheels - 205/50/16 Sr20ve vvl
I must have a half dozen that I repaired ths way the problem is you can't sell them as new nor can you afford to give a warranty.Plus transistors and other components DON'T like to be overloaded............the melted solder is evidence that the bad pump caused a severe overload.........way above any designed in safety factor. Many times you will see [or find] more overload damage than just a simple solder joint.
I keep a repaired unit in the trunk along with a ecu and tcu just in case.
I keep a repaired unit in the trunk along with a ecu and tcu just in case.
A few years back I was having problems with my fuel pump control unit. Same thing. Got an overload from a fuel pump that was on it's way out and the solder from the lead to the circuit board was damaged. This happened to the previous owner. The pump was replaced with aftermarket and controller never checked. About a year later (I owned car now) fuel pump started going. I feel confident that the bad connection on the board contributed to the demise. Although I was able to resolder that connection and make it work, eventually the solder started breaking up. Even after I felt my solder job was adequate, I still had times that the fuel pump controller was acting strangely. When the car stranded my wife and I one day I called Joe at Scottsdale and bought a new controller. I also didn't want to subject my recently replaced new OEM fuel pump to weird trons anymore either.
Ended up donating the old controller to TexasOil for his amusement. Last I heard, he felt it was in good shape to use. Q45tech has it right. If your going to use a home-fixed controller better keep a spare in the trunk. Besides, being stranded once will change your perspective on the dollar saved.
FWIW
Brad1990 Q45, 212,000 miles. No fuel pump or controller problems for a few years
Ended up donating the old controller to TexasOil for his amusement. Last I heard, he felt it was in good shape to use. Q45tech has it right. If your going to use a home-fixed controller better keep a spare in the trunk. Besides, being stranded once will change your perspective on the dollar saved.
FWIW
Brad1990 Q45, 212,000 miles. No fuel pump or controller problems for a few years