88 Olds Delta 88 fuel pump

Grant Armstrong

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Jul 9, 2001, 11:03:12 PM7/9/01

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Does anyone know if the fuel pump in this car stays on all the time, or does
it cycle on and off according to fuel pressure needs. It looks like, in the
electrical diagram, that it stays on as long as the key is on and the oil
pressure switch is closed.

I replaced the (in tank) fuel pump and it only lasted a couple of weeks
before burning it out again. When I pulled the pump, the wires going to the
pump were scorched. It was the wires down in the tank at the pump. I don't
know if I had a bad pump, or if something else is making it go out.

I was gonna replace the fuel pump relay, but have been unable to determine
where it is located.

I have installed a new pump and wiring harness and it works fine, but I am
not driving the car anywhere until I have taken some preventive measures to
keep from burning another one.

Thanks

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Grant L. Armstrong
gra...@peoplepc.com

Robert Hancock

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Jul 9, 2001, 11:36:25 PM7/9/01

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It runs all the time when the key is on and the oil pressure switch is
closed, or when the ECM-controlled fuel pump relay is on (the oil pressure
switch is just a backup).

Sounds like something is causing the pump to draw too much current and burn
up the connectors. Maybe a clogged fuel filter, or a bad fuel pressure
regulator? Could also have been just a bad pump.

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Robert Hancock Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Home Page: http://www.roberthancock.com/

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Grant Armstrong

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Jul 10, 2001, 8:27:45 AM7/10/01

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"Robert Hancock"> It runs all the time when the key is on and the oil

pressure switch is
> closed, or when the ECM-controlled fuel pump relay is on (the oil pressure
> switch is just a backup).
>
> Sounds like something is causing the pump to draw too much current and
burn
> up the connectors. Maybe a clogged fuel filter, or a bad fuel pressure
> regulator? Could also have been just a bad pump.
>
> --

Thanks for the response. It sounds like the fuel pump relay would not be a
likely cause of burning out the pump. We changed the fuel pump when we
changed the pump the first time. So, I think that I am looking to the
regulator.

GA

Grant Armstrong

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Jul 10, 2001, 8:45:58 AM7/10/01

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Meant to say that I changed the filter when I changed the pump.

There are only a few things in the electrical circuit. The computer (ECM),
oil pressure switch, relay and the source 12 VDC. By the way, when I put a
volt meter on the test lead to the pump, I am getting about 13.2 volts,
which doesn't sound too high to me. I have about 14 VDC at the battery.
The volt meter on the cars instrument panel says that it is quite a bit
higher, but I am not sure how accurate that is.

GA

Somebody...

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Jul 10, 2001, 7:28:18 PM7/10/01

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The first time mine went out (~150,000 miles), I went through: 1 new NAPA pump,
1 new GM pump, and 1 more new GM pump within about 10,000 miles.

I got quite tired of dropping the tank, so I went to the junkyard and got a pump
from a supercharged Bonneville. It was physically larger, but with a hose clamp
and some side cutters I made it fit. : )

I'm now at 227,000 miles and haven't had another problem with it.

I would guess you got a bad pump, but if you're going to replace the regulator
you should check it before you do so. I think mine was $60 from GM (I replaced
it after the first new pump failed).

Mike