[Tonid123]

Hi All,

I have a 2001 3.8L Mustang. I am the original owner. . I have never had any issues with the vehicle at all. Always keep up on maintenance, oil changes etc. This past week car would not start. Cranked over but nothing else. So figured would start with the basics. We changed the fuel filter and the car started right up. I let it run for about a half hour. Then it sat for about 15 mins. It started right back up again. I drove it for about 20 mins then I went to the gas station and filled the tank up. Then when I tried to start it back up it did something it had never done before would barely idle and every time I gave pressed the gas it would just die. It did this several times till eventually it went back to just cranking over and nothing like before. I thought maybe there is some bad gunk in the tank and clogged up the new fuel filter so we took the new one off and put another new one on. This did not help and the one we took of did not apear to be clogged at all. We can hear the fuel pump coming on yet there is no pressure at shrader. Does anyone have any clue what could be causing this? The car is getting spark but no fuel. Also there are no error codes at all. The vehicle has 40k miles on it and I drive it daily or every couple of days. So it does not sit for any periods of time.

Also does anyone know where the fuel pump relay is located in my vehicle? it is not under the drivers seat.

thank you for any help or suggestions you can give me on this.

Toni

[shinerstang]

I would check the fuel pressure regulator on the back of the fuel rail along with the inertia switch in the trunk. Your CCRM also regulates the fuel pump. I would also check your fuel lines going up front. Maybe they were pinched. Other than that, it might be time to drop the tank and change the pump......

[Tonid123]

Thank you for your reply. The inertia switch is still down, I couldn't get that lucky. On my motor it uses a returnless fuel system and does not have a fuel pressure regulator.

The car runs if we put carb cleaner in the TBI so I am positive its something in the fuel delivery system. I went thru all the fuel lines today and could not find any problems. No cracks, leaks or clogs. again, couldnt be that simple.... grrrr

The CCRM is on the passenger side by the air intake? How can I test it? Then assuming the CCRM is ok what is the best way to test the fuel pump? I just cannot afford to replace the wrong parts right now.

A lot of this stuff is new to me but I learn fast. I am determined to figured it out and fix it myself. Even if my husband doesn't think I can.

Thank you again,
toni

[Tonid123]

Sorry you were talking about the fuel rail pressure sensor correct? I will have that checked also. I did not read correctly the first time.

[shinerstang]

The only way to tell from here is to test the pressure at the rail. The testers are relatively cheap at Advance or Autozone unless you know someone with one. Just because you hear the pump coming on doesn't necessarily mean that it is working properly......

[Tonid123]

There is no pressure at the rail.

I had my car towed to my friends shop last night. I am going there this morning. She is going to show me how to put it on the computer and run all the diagnostic testing stuff. She is also going to show me how to test all the electrical stuff, fuel pump, sensors etc. Plus they have the ability to dispose of the FULL tank of gas sitting in my car before we drop it to replace the fuel pump if that is what it turns out to be. It seems that is probably what it is, but I just want to make sure first.

[shinerstang]

Let us know how you make out.......

[b1lk1]

As a mechanic, I would say the 90%+ of all cars needing a new fuel pump have a completely full gas tank.........