QuestionThe car is a 1998 Chrysler Cirrus with the V6 engine and 160,000 miles. I have replaced the distributor, plug wires, plugs, fuel filter, and fuel pump, but it still won't start.
The primary problem appears to have been the fuel pump - the pump I removed does not run when connected directly to power. I replaced it with an aftermarket pump only - the kind where you dissemble the plastic cannister and replace just the pump motor.
The pump is running - I can hear it - but fuel is not getting to the fuel hose in the engine compartment consistently. The symptom is that the car tries to start, makes a "whoompf" sound, then won't start. I disconnected the fuel hose at the injector rail - the one that is accessible without disassembly - and depressed the valve. A little fuel comes out, but when I run the fuel pump continuously and depress the valve, I only get a little fuel - it's not spraying out under pressure.
I was pretty careful when replacing the fuel pump, but I wonder if I could have switched the input and output on the fuel filter or something like that? I installed it the same way as the olde one.
Could a bad fuel pressure unit cause this kind of problem?
I'd appreciate any thoughts and/or suggestions you may have. Thanks.
AnswerHi Dec,
I believe that the fuel filter connectors are such that you can't reverse it. I wonder if you might have too low an amount of fuel in the tank to cause the pump to "prime"? Certainly if the pressure isn't there, the fuel won't be there. I can't think of any other reason for low pressure from the unit unless the pump itself were bad.
I wish I knew of some other possibilities to suggest.
Roland
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