Pontiac Repair: My fuel system, fuel injection system, fuel pumps

Question
QUESTION: I had my car not start one morning out of no where. So i changed the fuel pump and screen and filter but was soon to find out that i didnt even need a fuel pump. So i straight wired it to a power source that gets power when i turn the key. Now it will start but wont stay running. I have a 96 Bonneville Se with the thirty eight hundred series two engine. Can u give me a couple of tips on how to get it running? thanx.

ANSWER: Hey Shaun:

I assume you don't have any fuel pressure? or low pressure and that's why you went the route Via a pump? did you change the fuel filter as well. 99% of the time the pump go bad do to a plugged fuel filter. what is the fuel pressure when you power the pump up? you need approx 44 PSI for it to run properly. much less and you will have running problems. Did any check engine light come on prior to this happening? Are you sure you got the proper pump for the car? I have seen people put TBI fuel pumps in a car that has mutlti port injection like this has and the pressure is way to low only 13 PSI. did you check for power and ground back at the pump with the key on and when you crak the car. The grey wire is the pump power feed the heavy gauge black wire is the ground. hook up a halogen headlamp bulb to those wires the lamp should light BRIGHT if not you have high resistance in one of the ckts.Is there anything else in the car that doesn't work? How about the power windows? they chage the same ground as the fuel pump.. This is where I would start looking before you start putting more parts in it that it didn't need. Good luck :)


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QUESTION: I got all of my parts from auto zone. I matched my pump to the old one and it was the same. How can i go about checking my fuel pressure?

Answer
just because it "looks" thye same doesn't mean it is the same! I hate aftermarket fuel/injection system parts. they cause more issues then they fix. Not saying the one you got is incorrect but you never know. You need a fule pressure gauge. there is a pressure tap on the engine right next to the fuel pressure regulator on the top of the intake manifold.