Porsche Repair: Fuel Pump on a Porsche 928 82, porsche 928, source of trouble

Question
Hi Dave,

I own a Porsche 928 82 and it has not been started in 2 years. When I try to start it the car will rev then die.  I think it is the fuel pump but I am not sure where it is.   

thanks

Answer
Hi Cynthia.

Fuel does seem to be your immediate issue.  There are a number of possible causes, but let's take the easy ones first.

1.  The fuel pump is located under the car as close to the gas tank as possible (so it gets fuel by gravity and pushes it to the engine in the front of the car)...through a fuel filter that is probably sitting right next to the pump.  You can test the pump in place if you want to.  Write back for those instructions if you wish.

2.  The fuel filter is suspect.  It needs to be changed right away.  Because:

3.  The quality of the fuel in the tank is suspect.  First, it's stale and second it very well could be contaminated with little rust floaties that would form over time at the fuel level line.  If it's inconvenient to empty the tank (duh! I probably wouldn't either unless the level was very, very low) I'd just add all the good quality premium gas I could to dilute the old stuff.

4.  I don't think it's electrical until the test is complete in step one, but there's a relay that controls the pump...It could be a source of trouble too.

Please write back as you learn more.

Thanks.

Dave