Problems starting your car may be a result of the fuel pump connections breaking or otherwise becoming faulty. No matter what model car you have or whether your fuel pump is easily accessible or more difficult to access in the tank itself, the same basic test rules apply to check the power from a battery to a fuel pump. Consult your owner's manual for the exact location of your fuel pump and then perform this simple procedure to check that your fuel pump is receiving power from the battery.
Park your car on a flat surface and engage the parking brake. Start your car and put it in neutral.
Follow the instructions in your owner's manual to gain access to your fuel pump. For instance, on most hatchbacks you must open the trunk and lift the flooring out to see and reach the fuel pump.
Locate the ground wire on the fuel pump. This is typically a black wire that runs from the relay connection on the fuel pump to a point on the car's metal frame. Check the connection to the frame to make sure it is solid and the wire is in good condition. If it is not, replace the wire.
Attach the ground clip of your test light to the metal frame. This is usually an alligator clip that can be put on any piece of the metal frame. Hold the positive wire of the fuel pump (usually red) and pierce the outer coating of the wire so the metal tip of the test light touches the copper wire inside. If the bulb in the handle of your test light comes on, then your fuel pump is receiving adequate power from the battery. If it does not come on, replace the wire and connections.
