Jr's3800 and I were talking about fuel pumps last night, and I thought I'd post up here to get some other ideas and opinions to compliment Jr'* wealth of knowledge. A friend of mine at work noted to me that some cars have fuel tank access in the bottom of the trunk. This access is in place solely for the purpose of replacing fuel pumps. Does the 87-91 model or any other Bonneville for that matter have this?

Also how many pumps are on these cars. I don't have my Chiltons handy with me at work, but thought I'd pick your brains until I read up on it tonight.

Thanks folks...

Damn...

Leave it to the Germans to figure out that an access to the fuel tank in order to service the pump is a good idea....btw my buddy drives a Golf GTI, I wonder if our Jet VR6 has this :?

Oh well, save up and get er fixed

So, in the interim, I plan on leaving the tank constantly half full and in the morning or after the car sits for a long time, I will "prime the car" turn key just before cranking, let the car energize, prime the pumps and wait 30 seconds. Then go. ...geez I hope the pump doesn't die totally. That'd suck :?

Oh ya, I forgot about that regulator. What is involved in that? refresh my memory, did we discuss that?? :?

Errr am afraid you do not "prime" these cars that way (or if you do something is wrong). What happens when you turn the key to run is that the ESC gives each injector a double shot and then turn the fuel off until the engine starts so to have any effect you would need to turn the key on, wait, turn key off then back on and start. Each on/off cycle is like pumping a carburetor but if you do not turn off, it just sits there and stares at you.

Now some 89s had a problem (is a TSB on the subject) and if cycling a few times helps it to start, you may need a new PROM.

As to the fuel pump, it is part of an assembly that reaches from the top of the tank to the bottom and curves around like an "L" with the pump on the bottom. Whole thing is about a foot and a half long and you have to remove a four inch diameter retainer to get it out so would need quite a hole in the floor to remove it. Besides I doubt that the safety people would approve.

Is there something unusual about the Bonne tank ? Never dropped mine but other GM cars once up in the air it is two bolts, drop the straps and it comes right down.

By priming I was trying to use more colourful terms. I'm not a mechanic nor do I have a wealth of experience in addressing, naming, and resolving complex mechanical issues.

That being said, thanks for the correction and furthur information. In your opinion should I be looking at a PROM, (btw what is that?) or is it fuel pump related.?

the fuel pump on my le starting giving me trouble on monday , it would have trouble starting, when it did it would run fine, or so I thought, wednesday afternoon, I was on the trans canada when it died out completley stalled while driving and wouldnt start afterwards , my guess is u probably wanna change that if its giving u trouble as they can go at anytime and are a p.i.t.a.

Think I missed something here, what makes you think your fuel pump is going bad (doesn't seem to be anything in the thread).

My experience with them is that they usually fail by not starting when you turn the key, usually when cold. Seems rare for one to fail while driving.

The spec for fuel pressure is 40-47 psi after 2 seconds with engine stopped & ignition on but have seen gauges off a bit.. If it comes up every time I don't think it is the pump. Filter will usually show up at higher rpm/high load than at idle.

I was only suspecting that the pump was going bad. I had everything checked out, injecotors, fuel lines, ICM, igntion etc. Anything that would cause false cold starts.

WHen the car is running for a while, it'll start up no problem. But if I leave it over night..forget it..it takes me two times to get the car up and running. So..I assume that the pump was not sending fuel to the injectors IE pressure was down, but when I did it a second time the pump had enough pressure from the first attempt and it works..

Im open to an ideas here...please do shart I'm hoping its nothing major :?

thats a typical problem with most cars. when u leave the car sit overnight or for a period of time, the gas seeps back down the line into the tank, when you turn your key for the first time in the morning, it takes a few more turns for the gas to get to the engine, and anytime after that the gas is already there so starting it after usually only takes one turn, I was wondering what would have caused that problem in the other one when i had it on the road. and my sse does the same, i guess its something that happens with most cars. or so i was told.

yeah , when the pump went out, it just stopped working, but technically my fault because i knew it was on its way out . just never bothered to change it right away. also to Jim if u need anything out of an le.. i think its the same as yours.. let me know cause dad wants it out of the back yard asap, its sitting on blocks and has most parts still on it.