my car wont start sometimes
 

My car is at it again. I'll go out in the morning to start my car and it wont start. All I hear is the fuel pump relay clicking really fast and my engine turning over but not starting. I thought it was the fuel pump relay but I have a new spare and and put that into it and still the same thing. Then I'll go out an hour later and it'll start right up like nothing happened. Could there be a short someplace causing the relay to click or is there another relay or bad connection somelpace else?? Did it to me twice this week. I'm ready to push my car off a cliff if it keeps up. :bazooka: :uzi: :angry2:

Let's start by cleaning the ole battery cables. Remove the bolts & rubber boots to see the corrosion. Clean with sandpaper or wire brush & coat with dielectric grease before reassembling. Are you certain it's the fuel pump relay that's clicking? Is it clicking when the key is turned to the run position or start position?

Ted, my battery terminals are clean and my engine cranks over just fine. Yes its the fuel pump relay thats clicking becasue when I take it out it stops clicking. I have new spare and I put that one in also and it still ckicks. It clicks when I have it in the run and start position. I got home last night fomr work and the stinking thing started right up. I went out this morning and it did it again. :bazooka: :angry2: Very very frustrating. Next car I buy its going to be an old one without all this electronic bullcrap!!
Something else has to be causing the relay to do that. I'm NOT convinced that its the relay failing. There has to be a short someplace.

The relay continually clicking would mean that it's losing either it's power or ground to engage the relay contacts.

Ok so is there a ground somewhere between the fuel pump and the relay I could check?

The relay should be relaying power to the pump. If it's clicking it's either low on power to hold the relay or something else is wrong on the way to the relay. Not between the relay and the pump.

Ok so now where is the grounding point before the relay then?? I just went out and my car started right up but its the warmest part of the day. (around 60 deg.) I know when I go out tomorrow morning it wont start.

The fuel pump relay is energized by the PCM & grounds (G102) to the fender near the battery. When the key is turned to the run position the relay is energized just for 2 seconds. If the relay clicks for more than 2 seconds when the key is left in the run position that should rule out the ground.

Edit - The ground location is from the 99 shop manual. I don't know for sure if it was the same for the 96's.

Figures. When I turn the key on, the relay keeps clicking as long as I have it on. So its not a grounding problem then? I really DONT want to take it to the GM dealer here in town. They are worthless here. I do have an appointment set up for Friday because there arent any other shops around here that deal with sofisticated electronics as what our cars have.

Did you remove the rubber boots when you checked the battery cables?
It's possible that you have a bad computer, have you checked for codes?