Fuel Pump Ground
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Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 65
Likes: 18
From: Aurora, CO
Fuel Pump Ground
Wondering if I can get some help with the fuel pump. Searched the threads but couldn't find an answer.
My 95 Base blew a relay and not finding anything else wrong I read that a degraded fuel pump can cause it to draw too many amps and thus it blows the relay. So I replaced the relay and installed a new Delco fuel pump, but it's not drawing fuel, as confirmed at the schrader valve. At the body side of fuel pump connector, I have continuity going from ground if I touch the multimeter to the fuel tank, but not to the ground connector on the new fuel pump itself. The ground on the fuel pump connector has continuity from the fuel pump itself, but none to the top of tank or to the ground of the body side of the connector. Clear? lol
So my question is, is this normal? I'd expect to have continuity between the ground connector of the fuel pump circuit and the ground connector of the pump. I've looked for any obvious shorts but have found none. Any help greatly appreciated.
(Nuts and bolts I can deal with all day; electrics is like science fiction)
My 95 Base blew a relay and not finding anything else wrong I read that a degraded fuel pump can cause it to draw too many amps and thus it blows the relay. So I replaced the relay and installed a new Delco fuel pump, but it's not drawing fuel, as confirmed at the schrader valve. At the body side of fuel pump connector, I have continuity going from ground if I touch the multimeter to the fuel tank, but not to the ground connector on the new fuel pump itself. The ground on the fuel pump connector has continuity from the fuel pump itself, but none to the top of tank or to the ground of the body side of the connector. Clear? lol
So my question is, is this normal? I'd expect to have continuity between the ground connector of the fuel pump circuit and the ground connector of the pump. I've looked for any obvious shorts but have found none. Any help greatly appreciated.
(Nuts and bolts I can deal with all day; electrics is like science fiction)
Last edited by mothman52; Jun 10, 2025 at 05:03 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,791
Likes: 579
From: Mays Landing, NJ
Question, when you turn key to run position can you hear the pump run for a few seconds to prime the system. If you're not sure run 12 volt directly to pump. If it doesn't run at that point you may have a bad pump. It's not unheard of to get a new pump that is dead on arrival.
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Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 65
Likes: 18
From: Aurora, CO
No, I never could hear the pump running. They motor came with a lifetime warranty so I can get another one if need be. I was thinking a new pump being bad would be less likely that some grounding issue, and when I had the continuity issue I described about that seemed to me as something to solve rather than the pump.
But making sure the pump runs on direct power would at least remove it as a problem.
EDIT: Tested the pump and it didn't work connected direct to the battery as you suggested. Exchanged it and turned to key to on. I believe I could hear the pump activate for two seconds each time I turned the key. Tried to crank but after a few times it stopped, so I believe my battery needs charging which I'm doing now. I changed the fuel filter as well so there is a lot of air in the lines I have to get rid of before the car starts. I'll post my results.
But making sure the pump runs on direct power would at least remove it as a problem.
EDIT: Tested the pump and it didn't work connected direct to the battery as you suggested. Exchanged it and turned to key to on. I believe I could hear the pump activate for two seconds each time I turned the key. Tried to crank but after a few times it stopped, so I believe my battery needs charging which I'm doing now. I changed the fuel filter as well so there is a lot of air in the lines I have to get rid of before the car starts. I'll post my results.
Last edited by mothman52; Jun 11, 2025 at 04:04 PM.
