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Old Nov 11, 2020 | 12:28 PM
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Default No fuel pressure

I bought a 1999 Corvette to restore for my wife but I'm getting zero fuel pressure. I read somewhere that fuel pressure is controlled by the fuel filter? Any help would be appreciated. I'm kind of hard of hearing but I don't hear a fuel pump clicking when I turn on the key.

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Old Nov 11, 2020 | 12:59 PM
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When in doubt take the hose off the fuel rail and put it into liter bottle. Cycle the key and you should get about a cup of fuel. If you get nothing either your pump is not receiving power or the pump itself is dead or there is a problem in the filter.

You can get a release tool at autozone for a couple bucks for the hose.

There might be better ways to troubleshoot this but above is what I would do. It's quick and easy for me.

Welcome to the board. I hope you get it running soon.
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Old Nov 11, 2020 | 01:03 PM
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Welcome to the Forum !!...sorry to hear you're having pump issues...first of all the pump will prime for 2 seconds and shut off when the key is turned on..if your wife's hearing is better she can remove the fuel cap and listen there or position herself at the lower part of the left rear tire on the forward side...if still no luck you can try swapping the pump relay with the horn relay and see what happens...if still no good you will have to dig a little deeper and not knowing your mechanical skills I won't go in depth. Enclosed is a YouTube video I did on checking that circuit.
Oh, BTW I myself had a no prime condition a few months ago and I diagnosed it as a bad relay...was around $20.00 at the local Chevy dealer...I did want to get the CORRECT OEM replacement...some of these knock off parts are hard to spot !!



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Old Nov 11, 2020 | 04:15 PM
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What he said.
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Old Nov 11, 2020 | 06:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Cajuntinman
I bought a 1999 Corvette to restore for my wife but I'm getting zero fuel pressure. I read somewhere that fuel pressure is controlled by the fuel filter? Any help would be appreciated. I'm kind of hard of hearing but I don't hear a fuel pump clicking when I turn on the key.

the regulator is on the fuel rail. C5 Diag is heading you down the right path Start with fuses and relays. It may be the pump. That is a big job, so make sure you are ok electrically. There is another fuse for the injectors too. If you haven’t confirmed no fuel in the rail properly, then that is another possibility
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Old Nov 11, 2020 | 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by k24556
the regulator is on the fuel rail. C5 Diag is heading you down the right path Start with fuses and relays. It may be the pump. That is a big job, so make sure you are ok electrically. There is another fuse for the injectors too. If you haven’t confirmed no fuel in the rail properly, then that is another possibility
The fuel pressure regulator is integrated into the filter on a 99 (at least it is on mine). Some of the early C5s had the regulator in the rail.
It's easy to confirm - if you only have 1 braided stainless fuel line into the rail - the regulator is in the filter.
You can also use a jumper wire at the relay mentioned above to check if the pump works (bypassing the relay).
There is a diagnostic thread on here where Bill Curlee walks through a number of tips on checking the fuel pump circuit.
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Old Apr 17, 2021 | 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Black
When in doubt take the hose off the fuel rail and put it into liter bottle. Cycle the key and you should get about a cup of fuel. If you get nothing either your pump is not receiving power or the pump itself is dead or there is a problem in the filter.
I'm having similar problem, and tried what you suggested, I get maybe an ounce or two at the most.
I already changed the filter, so I'm guessing bad pump?

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Old Apr 17, 2021 | 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Twisted99
I'm having similar problem, and tried what you suggested, I get maybe an ounce or two at the most.
I already changed the filter, so I'm guessing bad pump?


If you are getting visible fuel flow for the two seconds prime then I don't think your pump is bad.

I assume you are having a cranking no start?
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Old Apr 18, 2021 | 03:59 AM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Black
I assume you are having a cranking no start?
Yes, my harbor freight gauge shows less than 10psi when I hook it up and it never moves when I turn the key
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Old Apr 18, 2021 | 10:50 AM
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I am pretty sure that's normal. If you want to hear the pump run constantly and defeat the pump prime circuit you can bypass the fuel pump relay with a heavy paper clip. This will make the pump run until you take power away.

Have you checked your codes?

Also another super quick test on crank no start is to unplug the MAF sensor. They can go bad enough to keep the car from starting. You may have to give it a little throttle with the MAF unplugged.
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Old Apr 18, 2021 | 03:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Black
I am pretty sure that's normal. If you want to hear the pump run constantly and defeat the pump prime circuit you can bypass the fuel pump relay with a heavy paper clip. This will make the pump run until you take power away.

Have you checked your codes?

Also another super quick test on crank no start is to unplug the MAF sensor. They can go bad enough to keep the car from starting. You may have to give it a little throttle with the MAF unplugged.
No codes
car will fire for like 2 seconds, if I hit the gas it dies immediately, if I don't it will sputter and stall.
unplugged the MAF same thing, almost. It dies if I hit the gas, but if I don't it takes like an extra second to sputter and stall.
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Old Apr 18, 2021 | 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Twisted99
No codes
car will fire for like 2 seconds, if I hit the gas it dies immediately, if I don't it will sputter and stall.
unplugged the MAF same thing, almost. It dies if I hit the gas, but if I don't it takes like an extra second to sputter and stall.
Don’t know what skills you have or if you have a test light but follow my YouTube video in post #3...a quick check to see if you have a fuel delivery issue is to spray Brake Kleen or starter fluid into the brake booster hose or PCV going into the intake manifold...if the car runs for a bit you have a fuel delivery issues!!...as was mentioned jump terminals 87 and 30 at the pump relay...see if the pump runs...if not you have some troubleshooting to do...or take the car to a shop...not a complicated system at all !!
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Old Jun 13, 2021 | 05:10 PM
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Originally Posted by C5 Diag
Don’t know what skills you have or if you have a test light but follow my YouTube video in post #3...a quick check to see if you have a fuel delivery issue is to spray Brake Kleen or starter fluid into the brake booster hose or PCV going into the intake manifold...if the car runs for a bit you have a fuel delivery issues!!...as was mentioned jump terminals 87 and 30 at the pump relay...see if the pump runs...if not you have some troubleshooting to do...or take the car to a shop...not a complicated system at all !!
Fuel pump runs. Car runs on starting fluid.
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Old Jun 14, 2021 | 12:26 AM
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What does the fuel gauge read?
Put a little gas in, in case the left tank has run dry due to a right to left transfer failure.
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Old Jun 15, 2021 | 11:15 AM
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Originally Posted by wrmiles
What does the fuel gauge read?
Put a little gas in, in case the left tank has run dry due to a right to left transfer failure.
It was low, and I drained most of it thinking it was bad. Then put 6 gallons in. When I tap on the left tank is sounds like there is fuel in it.

I'll check gauge tonight
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Old Jun 15, 2021 | 07:48 PM
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Fuel gauge shows exactly 1/2 tank.
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Old Jun 16, 2021 | 07:14 PM
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Should be OK then since when you added the 6 gallons, it goes into the left tank first.
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