My 1998 Malibu won't start
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Took what I thought was a bad alternator into Autozone and had it tested. It tested good! Now I am thinking my fuel pump is bad. I pulled the fuel filter off and it wasn't clogged. While the fuel filter was off I cranked the engine to see if gas would come out of the fuel lines.....I got nothing and i don't hear the fuel pump priming. Looks like I will be dropping the fuel tank this weekend.
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Might want to check the fuel pump relay first.
Yeah I thought about that. I found the relay in the fuse box under the hood. There is a relay for the fuel pump and the exact same sort of relay for the a/c. I know the a/c works so i swapped out relays and the fuel pump still would not work.
I am no mechanic....is that a good way to test or should I try something different?
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I'd seem to think that if you know someone with a laptop and a HP tuner, they could do a system check. Other than that, there's no guarantee. It may or may not be a fuel pump problem, could even be with the PCM, but finding out on your own is gonna be hard, I'd suggest getting a local shop to delve into why it's not starting.
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Yep its called using a Known Good Part.
I did rent a scanner from autozone and hooked it up to the car. It showed NO codes. I have verified spark and checked the fuel filter. Battery is only 1 month old. Alternator tests ok. I found a fuel pump assembly at a local salvage. It's off a car with only 60,000 miles. Going to put that in this weekend.
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Scanner won't tell you much in the first place, just give you any stored codes in the PCM, whereas a tuner and a laptop can allow you to do much more. I wouldn't be bothering with a used fuel pump though, chances of it failing will be sooner than a new one.
I'm not a real mechanic and am not familiar with the specifics of the Malibu engine but generally.
1, The engine needs to crank when you turn the key to start.
2, There has to be spark to the spark plugs while the engine is cranking. Easy to check.
3, There must be fuel pressure. Usually if you listen carefully you can hear the fuel pump run for a few seconds when you turn the key on. There is usually a place to connect a gauge to check fuel pressure.
1, The engine needs to crank when you turn the key to start.
2, There has to be spark to the spark plugs while the engine is cranking. Easy to check.
3, There must be fuel pressure. Usually if you listen carefully you can hear the fuel pump run for a few seconds when you turn the key on. There is usually a place to connect a gauge to check fuel pressure.
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There's a little more than that! The PCM/ECU has to receive signals from many sensors, crank position sensor, besides other sensors on the engine to activate some of the supporting systems. Todays cars are more complicated when it comes to finding out why there's a no start issue, it may not be a simple thing or it might but without a technician diagnosing the problem to find the cause you can be searching but not find it. Granted the most obvious is fuel deliver and spark, but that is not always the case, all the supporting sensors need to be operating properly as well as the PCM?ECU and even the BCM ( Body Control Module ).
You won't necessarily hear the fuel pump in these cars, they are much quieter than earlier electric fuel pumps which use to be pretty noticeable.
One has to start with the simple things. If you hear the pump you at least know its running. If the fuel pump is not audible than determine somehow if there is fuel pressure.
If there's normal cranking, spark and fuel pressure, I would listen to the injectors to see if are firing. Just hold a stick against the injector and near your ear.
I'm just saying there is some simple stuff you can do to begin troubleshooting a no-start.
I just re read the thread and saw that the original poster had all ready determined no fuel from the pump and was going to replace the pump assembly with a used one. I would have checked the pump circuit electrically before pulling the tank, but maybe he has fixed it.
Well I haven't done anything to the car just yet. The weather has been to rainy here in Oklahoma and I don't have a garage. So I have been forced to drive the wife's 2008 Malibu. What a shame.
I plan to try and get it done this weekend. As I had mentioned before, I have verified spark. Checked all fuses and relays. I also have checked for fuel pressure and got nothing. The fuel pump does not make any sounds. I also have pulled off the fuel filter to check for clogs and it was clear. I only paid $2000 for this car a few years ago. That's why I am going to put in a pump from a salvage yard rather than spending around a 1000 to have a shop put in a new one.
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Where do you get it costing 1000 to R&R a fuel pump? Better actually check with a shop, and it's advisable to put in a NEW fuel pump rather than a used one that will go out, why have to do the job again down the road, do it right the first time.Well I haven't done anything to the car just yet. The weather has been to rainy here in Oklahoma and I don't have a garage. So I have been forced to drive the wife's 2008 Malibu. What a shame.
I get it from talking to shops. Where else would I get that number? A new fuel pump is anywhere from 300 to 800 dollars depending on the shop and brand and then you add labor. I have found a salvage yard that has a fuel pump assembly out of a car with just 80,000 miles and they only want $70.00.
My ford truck fuel pump was similar in that the replacement was the whole assembly for $275. I was able to just a pump from a eBay seller for about $22. Had to fiddle with it to get it mounted in the pump assemble but it works fine.
I believe fuel pumps often last the life of the car. Just because a pump is used doesn't mean it's about to fail. I've had 2 apparent fuel pump failures that turned out to not be the pump. An 86 Buick and a 84 Corvette had a leaks in the connections inside the tank. I just sold my Geo Metro with 201000 miles with the original fuel pump still in it.
I believe fuel pumps often last the life of the car. Just because a pump is used doesn't mean it's about to fail. I've had 2 apparent fuel pump failures that turned out to not be the pump. An 86 Buick and a 84 Corvette had a leaks in the connections inside the tank. I just sold my Geo Metro with 201000 miles with the original fuel pump still in it.
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Hmm, funny cause I looked up the cost of a FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY and the most I seen one for was $500.00, this is an assembly not just the fuel pump. From this site Auto Parts Warehouse I found this. As far as the reliability of a used one, it IS an electrical part, even though it SHOULD last the life of the car it is NOT a guarantee that it will. Electrical parts do eventually fail and when you least expect it.
Number: W0133-1598628Manufacturer Number: W0133-1598628 List Price: $654.26
Our Price: $313.95
You Save: $340.31
Quantity:
Type: Direct OE Replacement
Condition: New
Fits the following 1998 Chevrolet Malibu submodels:
1998:All Submodels; All Engines;
It's just a fuel pump. You don't see several hundreds of dollars for a fuel pump as excessive?
I just priced it at Autozone online for $259 for the whole assembly, but check out eBay item 380147188582 Fuel pump repair kit that includes a new pump for $24 delivered.
I just priced it at Autozone online for $259 for the whole assembly, but check out eBay item 380147188582 Fuel pump repair kit that includes a new pump for $24 delivered.
Here is the latest update in this saga. I was ready to drop the tank this weekend and pull out the fuel pump. I decided to see if it would start first. Well the damn thing did. Fired right up. So I decided to just get it to a shop while it was running. Along the way to the shop the service engine soon light came on as well as the parking brake light. I hope to hear from the shop this afternoon.
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