Car won't start after long time in backyard (5M-E)

[Brett]

This is the second offer of a home visit in the past 30min!

I live in Glenorchy, Hobart. I'd really appreciate it if I could get some help I've got a mate that has a fair idea of mechanical stuff, but I think the EFI confuses him (me too).

I don't have a multimeter Robbo, I should probably get one though. I'll go check for the fuel pump sound properly now...hehe.

[Robbos_Toyotas]

This is the second offer of a home visit in the past 30min!

I live in Glenorchy, Hobart. I'd really appreciate it if I could get some help I've got a mate that has a fair idea of mechanical stuff, but I think the EFI confuses him (me too).

I don't have a multimeter Robbo, I should probably get one though. I'll go check for the fuel pump sound properly now...hehe.

yeah a decent one for just basic shit will prob set u back $60 or something...trust me a worthy investment!

[Brett]

Just tried listening for the fuel pump with the ignition being turned to ON, absolutely nothing, tried a couple of times with my ear pressed up against it. Freezing outside!

[Brett]

Turn the car onto ignition (not start) and go to the coil, see if it has 12Volts at it. this means your power is/ isnt getting power to deliver spark

It already sparks, my friend tried by unplugging one of the spark plugs and turning the key with it resting against the engine block, so I'm pretty sure it isn't an electrical problem. The starter probably wouldn't spin either if it didn't have enough power to make a spark

[Enchanter]

Im up in Burnie so Im affraid a home visit is out.
I cant hear my fuel pump either, and mine runs so don't be too concerned. I thought the fuel pump only ran when the sensors detected air flow from the AFM anyway.

[Enchanter]

I would disconnect one of the fuel lines, get your freind to hold it in a glass jar or something and crank it, see if it has fuel that way.
Keep in mind though that just because there is fuel doesn't mean it will be up to the required pressure for the injectors. The Pulsar I mentioned earlier pumped fuel and had spark so I was getting worried. I replaced the fuel filter an presto she worked.

[Brett]

hehe, I'm reading up on it now, anyway thanks for the home-visit offer, I might have to come by and visit you one day when it's all working again (and I get my licence)...



Looks fairly simple, I suppose I should get something that can check for pressure though before I start pulling things apart.

[mic*]

AFAIK without looking up wiring diagrams, the fuel pump runs whenever the ignition is ON. EFI needs pressure at all times for atomisation of fuel at the injectors. For the system to wait for sense of airflow makes no sense for starting.

Im not gonna say you can hear all pumps, and also, as i said if the system already has pressure you wont hear it. This can still mean a block anywhere after the fuel pump. Filter or line just before most likely.

Check the system after the regulator (the little knob looking thing at the end of the fuel rail) for fuel flow. If you have flow then start looking at your ECU...

[Enchanter]

You need to go back to page FI44 for the fuel pump wiring diagrams, you are on page FI47 in the pic. The TSRM mentions shorting the fuel pump tester to bypass the AFM switch aswell as feeling for pressure in the fuel line that runs to the cold start injector.

http://www.cygnusx1.net/supra/librar...fi/FI_044.html

[Robbos_Toyotas]

disconnect the fuel line off the fuel rail and see if it pisses out when u put the ignition on.

Edit: make sure its the feed not return you are disconnecting

[thechuckster]

actually - disconnect the cold-start injector (CSI) and see if fuel comes out there when you turn on IGN power (but do NOT crank the engine) and bypass the AFM fuel-pump switch (see Enchanter's post about this).

The 5ME fuel inlet is a large bastard of a bolt to undo - right up the back of the engine, and has invariably been done up with 389lb/ft of torque by a mechanic who masturbates so much they're lopsided at the arms - is much easier to check at the CSI.

hint: point the end of the CSI hose into a small bucket or bottle, not just towards any part of the engine (otherwise you get petrol everywhere). This test is best done with the help of a 2nd person.

[Brett]

I'm getting a mechanic to come around and have a look at it tomorrow, only $45 to determine the problem, so I thought I might as well cough up some dollars, I probably could work it out myself, but I don't really have the time spare, or the expertise.

From what I described to him he reckons it's the fuel pump, so I should be able to install a new one myself...he made a quick call to check the price of one for me and it was $295! Does that sound right to you guys?

[thechuckster]

you go to the wreckers and get a used one for abotu 20% of that price. then install yourself

[Brett]

Yeah, just did a quick search and just about every brand new pump that suits my car is under $200, even the 255L/H ones

[Brett]

*update* !!!

Car is going! Turns out the fuel pump just wasn't plugged in, a while back I unplugged the loom thing that goes to the brake lights and also powers stuff like the rear squirter pump and the antenna, probably the only reason I didn't realise the pump drew its power from there was because it runs through the exact same plug that powers the tail lights.

I ended up having a mobile mechanic come out to my house today to try and work out what the problem was, and he got the engine going with aerostart, but said he'd need to tow it to the workshop to diagnose why the pump wasn't getting any power. He said before he could tow it, I needed to put the hatch back on and get the brake lights working, hence how I found out the pump was connected to the brake light plug. Actually, the first thing that made me realise it might have just been unplugged was by seeing the access panel undone in the boot, I didn't know you could get at the fuel pump this way, so I hadn't looked at it before. I just glanced at where the plugs lead to, and to my surprise they led back up to the brake lights

My only reason for unplugging them in the first place was to tape them up cleanly, because they were awfully grubby, and they're going to be visible considering I'm not putting the carpet back in.



My apologies to everyone who has helped me in ways I didn't need, but as a consolation, I have learnt a lot more about how the fuel system works, and I now know where to start looking if I have future pump problems