Bad Fuel Pump??????

[fe519]

well, i got a 98 camry v6... and recently when I try to start it, it starts but dies out. I have to give the puppy some gas by stepping on the pedal a few times to keep it going. But after it idles for a while, the car will run perfectly. Can this be a sign of a bad fuel pump? I changed the EFI relay already and changed the fuel filter, spark plugs, wires, etc... and I cant seem to find the problem. thanks for the help.

[Nick]

fuel pump should be ok, its not that old, they usually last 10 years easy

try cleaning up the throttle body, maybe the iac valve is all gummed up

also maybe the spark plugs are a bit fowled, have a look at those

maybe some weak ignition coils or wires

you could do the fuel pump diagnostic that's listed in the haynes manual if you want to check it

how many miles? no check engine light?

[Nick]

or maybe one of the injectors is giving up

[fe519]

thanks oldman for the help. The spark plugs have been changed about 3 months ago and the car has 105,000 miles (yeah, a lot of a 98) When the fuel pump goes, or is about to give out, would there be a check engine light? because if there is, I would be able to pull the code. also, how would i go about cleaning the IAV? I'm trying to pin down the problem, and I kinda narrowed it down to the fuel pump maybe. THe weird thing is that it runs fine after about 10 seconds... but during that 10 seconds, seem like it needs gas because i have to pump the gas pedal to keep it from dying out... am i heading the right direction? i appreciate the help.

[Nick]

try this

after the car's been parked overnight, turn the key to on wait a few seconds, then try to start it

if she goes good, then its your fuel lines that are loosing pressure

[fe519]

well, one of my buddy gave me an advice to try to redline the car and see if redlines. The redline is 6250rpm for the camry, and i was not able to get up there. The car maxes out at approx. 6000rpm. Could this indicate the fuel pump is going? Actually, does the fuel pump just "goes out" or slowly stop working? Im trying to pinpoint this problem as best as I can. I appreciate the help.

[2drcam]

try changing the fuel filter...inexpensive rule out procedure.

sometimes the sediment sits in the filter and blocks the line. it's worth a shot after she has 105,000 miles on it and it's about due anyway.

[Tex97]

Originally posted by fe519
well, one of my buddy gave me an advice to try to redline the car and see if redlines. The redline is 6250rpm for the camry, and i was not able to get up there. The car maxes out at approx. 6000rpm. Could this indicate the fuel pump is going? Actually, does the fuel pump just "goes out" or slowly stop working? Im trying to pinpoint this problem as best as I can. I appreciate the help.

Did you try Oldman's suggestion?
It sounds to me like you want to replace the fuel pump for some odd reason
And I'm pretty sure that the redline in park is different from that in drive.

[Nick]

fuel filter isn't a bad idea

if the pump isn't putting out enough juice it'll start bucking when you're at wide open throttle and above 3000

[fe519]

thanks for the help guys... but the fuel filter has been changed about 2 months ago... I floored the car about 5 mins ago and it only redlines to 6000rpm (I was driving... not in Park). This problem slowly got worst and worst. About 5 months ago, the car would do this once in a long while. But now, it happens 3-4 times a week. Thanks for the help.

[brink]

Dunno if this would be a possibility or not, but I noticed this sort of diaphram thing that contacts my throttle cable in the engine bay. I don't know for a fact, but I suspect it's related to cold-start. When you start the car it sort of pushes the throttle to give it more gas, then as the engine warms up it shrinks allowing the throttle to return to a more closed position. I have no idea what it is, but it appears to act similar to how a thermostat functions.

This is a rough depiction of the shape, turned 90 degrees clockwise. Tilt your head to the right to view it how it sits in the engine bay (in front of the throttlebody)

[code]
n <---Throttle
-
--- <--- Strange alien device made of rubber
-----
||
|| <--- Some kind of tube
||
[/code]

[OEMonkey]

I have to give the puppy some gas by stepping on the pedal a few times to keep it going

Well, that tells you right there that your fuel pump is working(as well as your tps). fuel pumps are either working or theyre not working at all.

[Nick]

that's not true, for a year my pump wasn't working at full potential, and it would make my car buck at wot

[OEMonkey]

you sure it wasnt your fuel pressure regulator?
you'll have a no start condition with a bad pump, just like a bad primary in your ignition.

[Nick]

nope, just got a pump from a tercel at the yard and she goes good again