help newbie save '85 with fuel system problem

[leiniesred]

Hiya: I'm new to the Mr2. I kinda have 1. I traded some wifi stuff for it.

It is a non running model with optional problems. Help me get it running again so it doesn't end up junked. I would like to commute 70 miles/day in it.

Background:
The car sat for about 3 years. This winter, efforts to motivate were made. She had a fuel pressure regulator problem that caused, "Fuel shooting out all over the place," It appears that a brand new spanky junkyard fuel rail was installed complete with regulator. The car then drove for 5 minutes before it ran out of fuel at the rail. Fuel filter replaced. Ran for 15 minutes, then idled for 2 hours. A guy who was looking at buying it was fiddling with her and she just stopped. Not sure if it was something he did or the car just got mad at him.

Current owner removed fuel filter again and discovered no fuel squirting out when he cranked it.

Along comes me, toyota 4x4 guy. (my 89 runner sports 35 inch tires, turbo tranny, lockers in both diffs, 2 transfer cases, blah blah blah)

I put everything back together. (I think) It DOES have good spark, it DOES run on WD-40, it DOESN'T get any fuel. I find the wires that go to the fuel pump up at the level sender. Test light comes on with ignition so the electrical stuff looks OK but the pump doesn't seem to run.

I grab the blow gun from the truck (which has on-board air) and remove the downstream banjo on the fuel filter. I apply reverse pressure to the fuel pump (with gas cap off) but it appears either plugged or check valved. I hook everything back up and hot wire the fuel pump directly with my jumper cables (the MR2's battery is pancaked)
MMMMMMmmmmmm. The pump runs! OK, good. I move jumpers back to the battery and figure out how to hotwire the starter solinoid with the ignition on (I check and yes, it does spark with my hotwire.) No start, but I smell fuel. Wet by the rightmost injector. Might be the banjo on the righthand side of the fuel log. Undo banjo on the right hand side of the fuel log. no gas. Re-try to hotwire fuel pump. No mmmmm noises anymore. It's dark and I go home in my trusty 4runner (236,000 miles on the 3.slow).

What am I missing here? I call upon the MR2 experts to assist my hillbilly troubleshooting skills. Tonight, I will also pray to "Sid" the automotive god (May he forever burn rubber across the sky in a 1970 R-code mustang with a 429 and a shaker hood scoop.)


It sounds like the pump slowed, then stopped, when I powered it from my jumper cables with everything hooked up. Like pressure built up and it stopped.

Should I be able to backblow though the fuel pump?
What about the filter? Does it have a check valve? (looks like a fram, may be hooked up backwards too)
Where can I put my airhose to test the return line?
Does fuel Enter on the left of the rail and return on the right?
Does the nylon sock on the pump clog up?
I read about a collapsed return line in my search. Where does it collapse?

It sounds like a stoppage. Where do these things plug up?
Whasabi with this old girl? Help a newbie and score points with Sid (May he forever burn rubber across the sky in a 442 with a 6pack.)

Thanks and happy motoring, LeiniesRed