fuel pressure regulator fail

**tep98ws6** · 10-05-2009, 11:38 AM

so i put in my new fuel pump & regulator on thursday and the regulator isn't working

it SUCKED dropping the rear end in class because i didn't have enough time (didn't leave school til 1am), can't leave my car at school, don't have a lift at home, blah blah ... if any of you have cut the body and made a door to access the fuel pump easier, how did you do it? i plan on doing it tonight but i want to do it as safe as possible. ideas?

**ntimid8r** · 10-05-2009, 11:42 AM

Do you have fuel pressure at the rail? Check that before you dig into the fuel tank. The regulator is located next to the fuel rail on the drivers side. Also make sure your fuel pump fuse (located under the hood) is good.

**tep98ws6** · 10-05-2009, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by ntimid8r

Do you have fuel pressure at the rail? Check that before you dig into the fuel tank. The regulator is located next to the fuel rail on the drivers side. Also make sure your fuel pump fuse (located under the hood) is good.

i have 30psi, still. the regulator on the '98 is on the pump housing. everything on the '98 is all weird

... basically, you know how it is a return system, the regulator is basically taking some of the fuel to the rails and the other half back into the tank, it's almost like an internal leak, i don't know what it thinks it's doing. i'll check the fuses tonight, didn't think of that.

**ntimid8r** · 10-05-2009, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by tep98ws6

i have 30psi, still. the regulator on the '98 is on the pump housing. everything on the '98 is all weird

... basically, you know how it is a return system, the regulator is basically taking some of the fuel to the rails and the other half back into the tank, it's almost like an internal leak, i don't know what it thinks it's doing. i'll check the fuses tonight, didn't think of that.

Well shoot....I've never worked on a '98. Didn't think the regulator would be in a different location.

I'm not a fan of cutting the back to access the fuel tank. But here's a link I found from a search. I didn't read through it but the page gives you the jist of things. The biggest thing, to me, is to seal up the access door real well so you don't get gas fumes in the drivers compartment. Use some good chemical sealant when you put it back together.

Link: http://www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/fuelpump.html

**tep98ws6** · 10-05-2009, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by ntimid8r

Well shoot....I've never worked on a '98. Didn't think the regulator would be in a different location.

I'm not a fan of cutting the back to access the fuel tank. But here's a link I found from a search. I didn't read through it but the page gives you the jist of things. The biggest thing, to me, is to seal up the access door real well so you don't get gas fumes in the drivers compartment. Use some good chemical sealant when you put it back together.

Link: http://www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/fuelpump.html

thanks a ton

that's what i'm worried about ... getting knocked out by my cut out while driving, haha. i'm not a fan of it either but if it can be done in a legit way, i'm gonna try it.
the '98s have all weird crap going on with them. all the fuel components are on that monstrosity in the tank. i think that may be that super loud noise i'm hearing when it primes. i now i have a random misfire too so i may or may not have fouled off a plug or two, another job i'm not a fan of (but is anyone really?)

**shady milkman** · 10-05-2009, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by tep98ws6

thanks a ton

that's what i'm worried about ... getting knocked out by my cut out while driving, haha. i'm not a fan of it either but if it can be done in a legit way, i'm gonna try it.
the '98s have all weird crap going on with them. all the fuel components are on that monstrosity in the tank. i think that may be that super loud noise i'm hearing when it primes. i now i have a random misfire too so i may or may not have fouled off a plug or two, another job i'm not a fan of (but is anyone really?)

yea welcome to the lovely world of the 98s

i am actually looking forward to upgrading my fuel system..but with yours ..you have a issue that you are trying to isolate so not as fun

**tep98ws6** · 10-05-2009, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by shady milkman

yea welcome to the lovely world of the 98s

i am actually looking forward to upgrading my fuel system..but with yours ..you have a issue that you are trying to isolate so not as fun

yeaaaah. it sucks buying defective parts

**tep98ws6** · 10-05-2009, 01:38 PM

i found a good write up, have all the things to do it here, i'll have pictures either late tonight or tomorrow.

**tep98ws6** · 10-06-2009, 05:41 AM

FIXED IT. and didn't even have to drop the tank or cut a hole

**ntimid8r** · 10-06-2009, 06:29 AM

Originally Posted by tep98ws6

FIXED IT. and didn't even have to drop the tank or cut a hole

Good news!!!

So what was the culprit?

**tep98ws6** · 10-06-2009, 06:39 AM

i discovered this wonderful thing called a fuel filter with an external regulator... had to do a little fabrication to make it fit but it did the trick and then i was misfiring real bad and found i had a slice in my #3 wire so i swapped it out and i still need to check two other very small misfires but it's running 98% better and its great. STARTS ON THE FIRST CRANK TOO, which its never done for me. tonight i'm checking out #4 & #6 plugs/wires and cleaning up the throttle body and i should be set.

**shady milkman** · 10-06-2009, 06:42 AM

Originally Posted by tep98ws6

i discovered this wonderful thing called a fuel filter with an external regulator... had to do a little fabrication to make it fit but it did the trick and then i was misfiring real bad and found i had a slice in my #3 wire so i swapped it out and i still need to check two other very small misfires but it's running 98% better and its great. STARTS ON THE FIRST CRANK TOO, which its never done for me. tonight i'm checking out #4 & #6 plugs/wires and cleaning up the throttle body and i should be set.

well done

**ntimid8r** · 10-06-2009, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by tep98ws6

i discovered this wonderful thing called a fuel filter with an external regulator... had to do a little fabrication to make it fit but it did the trick and then i was misfiring real bad and found i had a slice in my #3 wire so i swapped it out and i still need to check two other very small misfires but it's running 98% better and its great. STARTS ON THE FIRST CRANK TOO, which its never done for me. tonight i'm checking out #4 & #6 plugs/wires and cleaning up the throttle body and i should be set.

Sweet!!! Glad you found a way to put a regulator on the fuel filter. Ingenious!! Yeah...maybe a good time to swap out all plugs and wires. Does it have long tubes? PITA to do plugs.

Glad to hear she's running 98% better. Good luck on getting that last 2%!!!

**tep98ws6** · 10-06-2009, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by ntimid8r

Sweet!!! Glad you found a way to put a regulator on the fuel filter. Ingenious!! Yeah...maybe a good time to swap out all plugs and wires. Does it have long tubes? PITA to do plugs.

Glad to hear she's running 98% better. Good luck on getting that last 2%!!!

not yet... in a month or two i will be getting headers. my plugs were hell but it could have been worse if it was sitting hot. ac delco sells a filter/regulator and it's like $53, but still not too bad for a good fix

too bad it poured today and i couldn't enjoy how good it feels to have a fully running car

**ntimid8r** · 10-06-2009, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by tep98ws6

not yet... in a month or two i will be getting headers. my plugs were hell but it could have been worse if it was sitting hot. ac delco sells a filter/regulator and it's like $53, but still not too bad for a good fix

too bad it poured today and i couldn't enjoy how good it feels to have a fully running car

Yeah that's a good trick with the ac delco filter/regulator.

Change your plugs and wires now before you put long tubes on. Long tubes will be right in the effin way of each plug. Although you probably have smaller hands than most guys and won't be as difficult. shady milkman is the only one able to change plugs easily...he's effeminate.

**tep98ws6** · 10-06-2009, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by ntimid8r

Yeah that's a good trick with the ac delco filter/regulator.

Change your plugs and wires now before you put long tubes on. Long tubes will be right in the effin way of each plug. Although you probably have smaller hands than most guys and won't be as difficult. shady milkman is the only one able to change plugs easily...he's effeminate.

i have big hands for a girl. super skinny but im just structured big i guess

so it is still a PITA

i hate doing plugs. next time i have to do them, i think i'm just going to drop the engine,

**ntimid8r** · 10-06-2009, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by tep98ws6

next time i have to do them, i think i'm just going to drop the engine,

I'm with ya sister!!! I said the same thing the last time I changed my plugs.

Oh...and you're scaring me with mention that you have "man-hands".

**tep98ws6** · 10-06-2009, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by ntimid8r

I'm with ya sister!!! I said the same thing the last time I changed my plugs.

Oh...and you're scaring me with mention that you have "man-hands".

i dont have man hands, haha. they're just not super tiny. i may work on cars for a living but seriously, i still have hot pink fingernails

**ntimid8r** · 10-06-2009, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by tep98ws6

i dont have man hands, haha. they're just not super tiny. i may work on cars for a living but seriously, i still have hot pink fingernails

PM me some pics of your digits for verification.

**Smittro** · 10-06-2009, 08:59 AM

I did mine back in like July, took 3 hrs the hard way and NO cutting and no lift.. It's not as hard as it seems. Especially if you've done a few on puller cars..