Apparently, my fuel pump isn't priming. If I remember correctly, it's relatively loud, but I hear nothing. But before I go buying a new fuel pump, is there anything else I should check first? I want to start checking the small things before I change the fuel pump. Thanks in advance.

Did you check the relay?

i'm at school with no tools, and have no way of checking.

would it just die all of a sudden, though?

are you getting spark?

You can check spark as mentioned above at night with no tools, just pull the plugs one at a time and give her a start. Your coil pack could be bad, your computer may be malfunctioning, it could be a host of things. Fuel pump priming isn't super loud unless you are turbo and have an aftermarker accessory pump. Otherwise, it's just a hum, get a friend to listen by the passenger side rear tire - they should be able to hear it.

plugs, wires, and coil pack are all relatively new. i crank it and crank it and dont smell any fuel. it's also dead quit inside the car when I turn the ignition on, and I'm pretty sure I remember being able to hear the ful pump at least a little bit.

Do you have the test port you could check for fuel pressure? Typically, you can turn the key on, then go push the valve (like that on a tire) and see if gas squirts out.

ok, so it started. i went out today and it cranked but didnt even sound like it had a hope of starting. tried again and it started right up. it idled a little high at first, then went to normal. took it for a drive, no problems at all. pushed it through all gears, no issue. brough it back and parked, tried to start it up, and it sounded like it was running on like 1 or 2 cylinders, and when I pressed the gas, it wouldnt rev. it eventually would just die, and would do the same thing when I tried to start it again. but then after a few tries, it would start like nothing was wrong. i kept doing this over and over, same pattern every time.

what the hell is going on?

did you check on what the others suggested.
check plugs, wires, coil and then check fuel pump/filter.
I had similar simptoms before it was a bad fuel pump.

went out today, and it wouldn't start again.

sounds like a bad coil pack. Check for spark by pulling one of the wires, stick a piece of long metal in it and ground it to some metal on your car and have your friend crank the car. No spark, bad coil.

Sounds like fuel pump,go to advanced auto and buy a $2.00 testlight and pull up your rear seat bottom and check for power to the pump, or get a can of starting fluid and give it a small wiff and see if it try's to start...

I'd replace your fuel pump relay first. My car had the exact same issue, and the relay was bad..its right there on the driver side firewall, should be 2 relays there together if a manual trans, and 3 if you are an auto. If there are 2, it will be the one closest to the fender, if there are 3, should be the one in the middle(not positive on that though, have to verify it)

tonight, i tried again, and listened very closely.

at first, nothing again, for a few tries.

then turn the ignition to on, fuel pump primes briefly, and gar comes close to starting, idles low and dies.

try a few more times, and it doesnt prime.

so i'm guessing it's the relay, wires, or pump.

how much is a relay, and what do I do to change it? i might start there.

Originally posted by CopperEclipse96
tonight, i tried again, and listened very closely. at first, nothing again, for a few tries. then turn the ignition to on, fuel pump primes briefly, and gar comes close to starting, idles low and dies. try a few more times, and it doesnt prime. so i'm guessing it's the relay, wires, or pump. how much is a relay, and what do I do to change it? i might start there.

check if your getting any power to the fuel pump wire with a volt meter. its the black wire with a blue stipe.

i tried smacking the top of the fuel pump through the rubber boot thingy. turned they key and it primed like always. it drove perfectly fine again. I parked it and turned the ignition off and on a few times... primed every time.

what the hell?

Next time it does it, get on the ground and hit the bottom of the tank hard with your hand, make sure the key is on first though. If it works after that then the pump is bad.

it starts every single time if I smack the top of the fuel pump. what the hell does this mean?

anybody know why punching the fuel pump made it work?

Sounds to me like a break in the wire causing an open. Open=no ground. No ground=no start :) We call that the wiggle test, you've got a break somewhere. Either in the wiring, or in the connector. Now ya just gotta find it :D