Fuel questions - NEED HELP!

[memovox2]

Hi - Love the forum - so helpful. I have a fuel situation on my 1990 Ford Festiva that I need your help with. Here are the symptoms:

1.) Car cranks, wont start.
2.) Have good spark.
3.) Put in new fuel pump, new fuel sock, new fuel filter, new fuel pressure regulator, flushed out all old fuel, cleaned out gas tank.
4.) Still no start.
5.) Disconnected fuel line at rail and regulator. Start car and fule pumps. No way to know if it is good pressure, but fuel pumps and sprays out from the fuel line. . .
6.) If I pour gas in to the throttle body (its a fuel inj. car) the car will start and run. . .

So, a few questions come to mind:

a.) Could I have the fuel lines backwards?

b.) Does the fuel line that is pumping/spraying gas when I crank the car go to the fuel rail or pressure regulator?

c.) Could I have a clogged fuel rail?

d.) Could my new fuel pump be weak?

Again, I have spark and all new components and new fuel. If I drizzle gas into the throttle body by removing that plastic intake thingy, the car will start & run. . .

Please help!!! - Chris in Chicago:bounce:

[Damkid]

the fuel line coming from the filter goes into the fuel rail, the line from the pressure regulator is the return line

If your lines are not backwards, try changing the fuel pump relay located just above the hood release under the dash, i had that problem once

[mechanicaldj]

could be your Vane Air Flow meter (VAF)

it triggers your fuel pump when you crank the engine

[eurotiva]

Chris, How long since the car has run? It could be clogged injectors. Also if you pull the vacuum line off the fuel pressure reg. and smell gas it's bad and won't build fuel pressure. I've seen alot of this since ethanol has been put in gas.

[memovox2]

Interesting. Car has not been driven in years. It sat in a drive way from the guy i bought it from and I bought it for $100. and I got it running. Put about 20 miles on it and parked it in the garage for a year. hats why I thought that I should dump all the old fuel, replace all fuel items as they inexpensive..... I will look at the fuel lines now to see if backwards. On the post with the fuel pump relay, i dont see how that could be it as it is pumping fuel when cranked. On the VAF is that the one where the air cleaner is or the one in the throttle body that moves when the gas petal moves?

[memovox2]

Also update. . . fuel lines under the hood are on correct from the filter to the fuel rail and from the regulator to the return. . However, under neath the car in the left rear near the fuel fill area there is a run of four metal lines (Im assuming two fuel, two brake). One is rotted that has a rubber hose connected to it. If this is the return line, I would have to guess that that could affect system pressure, fuel pressure to the rail/injectors, etc. . . correct?

[ShagFestiva]

mine had the same symptoms and it was the fusible links, but if you can get it to start by spraying fuel into the intake then im not quite sure. Clogged injectors would be my guess.

[FestYboy]

VAF sits right above the air filter, there's a signal wire that feeds the fuel pump relay, check the connector and you should be able to manualy actuate the "vane" and turn the fuel pump on and off.

[gottafesty]

Also if you pull the vacuum line off the fuel pressure reg. and smell gas it's bad and won't build fuel pressure. I've seen alot of this since ethanol has been put in gas.

I agree with euro that you ought to check the fuel pressure regulator.

[dragonslit]

i seem to be haveing the same problem... dont know my fix yet still tinkering