Been awhile- Questions

[harpon]

1. When does the fuel pump relay buzz on? or supposed to anyway? first key on, or key start? 91 Festy

2. Fuel pump relay- location? on driver interior sidewall right? I've got a relay clicking there at key START, but not at key on. Do you think that's it, or maybe something else?

3. Is the CHECK ENGINE LIGHT supposed to come on during start attempts? Mine isn't. Is that significant?

To catch up- two summers ago the car (parked) quit starting or making fuel pump sound.
at that time I replaced the fuel pump - not sure if I did a good job- Guess I'll have to check polarity again- and tightness to fuel line-

but then still no fuel pump- tried to manually jump it- got buzz but no start still- so I wondered about polarity-probably correct- and then if I have it snug to line

About then I started reading about it getting a signal from the MAF so thought probably that may be it- the car roared to life and ran great before fuel pump noise disappeared.

Anyway at one point I tried a crude attempt to jump the fuel pump at the connector under the hood- no result- not sure if I did it correctly- and I attempted to wedge MAF vane open- still with no result.

I haven't been able to get to it since- so I think it's still basically a fuel pump relay issue away from starting-

Any suggestions? - thanks in advance!

91 Red Festy, 76,000 miles on the odometer Florida car, no rust

The city is pressuring to get rid of my cars-Geez- the way things are going, I might have to live in it we get a disaster like the Carolinas or Mexico Beach. Looks like I'll have t give up the 95 Escort wagon. I can't see how they think they have rights to people's property in their own yards= there's scarcely any view to the cars, because it's largely fenced now. These people are out of touch and crazy- the neighborhood I live in is an industrial dump and wasteland, and they wanna act like they are some Condo HMO.
I can put this one inside, but may think of selling it. I can't wrench it much anymore- just trying to keep a car going into my old age. I'll be 65 in a couple of months- but they've moved the retirement age back a year for my age group. Figures!

[Rick the Quick]

Here are a couple items out of the factory service manual. I hope it helps you

[harpon]

Thanks- that helps very much.

Anyone know if the Check Engine light is supposed to come on momentarily during start- I thought it did- mine isn't.

[WmWatt]

Check engine light is supposed to come on to verify it's good, then go off after a few seconds. Mine does. Problem with bulb or connection or fuse?

[Rick the Quick]

Yes the check engine light should come on momentarily. A burnt out bulb would be the easiest fix. I will look in the fsm and see if it can shed some light on the possible cause of the light not coming on. I put in a long day so look for a reply in the morning.

[Rick the Quick]

There is also a fuse in the ECU circuit. I think it is labeled "ENGINE" in the fuse panel. There may be other causes for the cel not coming on. Probably the least likely the ECU. I looked in both my factory service manual and the electrical +
vacuum troubleshooting manual and they refer me to book #3 Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis manual. I don't have the 3rd manual however I would think your problem would be found in the fuse, bulb, or connections between them.
Let us know what you find.
Rick