legacycentral bbs

Posted: **Mon Dec 31, 2007 3:09 am**

so for the past few weeks my fuel pump relay (i think) has been clicking while i drive. and when it clicked it would randomly turn the light behind my gas gauge on and off.

everything was fine today. then i went over to my friends house, came out to my car twenty minutes later and tried to start it, but no start. it cranks just fine. i plugged in the green diagnostic connectors and i could hear the relay click on and off.

so now the question is, is my fuel pump dead? and why was my fuel pump relay clicking on and off while i have been driving for the past few weeks?

any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks in advance,
aaron

Posted: **Mon Dec 31, 2007 3:19 am**

also, when i turned the key to the 'on' position i couldn't hear the fuel pump at all.

Posted: **Mon Dec 31, 2007 4:35 am**

someone?
anyone?

Posted: **Mon Dec 31, 2007 6:21 am**

i want to help but i have no idea

can you replace the relay?
maybe clean the connections or something?

Posted: **Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:34 am**

well the relay is clicking which would lead me to believe that it's operating correctly.

and the connections for the fuel pump (the ones under the back seat) are connected just fine...

Posted: **Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:01 pm**

Hmmm well I really can't wait much longer to fix this. I think I'm just going to try installing a new fuel pump. I'm planning on going with the Walbro 255.

I searched but I couldn't find exactly what one I need. Like does the pump need to be for a WRX/STI? Or is there one specifically made for a 91 Legacy SS?

Posted: **Tue Jan 01, 2008 12:48 am**

what happened to all the people on here that knew everything?

Posted: **Tue Jan 01, 2008 2:01 am**

Why dont you just go to the connector at the fuel pump and check for power? If you have it, then the pump is bad. Its THAT freakin simple.

Posted: **Wed Jan 02, 2008 6:07 am**

Ok. What if I don't have power (meaning the pump wasn't back)? What would be the next step in trouble shooting it?

Posted: **Wed Jan 02, 2008 6:38 am**

If no power at the pump, next I'd check the relay; both sides. Power in OK? Power out when relay actuates? If power out is OK, start looking at the wiring back to the pump. If not, relay contacts might be fried or dirty, try prying it apart and use an emery board to clean the contacts, or replace. Also check the fuses and fusible links in the engine compt. fusebox.

Posted: **Wed Jan 02, 2008 6:42 am**

Will do. I must not have been looking hard enough, but I didn't see any fuses for the fuel pump in the fuse boxes...

Posted: **Wed Jan 02, 2008 7:04 am**

I'm pretty sure the FP fuse is in the front (engine bay) box... I remember pulling it to depressurize the fuel lines when I put in my Walbro. Maybe a diagram on the inside of the lid?? Not sure.

If it is the pump (unlikely) and you need to open the fuel tank, make sure you clean the lid well before taking it off.

Posted: **Wed Jan 02, 2008 7:06 am**

Awesome. Thanks for your help!

Posted: **Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:11 pm**

There is no fuel pump fuse, only a relay.

Also, when testing, the fuel pump will only have power when cranking, or initially when the ignition is turned on to pressurize the system. Obviously it will have power when the engine is running, but I mention the above because it can be misleading if you are testing at the fuel pump connector with a non-running engine.

As for the clicking...are you sure it's the fuel pump relay, there's other relays up there.

The correct Walbro pump is the GSS341. This info is posted many times on the board, please try searching.

Posted: **Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:14 am**

I was told that the fuel pump relay is the one that clicks about every second or so (and I can hear it doing that).

I must not have searched correctly, sorry about that. Thanks for the information though.

Posted: **Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:08 am**

With such an old car, when was the last time the fuel filter was changed? I've seen some pretty nasty fiters (not just Subarus) over the past few years, which we weren't able to tune the cars until the filter was changed. Otherwise, I've seen relays go bad on newer model Subarus so anything is possible. Now if the fuel was run REALLY low, it could also have sucked up crap from the bottom of the tank.

Posted: **Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:57 am**

I replaced the fuel filter about a month ago, and I still have 1/4 tank of gas...

Posted: **Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:37 am**

get a new pump its dead

Posted: **Thu Jan 03, 2008 11:37 am**

Do they usually go out that quickly?

I mean the car was running great, I parked it and came back out 20 minutes later to start it wouldn't start.

Posted: **Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:55 pm**

If this happened to your SS now would be the time to upgrade to a Walbro 255HPHV pump - if that is your problem.

It looks like your have 2 Legacys, why dont you swap parts from the running one to see what gets the dead one running again.

Posted: **Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:28 pm**

Yes this did happen on my SS.

My dad drives the LS now so I have a feeling he'd be mad if I swapped defective parts into his car...

But is it normal for one to go out so quickly?

Posted: **Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:13 am**

its a 1991 legacy turbo right? if so its the stock pump? and if its the stock pump then sure it could go becuse of the age.

i have all kinds of things go on me, 6month built motors blow to bits, turbos, trannys, the sky is the limt.

Posted: **Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:19 pm**

Hahahaha ok thanks for your words of wisdom Nico. New fuel pump is going in tomorrow and we'll see what happens.

Posted: **Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:20 am**

The wires going to the pump aren't getting 12v.

So is it just the relay that's bad?

Posted: **Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:02 am**

Yup. Just because you hear the relay click doesn't mean it is working correctly. When my rear wiper wouldn't turn on I heard the relay click. Eventually I took out the relay hit it then plugged it back in and guess what the rear wiper worked. Subaru fuel pumps RARELY go.