Fuel Pump Fuse Keeps Blowing

[fitnessking]

I have a 91 with 25k that I have owned for 11 years. The car is not driven regularly. After having sat for several months, I put in a new battery and started the car the other day. It ran for about 2 minutes and then quit. After a little detective work, I determined that the fuel pump fuse had blown. I put a new fuse in and it too blew as soon as I turned the key.Any thoughts?

This car has been super reliable and has no history of electrical issues.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Exactly which fuse is blown? What #?

LarryB

 

[fitnessking]

I am not near the car so I do not know the #, but it is a 15A located in the box at the driver's footwell.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

I am thinking this is #5 fuse. It may just be your fuel pump has shorted. How familar are you with electrical thoubleshooting? This would not be a "OK change this" sort of thing. You will have to check all the wiring and have a look at the fuel pump electrically to see if it is shorted. From there decide what next if anything.

Regards,
LarryB

 

[fitnessking]

Larry,

I am a neophyte on electrical troubleshooting. Might it be something obvious? This car often sits for long lengths of time without being driven. Where is the fuel pump located?

Thanks for your input.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

It's in the fuel tank. You will really need to find your way around the wiring of the car to get to the leads without pulling the tank. And if the far end of the system checsk out, you will be pulling the tank anyway.

This is really not for the light hearted IMO.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[fitnessking]

Larry,

For what it is worth, it is fuse #2 that is blowing. It does not blow when the key is in the "on" position. It blows immediately when I actually crank the engine.

Thanks again.

Scott

 

[TyraNSX]

If it sat so long, maybe evil rodents have chewed on your wires. Look around for nests & droppings.

 

[D'Ecosse]

Larry,

For what it is worth, it is fuse #2 that is blowing. It does not blow when the key is in the "on" position. It blows immediately when I actually crank the engine.

Then the good news is it's not your fuel pump - that runs as soon as you turn on ignition.
Looking at all the things that fuse supplies:

I would believe that since it blows when the engine is running that it might be the voltage regulator - i.e. bad alternator.

The best advice is just to disconnect each circuit that fuse feeds until you identify the source of the problem.