I've been googling and googling and googling and I've gone from "It must be the spark plugs." to "Oh god! I didn't know car! I'm so sorry!". But, here are the details...

My car was running fine for quite awhile, I'm of the destitute sort and put up with the noises it typically makes (someone stole my catalitic convertor and my exhaust has rattled ever since- that and my AC fan on the passenger side is busted and whines like an upset nun). But one day, while attempting to pull out of my drive way, the car starts and then slowly dies. RPM start at 2k, and slowly trickles down to dead. Well, pumping a little gas to 'get it going' seemed to be working for me, and that lasted all but a week.

Now a few days ago when I attempted to started, same thing tried to 'get it going' but this time the car had had it up to here- it was tired of my shinanigans and wouldn't stay started. It'll click on (power works fine, listen to the radio while trying to figure this out), and even half *** start but will not stay on. It's at the point now it will rarely actually go.

My expertise is computers, so looking at the motor makes sense enough. If somethings broken I have the wits to test, check, and replace if needed... I just don't know what's broken.

A friend says the starter ( but it starts, just doesn't stay on ), my gut says spark plugs ( but to be honest, I'm always wrong ), some website says it's my relay, and my best guess is the fuel pump.

Any suggestions or tips?

 

definatley not the starter or spark plugs.

 

its probably fuel pressure, look into that

 

Fuel pressure, how do I go about checking that? Is there anyway to test a fuel pump to see if it's bad, just in case?

Or any other suggestions?

 

I agree with the starter being fine, it's turning over enough to try to start. Plugs, when were the last looked at or replaced? Fuel, have you tried to spray carb cleaner/starting fluid in it while cranking...yes that doesn't test pressure but gives a sign....when you turn the key to pos II, do you hear the fuel pump run?
Some other testing ideas and that in the link below:
http://techauto.awardspace.com

 

I'd start by picking up a fuel filter. It's easy enough to change unless you changed yours recently. You can check for fuel pressure at the same time. When you loosen up the top bolt wrap it in a rag and have someone turn the key to on without starting the car and see if it sprays fuel. If not, then it's your fuel pump. If it does spray, then just change the fuel filter and go from there. If your car starts then dies it's obviously not the starter since the starter obviously only starts the car it doesn't do anything after nor is it constantly runnin.

 

I have had a few people suggest this too me, listening to/for the fuel pump- maybe it's my novice experience but is there a particular noise it makes? Whirring, clicks, buzz?

I'll know by the weekend for sure (and I appreciate all the tips) when I have time to work on it.

If it is just fuel pressure, how do you go about fixing that?

 

What about the plugs? Anyway the sound of the pump is hard to explain in words....hum, buzz, whirring.....there should be a vent/cap/test cap on the fuel rail that could answer the fuel issue,,,and then if no fuel, why? Is the pump getting voltage (main relay, key switch, ect)...caveman/poorman have you tried the carb/starting fluid method...the link should give you things to check and test...I agree with many others in "test before replace".

 

It may be just my inexperience and total lack of knowledge, but more than likely a strange, horrible monster of both- but this is what I've come to discover about my fuel pump and I wanted to ask another question-

Should it be covered in that honey like stuff? It was incredibly goopy (but it may need to be that way?).

Also, my fuel pump makes a "donk" noise when I turn the ignition. So, it's getting power because of all the noise makin', but maybe not enough?

 

that on the connector is fine. and if your fuel pump makes noise when the key is in the on position that it is working. but theres no way of telling if the fuel pump is pumpin the correct pressure. thats when a pressure tester comes to play.

 

I had trouble starting my 93 del Sol today. I didn't hear the fuel pump.
I checked the main relay it was okay. I checked the fuel filter and there wasn't any pressure when I undid the fuel lines after cranking a few times.
Turns out I banged on the bottom of the gas tank with a block of wood WHILE my friend turned the ignition key. The car started. I had to do the same thing to my RV about a week ago to get it to start.
I'm in Florida maybe it's condensation in the tank ?
I had sea foamed the tank a week ago and someone said maybe the sea foam swelled the fuel pump ? The del Sol has a lot of miles 184K so maybe I need a new fuel pump?

 

Alright!

So, I put in a new fuel pump and it was quite a success! I got the car to start up after a few pumps. Filled the tank, went to sleep and slept good...

Woke up the next morning and it didn't work right off. "Oh no.", I thought. I pumped the gas a few times and it worked. Hmm, so I figured I'm better off now and have been driving around on it with no problems (except for in the morning when I would have to pump it to get it started). After checking the lines and following them around, I finally found a cut in the fuel line!

Got a new line in tonight, and tomorrow I will post the results.

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions.

 

Turns out that replacing the fuel pump was futile. It's just a pressure problem some where, so I've made a new thread just addressing that issue.

 

Had the same intermittent problem with my 93 del Sol.
I replaced the fuel pump and tried 3 different main relays.
The relay only clicked one time when turning the key.
(It needs to click 3 times in the starting process)
Turns out the problem solution was to clean the the ground wires on the thermostat housing.
The main relay is grounded thru the wire harness thru the ECU to the thermostat housing.
CLEAN THE CONNECTION TO BARE METAL ON THE CONNECTOR AND HOUSING.
That should cure it.