I hope to get it back home tomorrow. My problem has something to do with the in-tank fuel pump. I've slowly been working through mechanical glitches on the old girl and felt confident enough to take it over to the next town for my son's baseball game.

It drove like a dream until it was time to head home, where it died and would not restart at a huuuge intersection. I got out and pushed it across a busy lane and was able to coast downhill to a quieter spot.
It didn't take long to diagnose the problem as the in-tank pump. It had been somewhat noisy when running before the breakdown but now, not a peep. I replaced the pump (a larger used one) and hose last week and I think the pump itself is okay because I got it to run a time or two briefly today before it quit altogether. I also took it out and it tested good w/ jumpers at the battery. My gut is telling me it's wiring ... could be one of my solder joints failed.

I'm thinking I will go to the PullAPart in the morning and get an entire sending unit w/ pump intact out of a newer car. There's a nice well-kept '89 over there that would still be on the road if the front end hadn't been demolished in a wreck. Any other thoughts regarding this type of fix would be appreciated. Thanks, Jim

After hitting the parts yard yesterday for both fuel pumps and a sending unit, one of the parents heading back from Nashville to Murfreesboro to pick up our baseball-playing sons gave me a lift to my car.

The problem ended up being brittle plastic insulators on the poles of the main pump. Big chunks had broken off creating a faulty connection. One of the rubber feet on the mounting platform was also broken off, which I'm sure didn't help. I replaced the whole platform.

I also went ahead and put in the replacement sending unit w/ in-tank pump. On start-up, I was pretty tense waiting for gas to make it's way to the injectors, but she finally fired up.

All in all, a couple of PITA days I'd rather not re-live anytime soon. Working on the brick alongside a busy highway doesn't hold the same attraction as the good old backyard! Jim

I don't know exactly HOW you tested it, but testing it without also running fuel through it at the same time, can quickly damage an electric fuel pump. It does not take long to do damage that way. I don't know if your 1983 has two pumps, but if so, the in-tank pump does not have to be working to make the car run.
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'89 silver 244DL in Milwaukee WI

I had read that about bench testing pumps before but I was in desperation mode at the time and did it anyway ... maybe 2-3 seconds. Maybe I fried it. When I go back, I plan to take another pump anyway.
My car has 2 fuel pumps and began not running a couple weeks ago without an operational in-tank pump. Maybe there was something wrong with both pumps? Before replacing the in-tank , the main pump would run loudly (car running) for a minute or so, then the car would die and not restart for several hours. Same thing would then happen. After replacing the in-tank pump, which guietened the main pump (I also replaced the fuel filter), I was on cloud 9 again until yesterday.

How much gas is in the tank? It really should run fine if you've got 1/2 tank or more. I would be more suspect of the main pump or something completely different.

Bring a jumper wire to bypass the main pump relay.. jump fuses 5 and 7 I think (check the fuse box cover to be sure).. make sure you can hear the main pump.

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-Matt I ♥ my ♂

Hi Matt,
Tank is 3/4 full. I checked and rolled all fuses and I can hear FPR click when I turn the key. I also, for good measure, switched and checked FPR with a spare I had. I am now suspect of the main pump after reading both responses.
Thanks for suggestion on jumping the fuses.

If you don't hear the main pump working... try beating on it.. might get it going enough to get you home (take safe back roads though in case it doesn't make it)

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-Matt I ♥ my ♂

I just replaced the intank pump on my 92 wagon. The pump has been bad for sometime, I kept the tank full, any more than 90 miles I would run out of gas.
You might try filling it up and see if it runs.