Hey,

Lately I've been struggling with what the hell was making my car die as I rode down the road. I studied all I could, in-tank pump, fuel pump relay soldering regimines, prayers to Don Foster, the holy mother of internal combustion et al. I couldn't figure it out, I took to having the fuel relay dangling at my left knee, whenever the car crapped out I'd whack the relay and usually I'd get back on step.

I ordered a new realy, fifty bucks from All OEM, good people, fast delivery. I re-did the connections at the relay, a couple new spades, made sure there was a good connection, seem to work till the new realy came.

I got going this morning, drove the car around back and began work on installing the new relay. I intended to get into the workings of the in-tank fuel pump and was able to confirm it's function using a screw driver to tranfer the sound to my ear.

The in-tank motor definitely works. What I was after was to clean the sock filter and make sure the length of hose was there. My car does suffer from stalling after taking a sharp turn.

So here are the indicators.

-Dies for no reason related to faulty relay or intermittant functioning of pump

-Dies after sharp turn approx half a tank of gas; must be that bit of rubber hose missing

I disconnected the old relay and installed the new relay. I wired it the wrong way initially which led to a no-start situation (hey I just started the damn thing mus be something simple)and a goose chase: I undid the main fuel pump brace and checked the connections to the main fuel pump, they were good. I checked the connection at the in-tank pump to make sure I'd reconnected it the right way, I had. I took the plastic cover off of my new realy to view the contacts meeting as I switched the ignition to the on position, they weren't. I then discovered that I'd wired the realy the wrong way, I switched the wires and the car turned right over. Mission accomplished I tackled a new oxygen sensor in my wife's 242ti, brave girl.

Anyhoo I discovered that Auto Zone loans our a special tool that connects to your 3/8 ratchet, a crow's foot, that makes getting the oxygen sensor a breeze. I forgot how I'd done it on the last car, oh yest remove the oil filter, those volvo engineers should be horse whipped, as soon as I get pissed off enough I'm gonna remotely locate the oil filter. Anyhoo, the crow's foot from auto zone helps that situation. I replace the sensor, no prob and got an unexpected oil change in the bargain.

It was then that I enlisted my ten year old boy to cut the grass,

"Meet you new best friend for the summer,Monsuier(sp!) lawnmower."

The lawnmower proceeded to pretty much crap out, two words=CARB CLEANER

We got in the car, drove there took a sharp right into the parking lot, another into the parking space. Just before I shut it down it dies. So I'm right at it, cranking it....nothing cranking till I think the vapor lock is gone....nothing , cranking cranking shit! Nothing.

I hold the relay to feel the click, nothing. I take the cover off to get a visual, the relay is not working. I cleaned the fuse holder spots for the main pump and in-tank earlier. I hold the relay together mannually, it cranks then soon dies.

Since I stalled at the Auto Zone parking lot I run in the get a set of jumpers, I've got the Haynes with me and I jump #5 and #7, I don't hear the whirr of the main pump, I'm able to confire the intank again.

I also install the old fuel pump relay without the plastic cover, it does jump, not dead like the new relay, Still nothing, no start, I question whether or not I 've got spark , but I know I do from the last episode of this where I replace the coil and all plugs. That's for sure.

Lawd, have murcy.

I also jump the relay per the book, terminal 87 and 30, this gets the in-tank pump going, which I can hear. At this point I've undone the main pump assembly and have it hanging. The in-tank pump is whirring but the main pump is dead, I check the connections again (disconnect/reconnect), give it a good whack with an aged snap-on 3/8 rachet handle-nothing, no life.

K, so I think the main pump is dead, how bout YOU?

I need a beer.