Won't start

[Gary B]

Went to start my 97 Tropical ( with a 460 Ford engine) after 2 months in storage. The engine turns over fine, but it never fired. I put a new fuel filter on it just before storage and filled the tank with gas. Could it be the fuel pump? What else can I check?

[subford]

You could put an Fuel Pressure gauge on it and short pin #2 to pin #6 of the self-test plug, turn on the key and see if you have 40-45 PSI fuel pressure.

If so then unplug one on the fuel injectors and put a Noid light in the plug and crank the engine and see if it flashes.

If no flashes put a spark checker on one of the plug wires and see if you have spark.

If no spark unplug the PCM Computer and crank the engine and see if spark returns with the computer unplugged.

Can you hear the fuel pump run all the time the key is on and the engine is not running?





NOID light:


Spark Checker:


/

[wa8yxm]

Could it be the fuel pump: YES

Could it be one of a fairly long laundry list of other things: YES.

I can't even begin to consider the full list but consider this.. In a gasoline engine you need to mix fuel and air, compress it and add a spark

In a diesel you compress air, add fuel and heat does the trick.

So, if you have a fuel pump issue,, It does not start
If the carbaration or fuel metering system (Injectors) are faulty, It won't start
If the compression is absent, It won't start
and on gasonline engines a failure in the electrical (Spark) system and it will not start.

This is a very simple list, short, but there are several issues on each and every one of those lines

[Topflite51]

Before panic sets in, since rig has been in storage, pull battery, have it fully charged and tested. I know you said it turned over fine, but it takes more volts to energize the ignition system than it does to activate the starter. Don't remember the actual numbers any more but it is a fine line.

[Gary B]

Quote:

Originally Posted by subford You could put an Fuel Pressure gauge on it and short pin #2 to pin #6 of the self-test plug, turn on the key and see if you have 40-45 PSI fuel pressure. If so then unplug one on the fuel injectors and put a Noid light in the plug and crank the engine and see if it flashes. If no flashes put a spark checker on one of the plug wires and see if you have spark. If no spark unplug the PCM Computer and crank the engine and see if spark returns with the computer unplugged. Can you hear the fuel pump run all the time the key is on and the engine is not running? NOID light: Spark Checker: /

Fuel pump does not run when I turn the key on. I have also checked the fuel pump fuse. The battery is charged and motorhome is pluged in to electric power.

[GOLDWINGER2]

Have you checked the fuel pump relay?
J

[Gary B]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOLDWINGER2 Have you checked the fuel pump relay? J

Where is the fuel pump relay,and how do I check it?

[subford]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary B Where is the fuel pump relay,and how do I check it?

The fuel pump relay should click along with the PCM Power relay when the key is turned on. One second later the fuel pump relay should drop back out with a click turning power off to the fuel pump.

To keep the fuel pump relay picked (made) short pin #2 to Pin #6 of the EEC Self-Test plug and turn on the key. See diagram above.

When the fuel pump relay is picked you can check the power going out at the Inertia Fuel Shutoff Switch near the drivers left foot when driving.

You can also try pushing down on the red button on top of the Inertia Fuel Shutoff Switch to see if it is tripped.



/

[Gary B]

I checked the Inertia Shutoff Switch, it was not tripped. I'm not sure where the ECM/EEC self-test plug is located. Could it be under the dash next to the Inertia Shutoff Switch? When I turn the key on I only hear one click, which I assume is the PCM.

[Midniteoyl]

Swap the Horn and Fuel Pump relays... you can also pull the Fuel Pump relay and jumper 30 to 87 with the key on.. thi'll apply 12v to the pump. If it starts to run, the relay is bad OR there is no power to the relay coil, which is where subford's post above comes in...

Here's the pin-out... of course, you jumper the plug, not the relay

[subford]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary B I checked the Inertia Shutoff Switch, it was not tripped. I'm not sure where the ECM/EEC self-test plug is located. Could it be under the dash next to the Inertia Shutoff Switch? When I turn the key on I only hear one click, which I assume is the PCM.

The ECM/EEC self-test plug is located as in the diagram above inside the doghouse on the drivers side.
One click would be the PCM Power Relay.

[Gary B]

I swapped the horn relay with the fuel pump relay, still nothing. I have decided to install a new fuel pump since I have about 50,000 miles on it. Thanks everyone for your input, pictures and diagrams. IRV2 is great!

[GOLDWINGER2]

Make sure that you have power to the pump before all of that work or money.
J

[Midniteoyl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOLDWINGER2 Make sure that you have power to the pump before all of that work or money. J

And thus the reason to check the 12v at the relay, 12v trigger at the relay's coil (as per subford), and then jumper the 12v to the pump...

'Course, it could be a case of the 'squirrels' eating the wires too...