I had driven the car the night before the morning it would not start. There was never an indication of a problem of any kind, it totally took me off guard. The engine was so dead sounding as it turned over I thought maybe the computer had shut it down for some reason. I called the dealer and a service man said not very likely.
This is the North Star 4.7 V-8. On the fuel manifold I found an inline bleeder valve that looks just like a tire valve stem. With the engine turning over I opened this and found there to be no fuel flowing. OK, fuel pump right? After inquiring info on the pump and finding the pump alone is $350, I thought, let's make sure it is a bad pump for sure. What I did was remove the fuel pump relay and jump across the load terminals in the fuse box with a paper clip and the damn thing started right up. SO, I bought a new relay, put it in,and nothing. Knowing the clip worked, take the old, but still good relay, and twist the prongs slightly so as it inserts into the fuse block terminals with greater mating surface. THIS WILL PROBABLY BE A TEMP. FIX.
As after a few hundred miles the car died again with the fuse box hotter than hell. I haven't had time to work on it yet. But I don't suspect a short in the fuel pump circuit or any other circuit. I'm thinking the fuse box itself will need to be replaced or at least rebuilt and terminals tightened.
Hope this helps someone in the same boat..davejhere
I had driven the car the night before the morning it would not start. There was never an indication of a problem of any kind, it totally took me off guard. The engine was so dead sounding as it turned over I thought maybe the computer had shut it down for some reason. I called the dealer and a service man said not very likely.
This is the North Star 4.7 V-8. On the fuel manifold I found an inline bleeder valve that looks just like a tire valve stem. With the engine turning over I opened this and found there to be no fuel flowing. OK, fuel pump right? After inquiring info on the pump and finding the pump alone is $350, I thought, let's make sure it is a bad pump for sure. What I did was remove the fuel pump relay and jump across the load terminals in the fuse box with a paper clip and the damn thing started right up. SO, I bought a new relay, put it in,and nothing. Knowing the clip worked, take the old, but still good relay, and twist the prongs slightly so as it inserts into the fuse block terminals with greater mating surface. THIS WILL PROBABLY BE A TEMP. FIX.
As after a few hundred miles the car died again with the fuse box hotter than hell. I haven't had time to work on it yet. But I don't suspect a short in the fuel pump circuit or any other circuit. I'm thinking the fuse box itself will need to be replaced or at least rebuilt and terminals tightened.
Hope this helps someone in the same boat..davejhere
- David J., Spokane, WA, US