89 XJ Problem - Please Help

[Blaqhawk]

Well, my Jeep was running just fine, then all of the sudden, it just died.

I thought I heard the fuel pump making word noises a week ot two earlier, so I put on a new pump and water separater.
Didn't fix the problem. Replaced the fuel pump relay fuse (by the diagnostics port under the hood). That didn't work either. I know the problem is electrical because I've taken the hose off at the pump and cranked it, but nothing comes out. Checked for voltage at the pump too with no luck.

Any ideas before I take it to an expert electrical dude?

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[BlueXJ]

Check to see that you have fuel pressure at the Schrader valve. Then if you have none do you hear the pump when you turn the key. If you have pressure and hear the pump, then check all the fuses and if they are good start replacing relays. Report your findings when you have completed those tasks.

[Blaqhawk]

I forgot to mention those. No, no pressure at the valve and no noise from the pump.

I had already checked all the fuses (that I know of) under the dash (DVR side) as well as replaced two of the for relay fuses under the hood by the diagnostics port. According to what I've read online and in the forums, I know I got the fuel pump relay when I did them.......... Now what? Thanks in advance!

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[LizardRunner]

may sound silly but... have you checked the plug that hooks to the pump to make sure of good contact? after that it's time to check for continuity in the wires to find the one with the break.

[Shoesxj]

If its getting power to the pump. Run you a ground wire to the corner of the tank and to the unibody. Me would just quite run if my tank more back a little bit. Did this and it has not quite.

[Blaqhawk]

I wriggled the plug, but didn't really check it per say.

I just dropped it off at an electrical specialist, a Mexican guy who can fix any electrical problem with a paperclip and some duct tape! (I'm exaggerating of course)
I need my Jeep for work, so I don't have the time to piddle around trying to fix it if I don't know the problem.

Thanks for all your help,

-Adam


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[Blaqhawk]

I just heard back from my local electrical expert and thought I'd post his findings.

First off, I'd like to say that I'm happy my Jeep is fixed!!!

Bad news... One of the previous owners installed a viper car alarm and apparently botched the wiring job. I had other wiring issues with this Jeep do to the car alarm installation.

Turns out there was a wire under the carpet that had been spliced into for the alarm and that wire was for the fuel pump. What a JackAss!!!

Oh well, at least I'm back on the road. Thanks for all the advice.

-Adam

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[Shoesxj]

Glad to hear you got it fix. Maybe now you won't have any more problems.

[Mudderoy]

I just heard back from my local electrical expert and thought I'd post his findings.

First off, I'd like to say that I'm happy my Jeep is fixed!!!

Bad news... One of the previous owners installed a viper car alarm and apparently botched the wiring job. I had other wiring issues with this Jeep do to the car alarm installation.

Turns out there was a wire under the carpet that had been spliced into for the alarm and that wire was for the fuel pump. What a JackAss!!!

Oh well, at least I'm back on the road. Thanks for all the advice.

-Adam

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That's one of the ways to disable the vehicle. Cutting voltage to the coil is another. I'll be wiring up one of those to my alarm system eventually, but I'll probably also put in a bypass switch that my wife can easily find (while I'm telling her on the phone) because she'll be the one driving it when it decides to mess up. ;)

[xj4life2]

If its any consolation,(and I'm sure its not) 90% of the electrical repairs we do for no starts and other such maladies are due to people wireing in sterios and alarms that don't know what they are doing. Human induced issues are the most common repairs we do sad to say. I have no problem with doing things yourself , but if you don't know ask. We give out thousands of dollars of free advise daily. When I first read the post you made, I was gonna ask about sterio or alarm sytems on the rig. But fortunitly you got it fixed and all is well.

[BlueXJ]

I thought I had told you everything had it been stock. An alarm throws a monkey wrench into any repair problem. Glad you had the electrical GURU to find that.

[cpttuna]

This does not have to do with XJ's, but a funny electrical story when someone before you causes electrical nightmares. I was a can shipping supervisor for Campbell Soup and the Chunky can line to filling went down. I called for an electrican and after 1/2 hr went to check on him. He had 7 blown fuses laying on the floor. The onle thing I got out of him was something was blowing fuses and the blueprint on lt showed only 2 wires and he had three to deal with. I suggested maybe one of the wires did not belong. Sure enough, some needed a hot lead for a fan they had put onthe roof and used the chunky can line for a source.

[bluedragon436]

This is the reason why I hate buying vehicles that someone had done upgrades with previously.. Never know if they knew what they were doing or what they did in the first place, in case anything like this ever comes up.. Glad to hear it is back on the road for ya..