Help! Possible fuel pump woes...'87 5KCSQT

[David Balbirona]

Hey everyone,

This is somewhat long in the description but covers all the investigative 
work thus far.

I currently have a car in a no start scenario after a sputter at 50 mph and 
roll to a stop today (Sunday afternoon, 8/22) about 3 miles from home.  
Verified the following in the parking lot and later again at home after a 
tow from a friend:

- charged battery
- spark at the plugs & coil
- engine cranks over easily
- 1/4-ish tank of gas
- no gas coming out of the out-bound side of the fuel filter
- no gas going to the inbound side of the filter
- fuel pump no longer making obnoxious buzzing noise when engine was running 
briefly after stall
- no fuel pump noise at all even when key & ignition is turned on as if 
starting car
- fuse #13 OK
- unable to get any voltage reading at fuel pump sending unit harness 
connector on terminals 1 & 4 (green & brown wires)

The Bentley says to check the relay.  What's the deal with the space for a 
fuse on top of this relay?  What goes here?  I haven't seen anything in this 
spot before.

I don't have the remote control VW 1348/3A.  Is this necessary?  Can it be 
by-passed somehow with an equivalent test?

I do get a light on my test light with terminal 46 and ground (had to 
jury-rig this by inserting a thin safety pin and touching the test light to 
it).

No definitive answer of flickering light with my jury-rigged test light on 
terminals 50 & 51 or 46 & 52.

Supposedly a lack of positive test light indicates a wiring problem.  The 
lack of light _may_ be due to my lame test light.  Maybe not...   If it *IS* 
wiring, where are the likely suspects?  Where can I get a better test light 
as shown in the Bentley?  Do I really need that remote VW tool?  Anyone know 
the rough cost of the fuel pump relay?  Is this likely just a dead fuel pump 
and I just need to yank the old one out and replace it?  If so, any gotchas?

Last weird thing - after the first stall I was able to get car started 
momentarily (ran smooth for about 45 seconds)  after it sat for a few hours 
and drove like a demon to get a *BIT* closer to home.  The car stalled once 
again and that's when the tow home started.  Started one last time and the 
car ran VERY rough for about 15 seconds and hasn't started since.  Currently 
charging battery from the drain of all the starting.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

--David Balbirona
Lake Stevens, WA

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