Fuel Pump Replacement

89Mr2Supercharged · 01-21-2009, 08:19 PM

Just an update on the situation of my 89SC, (Engine randomly losing all power)
I had traced the problem to the fuel system because after about 2 hours of diagnosis and nothing, I went to fill up with gas and the car was at least drivable without boost. Then, I replaced the fuel filter, which did improve things a bit more but not fully as it still bogs down and i have to keep the tank full. Now, I'm thinking of the fuel pump for two reasons, one being that I can hear it buzzing more than ever(especially when the engine is bogging down/losing power, it sounds like it cant quite keep up.) And I remembered an important clue that the previous owner had left me,

....
Well when I bought the car he had mentioned that he put a fuel pump in it, he spoke of how expensive it was and how he had just taken one off an old black MK1 parts car he had bought. So the pump was not new in the first place and he had put in an N/A pump, are they different/compatible? I would assume that the supercharged one would require more psi under boost, that is exactly when my car starts to bog down! It was working fine for a while but perhaps the pump has been worn too much(I've had the car for about 3 months and now. The day that these symptoms started showing up was after a day of a long hard drive and of demolishing a "souped up" Civic(Exhaust, Wheels, Body kit, probably cold air intake) on a large stretch of an industrial road!!

Anyway I seem to have lost my repair manual, but has anyone already changed out a fuel pump, I searched for a write up but couldn’t find one
And any suggestions would be awesome (I found a good pump online that is for the SC for about 180ish)

328FTW · 01-21-2009, 08:45 PM

I use an N/A fuel pump on my 2 and have had no issues. I would say the fuel pump is tired, my subaru started to do this and it got to the point where to start it you hit the fuel tank as hard as you could before cranking or it wouldn't start. People thought I was really angry because it wouldn't start but it was just routine.

Have you run some fuel system cleaner through the car? Even if you replaced the filter that stuff can work wonders sometimes. It wouldn't hurt to try it.

Timon · 01-22-2009, 03:02 AM

According to mr2tim, the Redline fuel system cleaner works wonders.

I plan to give it a try eventually.

Papo J · 01-28-2009, 10:40 AM

Get your pump from Denso, they make the OEM pumps for Toyota and the SC pump is only about $120 from their website. Seafoam is also a great product for cleaning the fuel system.

q-authority · 02-05-2009, 06:13 PM

Definitely put in a good quality pump, as it is the labor that is so intensive, rather than just the cost of the pump. I replaced one on an '85 myself, years ago, and do not look forward to ever having to repeat the process. And I was lucky that I had very little gas in the tank when it went out!
In fact when I had my '87 engine rebuilt some time ago I had them replace the pump on that one at the same time since everything was apart already and labor would be reduced.

01-21-2009, 08:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
89Mr2Supercharged No Skills Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 16 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Fuel Pump Replacement Just an update on the situation of my 89SC, (Engine randomly losing all power) I had traced the problem to the fuel system because after about 2 hours of diagnosis and nothing, I went to fill up with gas and the car was at least drivable without boost. Then, I replaced the fuel filter, which did improve things a bit more but not fully as it still bogs down and i have to keep the tank full. Now, I'm thinking of the fuel pump for two reasons, one being that I can hear it buzzing more than ever(especially when the engine is bogging down/losing power, it sounds like it cant quite keep up.) And I remembered an important clue that the previous owner had left me, .... Well when I bought the car he had mentioned that he put a fuel pump in it, he spoke of how expensive it was and how he had just taken one off an old black MK1 parts car he had bought. So the pump was not new in the first place and he had put in an N/A pump, are they different/compatible? I would assume that the supercharged one would require more psi under boost, that is exactly when my car starts to bog down! It was working fine for a while but perhaps the pump has been worn too much(I've had the car for about 3 months and now. The day that these symptoms started showing up was after a day of a long hard drive and of demolishing a "souped up" Civic(Exhaust, Wheels, Body kit, probably cold air intake) on a large stretch of an industrial road!! Anyway I seem to have lost my repair manual, but has anyone already changed out a fuel pump, I searched for a write up but couldn’t find one And any suggestions would be awesome (I found a good pump online that is for the SC for about 180ish) Last edited by 89Mr2Supercharged; 01-21-2009 at 08:26 PM..

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01-21-2009, 08:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,222 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I use an N/A fuel pump on my 2 and have had no issues. I would say the fuel pump is tired, my subaru started to do this and it got to the point where to start it you hit the fuel tank as hard as you could before cranking or it wouldn't start. People thought I was really angry because it wouldn't start but it was just routine. Have you run some fuel system cleaner through the car? Even if you replaced the filter that stuff can work wonders sometimes. It wouldn't hurt to try it.

01-22-2009, 03:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
Timon MR2 MKI AW11 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 669 Thanks: 13 Thanked 42 Times in 37 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	According to mr2tim, the Redline fuel system cleaner works wonders. I plan to give it a try eventually.

01-28-2009, 10:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
Papo J 6SPD GTE Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 588 Thanks: 2 Thanked 50 Times in 49 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Get your pump from Denso, they make the OEM pumps for Toyota and the SC pump is only about $120 from their website. Seafoam is also a great product for cleaning the fuel system.

02-05-2009, 06:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
q-authority Professional Multislacker Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 506 Thanks: 0 Thanked 17 Times in 17 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	Definitely put in a good quality pump, as it is the labor that is so intensive, rather than just the cost of the pump. I replaced one on an '85 myself, years ago, and do not look forward to ever having to repeat the process. And I was lucky that I had very little gas in the tank when it went out! In fact when I had my '87 engine rebuilt some time ago I had them replace the pump on that one at the same time since everything was apart already and labor would be reduced.