Fuel pump relay?

TROY ONEILL

MEMBER
2004 NISSAN QUEST
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
280,000 MILES

Hello, last week we had a battery that had a bad cell. The only way to start the car was by a jump. It took us about two days to get a new battery. In that two days the fuel gauge went out. I thought that might have been the age of the car. We put a new battery in and immediately the car started acting like it did not want to start. It would turn over for awhile before finally starting. This went on for about three days. Last night I pulled up to a friends and put it in neutral. Then it sputtered and shut off. Now it will not restart at all. When we turn the key we cannot hear the fuel pump. Before though. When we would finally get it started it would run fine, no symptoms of a fuel pump going out. I thought I should ask a professional as I am definitely not one. Thanks a lot for your time.

5 Replies

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,465 POSTS

With that mileage I would say it is the pump. Turn on the key and give the fuel tank a good whack with your hand and try to start it. That will sometimes shock the pump enough that it will work for a bit and confirm it is going bad.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what happens.

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Wednesday, June 28th, 2017 AT 7:02 PM

TROY ONEILL

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Tried that, but we checked the fuses and the relay today and it is not one of those. One of my friends seems to think it jumped time, but it sort of just sputtered and went off. I do not think that sounds like jumping time. They could tell what was wrong if we drive it by Advanced auto and they plug in the computer right? It will say what the codes are? Thanks for your help. I really hate working on cars. Lol. I just do not have the patience!

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Wednesday, June 28th, 2017 AT 10:16 PM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,465 POSTS

Not likely that there are codes stored if it is the pump. Rent/borrow a fuel pressure gauge and test the pressure at the fuel rail. I am betting it will be zero. On that engine you would know if it jumped time. Not hearing the pump prime is a big clue.

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Wednesday, June 28th, 2017 AT 11:26 PM

GMULLEN1

MEMBER
1 POST
1995 NISSAN QUEST
110,000 MILES

My wife got in her 1995 Quest this morning to go to work and it would not start. Engine turns over nicely buy absolutely no fire. I checked and could not hear the fuel pump energize when I turned the key on. The fuel pump fuse is good. I pulled the fuel pump relay and am not getting any voltage at the relay with the ignition key turned on. Does anyone have some advice on what I should check next?

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 9:50 AM (Merged)

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

You should only go by the fuel pressure readings not that you cant hear the fuel pump coming on. You wont have constant power to the fuel pump only a couple of seconds when first turning on the key. Then while cranking the engine you will have power. Put the relay back in and check power across the fuel pump fuse both sides of it while cranking the engine over. Also check for spark.