Sounds like he is on the right track. Hey, not a cherry-red cat or manifold, but an ice-cold one, eh? Interesting.
I would try this test (only if the car is NOT a daily driver): take the known working fuel pump and swap it with the one that is not working. Swap them both to the opposite sides and hook them up.
1. If there is no change and everything works the same way then both fuel pumps are good, but something else is preventing the pump from working on the "cold side." Repaired connections will fix.
2. If the hot and cold sides are reversed, the pump that started out on the "cold side" is probably bad. New pump will fix.
3. If everything stops working then you may have 2 things wrong: both bad pump and a bad connections from that "cold side." Need both repaired connections and new pump to fix.
4. If everything suddenly works, you got lucky and shocked the monkey or scared the ghost in the machine. Knock on wood, ask no questions and be happy for a while. I once had a starter solenoid that would not work in a classic Mustang, but worked great in an old Jeep. It still works. Why ask why?
The "swap" test could tell you whether or not you need to shell out $200-300 for a new fuel pump. You might not need it. The problem could just be the way the pump is connected, blocked or bent fuel lines, fuel filter, electrical signal, etc. I would try this test before I bought a new pump (I am cheap), but only if the car was not a daily driver. Wish him luck.
Last edited by Whit; 03-09-2005 at 04:30 AM.
Whit
1988 750il (whoops, tricky title--probably not a 1994!)