'95 caravan fuel pump/no start

QuestionEdit

QUESTION: It didn't start or even kick on. rapped the tank and it runs perfect. does this mean its going? or just a bad connection?

ANSWER: Hi Ron, The fuel pump is not hard wired to the ignition switch but rather is activated by the engine controller which turns it on for about 1 second when you turn the key to the 'run' position. That may be why you think it isn't working. So have a helper turn the key and listen for that 1 second hum to be reliable. Then it will hum again when the key is put in the start position, PROVIDED that the engine rotational sensors are sending pulses to the engine controller indicating that the engine is turning. It may be that you have a bad sensor if the pump doesn't run at that cranking position of the key. Check for fault codes using the key:"on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then watch the check engine light, which remains 'on', to see it begin to flash, pause, flash, etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause. Then repeat to be sure an accurate, repeatable set of flash counts. Let me know the counts in order of appearance and we'll go from there. Tell me which engine (L) you have. Please 'rate' my answer (see below). Thanks, Roland

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QUESTION: Thanks for letting me know how to read codes on this, 96 and newer much easier. I did it and it flashes 5 times then 5 times again. Its a 3.3

AnswerEdit

Hi Ron, The 55 code is just corroborating that it looked for codes, and found none. So your sensors are OK. Did you check the fuel pump as I described? You will find a fuel pump relay and fuse in the power box under hood (15 amp) and you can check for voltage at that fuse. If you have it, then the fuel pump should be getting voltage on its dark green/black wire from the fuel pump relay (if the engine controller is closing the relay when you are cranking it over and the relay contact points are good) and so it should hum. If you have voltage at the tank on that wire when cranking and still the pump doesn't run reliably then check the black wire at the pump plug to be sure it is grounded to the body. If you have 12v and a ground on the two wires at the pump plug, and the pump doesn't run reliably, then your pump is bad. Thanks for rating my answer, you can do it again if you would like. Roland