I have a 1983 cougar and one day I was pulling out the drive way and my car just died on me... We replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel line, and dropped the tank cleaned it and reacttached it but it still won't start if I put gas in the carberator it starts then dies.. I tryed turning the key off and on to fill the fuel pump and then we held down the thing under the air filter that looks like a air valve but still ... No luck I'm at a loss everyone I know can't figure out what else might be wrong... Can anyone help me????
Did fuel squirt out of the valve, either during cranking, or immediately afterwards?
If it just trickled out, or none at all, you have a blockage, or something in the tank obstructing the pickup...
Do the '83's have an electric pump, or were they mechanical, driven off of the cam?
If it's a cam driven style, did you get the lever mounted to the eccentric correctly? It has to go in just so-so, or you won't have fuel pressure.
BTW, any codes?
Welcome to the best place...someone will be along soon that knows far more than I about the earlier FoxBirdCougars. :)
Electric or mechanical pump ???
No Fuel came out during us holding that valve down and no air eirther but we can blow through the lines and feel air...
So that means there's not a line blockage righ
Elecric fuel pump
what engine is in the car?
It has fuel injection but it was like the firdt model with them so it still has a carberator too and the fuel pump is located under the backseat area under the car
Its a V8 5.0 liters
Do you hear the fuel pump prime when turning the key (but not yet cranking)?
Inertia switch tripped?
I'm not sure for an 83 if it's on the inside of the tail light panel, behind the carpeting/trunk liner like the '87-'88 cars...but if you've not checked it yet, may be worth a look.
I never been in a accident or anything . I thought that's the only way it can be flipped..but I can check it out tomarrow
The fuel pump makes a buZzing like nosie for a few seconds then stops...
it doesn't take much to set it off.. i dropped a screw driver, that in turn, bounced off the trunk floor and barely hit the stupid thing, shutting my fuel pump down.. it could also be bad.. i'd check the wires with a test light to be sure it's working
HMm really ill have to check it out
Thankyou guys for helpping me out I love my car I been working on it for 8 monthes I just want her running again... I appriciate it I really do
it's why we're all here.. and welcome.. you've stumbled across the best place for fox birds/cats ;)
If the pump makes noise, then the inertia switch isn't tripped.
I really don't have much experience with the CFI/throttle body engines like yours, hopefully someone else will chime.
Only other thing I can suggest would be to look into the fuel pressure regulator, but not seeing as how that would cause a no fuel pressure issue...
So what can cause my car to loose line pressure to begin with? It just stopped pumping gas oneday no signs or symtoms
If its a 83 5.0 it should have 2 fuel pumps. a low pressure in tank pump and a high pressure inline pump. I had the same issue with my 83 cat the car would start and run on ether but it didnt have enough pressure to fire up. turned out being the inline pump. changed it and viola.