[Steve91T]

So yesterday when I started the car, it cranked but didn't fire. It did start on the 2nd try. Odd, I thought. So then on m way home, I was steady at 35 mph when, for about a second, the fire went out. I had nothing. Then it came back and all was well. So I was thinking that maybe the opti was having a bad day.

Fast forward to today and the car wouldn't start. Cranked, but wouldn't fire....didn't even try. I noticed I couldn't hear the fuel pump priming. I banged on the tank with a rubber dead blow and tried again. This time I heard the fuel pump prime and the car fired, but then quit. That was the last time I could get it to fire. I also noticed the fuel gauge is pegged full.

Soooo, time to cut an access above the tank?

[Steve91T]

So no priming indicates a bad pump?

[trackbird]

So no priming indicates a bad pump?

No. No priming potentially indicates a bad fuel pump relay (or...obviously....a bad pump, depending if it runs and makes proper pressure when it does run). When you turn the key, the computer turns on the pump for 2 seconds to build pressure in the fuel rails, then it shuts the pump off until it sees you cranking the car. If the relay is bad, you won't hear the pump prime for 2 seconds (the ECM tells the relay to turn on....but it doesn't because it's "bad"). Then....after you crank it for a "while" (5-15 seconds), the oil pressure switch turns on the fuel pump and it will start.

The easiest way is to hook up a fuel pressure gauge and place it on the windshield. Turn the key on and see if you get pressure (2 second priming). Then start cranking. If you crank for what seems to be an extended period of time and suddenly the pump comes on...I'd test or replace the fuel pump relay.