Some history first:

The rover was sitting for a couple of weeks waiting for a new battery. When I finally got around to replacing the battery, it wouldn't start. Traced it down to no fuel pressure.

Checked the plug back at the pump for power with ignition on - no power.

Checked inertia switch - wasn't tripped.

Checked fuses - fine.

Replaced fuel pump relay (this is the 98 with the relay by theABS)- still wouldn't start.

Ran jumper cables to the pump and (carefully) sent power to the leads, it pumped gas fine. This pump was replaced 2 years ago.

Cleaned inside all the fuel wire plugs I could find. Nothing.

Bypassed the inertia switch plug with a thin wire. Still nothing.

Fuel gauge reads empty, but 1/2 tank of gas in tank. (visually verified)

Any other ideas? My only other guess is that there is a short in the wiring somewhere, but it just seems unlikely since it was running fine until the battery went dead. And.. a fuse would have blown if there is a short, right?

Any help greatly appreciated.
Michael

 

Fuel pressure regulator on the back of the intake driver side has
a vacuum line it could be bad,, or the vacuum line could be bad.

My fuel pump relay must be different on a 96 its on the pass side in front of the
washer jug and has two plugs in the bottom.

Does the alarm work ??

 

There is a relay for the fuel pump behind the RH footwell trim panel
# is K119 this what my AllData.

 

I think 98 was the first year to switch from the cube shaped relay in the footwell to a big relay between the washer fluid jug and the abs. That was what I replaced.

When I get home later I will check the alarm.
Michael

 

Recheck for voltage only during the first 5 seconds after turning the key on, after that the power goes off unless the engine starts.

 

There is a link/intermediate wiring harness from the main chassis harness to the fuel pump. It isn't entirely uncommon to develop a short/open or excessive resistance in this harness/connectors of the link harness. Check for contamination and voltage drop through the harness.

 

Well.... I was going to follow and test my wiring connections along the fuel pump circuit today and found that my battery was discharged. This happened in an approximate 24 hour period. The key was definitely off and the fuel pump was disconnected when it happened.It looks liketheres something else going on in the electrical system that I haven't found yet. At this point, I'm going to have to go deeper into the wiring than I had planned. I've got a rave CD on the way and will probably start a new post when I have an idea whats going on. This problem might be bigger than my skills are.