How Do I Replace the FRP?

**TZ250** · 12-26-2008

Everyone, I've been lurking here recently because of intermittent hard starting and stalling issues on my 2002 Buick Regal GS. I'm clueless as to what the real problem is until I investigate tomorrow afternoon. I want to check the fuel pressure regulator but I don't know where it is.

I'm also going to check the fuel pressure. So far, it might need a fuel pump, fuel pump resistor, fuel pump regulator, crank position sensor or a mass airflow meter. Is that correct? Have I missed anything?

Also, does a 2002 still have a fuel pump resistor or was the pump changed to a venturi style that does not need the resistor? (I've not been able to confirm this portion.)

Thanks in advance!

**Reptile** · 12-26-2008

Have you hooked up a pressure gauge to see if the FPR is bad? It sits on the left hand side of the rail when you're looking at the engine...it will have a vacuum port coming out the top where a line will be connected to it by a rubber boot.

**UR LOSN** · 12-26-2008

I believe they stopped using the fuel pump resistor in 98 or 99.........

you should not have one on a 2002. I dont have one on my 2001...

**TZ250** · 12-26-2008

Originally Posted by Reptile

Have you hooked up a pressure gauge to see if the FPR is bad?

No, I haven't. Now that I think about it, the fuel pump didn't turn on when the key was switched on. What is the culprit here? I'll replace the fuel pump relay because it's quick and easy. After that I'll probably replace the crank position sensor, then comes the fuel pump...

Am I missing something?

BTW, thanks for the quick replies and advice.

**SyntheticShield** · 12-26-2008

Go into some details about the stalling issue. What happening when that occurs and what indications do you see when it stalls?

**TZ250** · 12-27-2008

When I turned the key switch the fuel pump does not turn on. If I continue to the start position, it just sputters for a few seconds before it dies. There are no lights on the dash that would indicate a problem. I didn't look at the tach.

This is an intermittent problem. After it sat for a day it started and ran perfectly. It has 81,000 miles and has consistently blown a fuel pump fuse a couple of times per year.

I appreciate any insight that you might have.

**SyntheticShield** · 12-27-2008

Okay, well I guess we need to get back to basics here. So lets start with listing the symptoms to get everything on the same page.

Symptoms:

*Intermittent hard starting
*Intermittent stalling (related to hard starting)
*Rough idle
*No audible indication fuel pump is priming

Work done so far:

None

Okay, I think that covers it based on your posts so far. So here is what you need to do. You stated two very important things:

1. You didnt or dont alway hear the fuel pump prime
2. You have to replace the fuel pump fuse multiple times in the course of a year

I wouldnt mess with your Crankshaft Position Sensor just yet unless you're just looking for something to do. Your two statements above signal something in the fuel delivery system. The thing to do now is to go out to the car, turn your radio and everything off that would be louder than the fuel pump engaging and then turn the key to the position just before you start the engine and listen for the fuel pump and see if you can audibly hear it. We need to know that information.

Second, Id get a fuel pressure tester from the local auto parts store, hook it up to the schrader valve on the fuel rail and see what kind of pressure, if any, you have there when you turn the key to the run position (the spot just before the engine is started). If the fuel pump is priming (and you just cant hear it) then the gauge should register that. Let us know what you see on the gauge.

Then try and start the car with the fuel pressure gauge still connected and let us know what the reading is from that.

The fuel pressure tester should have a button or something on it that resets the pressure reading so you can write down the readings after doing each of these things and then post up the information.

It seems like your fuel pump may be toast, but lets do some testing before we say that for certain. Also, make sure that fuse is still good for the fuel pump and that it hasnt blown. I know you probably already have checked it, but I want to know that you have physically laid eyes on it and confirmed it is good.

Once we know this information, we can move on to pinpoint the issue more but we have to take it one step at a time and make sure that when we say something is good, its good and if we say its bad, its bad so you arent spending money needlessly.

**TZ250** · 12-27-2008

I'll check the fuel pressure and reply soon.

I do know that if I hear the fuel pump prime, there is no problem. It runs perfectly. If I don't hear it prime, it stumbles and dies. After it sits for a few hours, or a day, the fuel pump will prime and all is well.

Thanks for your help!

**TZ250** · 12-27-2008

The fuse is fine. It looks new. It started perfectly tonight. The fuel pressure is 44 lbs. when the fuel pump is primed and 44 lbs. when the engine is running.

Where is the best place to buy a fuel pump? The car is stock (it's my wifes) so I don't need a high flow pump.

**SyntheticShield** · 12-27-2008

44 psi is right where it should be. You can buy a new one but they arent necessarily cheap. You can contact Ed Morad at Morad Parts Company and he can sell you a good used one that should work fine.

**Reptile** · 12-27-2008

I think there's a loose connection somewhere, or there is a short in the wiring. Intermittent problems always point toward electrical, and the fuse blown tells me even more that there is something somewhere rubbing a wire.

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