Hello, to start off the problem is an '87 GT/5.0. The problem is- you'll be driving, then the car dies out as it's not getting enough fuel, assumingly, and stalls. You have to pull over and wait 5-10 minutes and then you can restart it back up, drive 1-2 miles, and it'll stalloutagain. When it does run, it runs fine. If you change the fuel pressure regulator, the problem goes completely away..sort of. It lasts about a half a year, then the problem again, then changing the regulator again. Get's old after awhile.

Is there something else this could possibly be? I've heard that these regulators don't go bad very often, and it almost seems like there has to be another issue, but it's so strange that when you change it, the issue is resolved.

Thanks for any help.

 

I'd toss a fuel pressure gauge on there and watch what happens when it starts to die. Could be a pump that is going or causing problems if it can't keep up with the demand.

 

yea what it sounds like is a fuel pump issue

 

Only problem with that is, that I can think of, isit's the same fuel pump, and the pressure regulator issue first started about 6 years ago, and had issues every 6 months- 2 years, then working fine after replacing the regulator. Is it possible for the fuel pump to have that many intermittent problems over such a large span of time (and mysteriously working after replacing the reg), and still be bad? I just couldn't see how that was the case, but at this point open to all suggestions.

Also, as soon as it dies, when you try cranking it over right away to refire, it'll do absolutely nothing, won't even try to start up until you wait a few minutes. You can completely predict how it acts.

 

I'm still gonna stick with my original answer. Stick a fuel pressur gauge on and see what's going on.

As far as it being the pump... when you change regulators I assume you depressurize the line and maybe even trip the relay for the pump. Then when the regulator is back on, you fire the pump up again. So essentially you're purging the line and resetting everything in the car. If you're problem is caused by a bad fuel pump, then a gauge will show a loss in pressure. Likewise, if you're problem is with the regulator, you'll see the same drop in pressure at the test port. If the problem still occurs and there's no drop in pressure, then you know to look elsewhere.

It could actualyl be an issue with the regulators if you're buying cheap ones. I've heard of them failing quite a bit if you go with some really cheaper ones. But I wouldn't bank on it just yet.

Check the vacuum line on your regulator. Does it smell like gas or is it wet inside? That's a sign of a ruptured diaphram / bad regulator.

If you don't mind waiting even longer... take teh regulator you have off and then put it right back on as if it were a new one. Then see if the problem presists or goes away for awhile like it does when i new one is put on. If it does indeed go away for awhile then you know that the regulator is not the problem.

And then there's the basics... Have you pulled codes? Have you checked to actually see if you are getting spark when it dies and when you're trying to start it back up?