The Oldsmobile Connection

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2407 Location: Canada

Hello all:

I need a new fuel pump. My pump is definately on its last legs, its making racket like crazy, and I'm stalling at intersections, and hesitating and bucking like crazy when I step on it too hard. I called the auto stores, and there are 2 different pumps available for my car. One is about 110 bux, and the other is double. The difference they tell me is in the wiring harness. I dont have the old pump out of the car, so I cant look for model numbers yet.

I assume the difference between the two pumps is for the 3.8L and the 3800 motors available for that year. Does anyone know which pump I will need, or am I going to have to remove the old one first? Lately its been one thing after another with the good ole' olds... Hopefully we'll get all the bugs worked out soon.

Also, is there a access panel in the floor to get at the pump, or do I have to drop the tank? I hate taking gas tanks out... :roll:

projectheavytouring · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 10 Location: Nanaimo BC Canada

up to 97 or 99 you gotta drop the tank

basically theres 2 ways to tell your motor... vin and usually if it's got an engine cover it's a 3800 ... you should either have a VIn 3 or Vin C

Vin C is 3800 ... Vin 3 is 3.8

also the 3800 usually says 3800 on the intake mani ... the 3.8's say SFI V6 or just have the power 6 symbol

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2407 Location: Canada

I am aware of my engine VIN code, but the auto parts stores still indicate a few different models of fuel pumps for my vehicle. I still havent done anything about the problem yet, and should soon. I havent driven the car since sunday, when it died at my parents. I cant understand why there would be more than one type of pump for the VIN code 3 3.8L.

Turbocharged400sbc · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 318

did you see if you could look at both the pumps at the parts store? I don't believe that GM changed the pump electrical connectors (flat pins in an inline weatherpack connector) but the difference might be for the cars that were available with the digital dashboard with a different style of sending unit? this i doubt because you need the pump not the whole sender unit (how rusty are the fuel lines?) the whole deal is probably about the pressure/flow rating of the pump!.
A good idea would be to walk into a dealership (bring your whole VIN!) and have them look it up and copy down the part number and have the parts stor cross reference it-this might solve all your woes.
Hope I could help!

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2407 Location: Canada

cool... as soon as I remove the old pump, tonight, I'll take it down to the parts store with me and compare connectors. Just thought someone might have done this before and seen this situation.

How do I go about draining the gas for tank removal, since the car died at 3/4 tank? Can I start a syphon from the filler tube? Or are there baffles that stop that sort of thing?

Turbocharged400sbc · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 318

most fuel tanks do have anti siphon valves that prevent doing that most of the time I just deal with it or rig up a 12v supplt and try to get the pump itself to empty the tank to some gass cans-if you have a good hyraulic jack and a 2x4 it will let you drop the tank slowly so you can remove the sender then drag the tank out from under it and siphone from the hole so that it's light when it goes back in. you still might want to check the dealers part # is and have the parts store cross reference it anyways to make sure! (sux doing it twice!) good luck---schlim