1990 Miata fueling issue

Hi,

I'm looking for some opinions for why my Miata died.  

After four years of being off the road replacing rusty parts, I finally started my car the other day.  It started up and ran for about 30 minutes, idled and revved fine.  I moved the car out of the barn, drove it down the road and parked it with no issues.  A few days later I tried to start it and nothing.  Before I parked it in 2018 it never had an issue starting and ran great. 

While it was off the road, I had to replaced the rusty fuel tank and put in a new fuel pump.  The filter has about 6000 miles on it.  I removed the charcoal canister because it was in the way, I haven't put it back yet and was probably not going to if I'm honest.

So far I have:

 - Checked the plugs and have a strong spark.

 - Checked the fuel pump by jumping the f/p and grd in the diagnostic port and could hear it running with the gas cap removed.  

 - Put in a fuel pressure gauge inline with the feed line to the fuel rail, 0 pressure when cranking with the fuel pump jumper still in place.

Before I start tearing into things randomly, I'm thinking the feed line is plugged, was going to start by checking pressure at the fuel filter.

Am I going about figuring this out the right way?  Am I missing something?

I have mobility issues so I'm not looking forward to crawling under the car, so I'd like to minimize having to get under it.

Any tips would be appreciated.

Mike

I think you're doing the right thing, you've identified that you definitely have a fuel pressure problem.

If you don't want to get underneath right away, you can check pressure at the pump - there's an access panel under the rear deck behind the driver's seat. Four bolts to remove the seat (if they're not rusty) and you'll have a much easier time mobility-wise. Pull off the feed line, get something in there to catch the fuel and give the pump a short burst. If you don't get fuel, pull the pump and check the pickup. If you do, it's time for that filter. It's not a bad idea to take a peek inside the tank anyhow to make sure you don't have debris in there.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Hi,

That makes a lot of sense, thanks for the input.

Mike

Not a Miata, but I have personal experience with debris in a new tank, probably hiding behind a baffle during install-check.

Hi,

Just a quick update that it was a bad fuel pump.  Annoying thing is that it was a new pump but probably at least three years old.  

NAPA had one in stock so it only took me a few hours to swap in a new one.

It started up in seconds.  Lots of lifter tick but that's for another day lol

In reply to mj_wils1970 :

Sounds like it's time for an NB head swap...

In reply to calteg :

It's a 1.6, so I'd need to do an engine swap.  

One day 

Tick will go away. Fresh oil and an Italian tune-up.