Fuel pump wiring?

[ga.spyder]

I was reading a post by a 'newbie' re. fuel pump.It says that the fuel pump should run for a few seconds then shut off? As long as my key is on , my fuel pump runs.Is it wired wrong? The p/o told me he had replaced the pump.I have been driving it this way for a year!Should I be concerned ,and any advise on a fix would be appreciated.
thanks ,Craig

[rlux4]

Craig, Some FI systems have two fuel pumps, one in the tank to build up pressure when the key turns on, it runs only a few seconds. The other is in-line to maintain flow. Ours has only the in-line and it will run constantly. Any excess fuel at the pressure regulator gets routed back to the tank via the return line.
I had to replace the in tank pump on two different GM cars, and the one (1985 Camaro) was a bear, we had to cut the tail pipe in two places to get the tank down.
Ron

[danaspider]

I wonder if they mean it will get quiet after a few seconds of running. It is possible that you will hear the pump at the turn of the key as it builds pressure. Once the pressure is up it will become very quiet. That would be my thought.

[So Cal Mark]

the Spider fuel pump should only run for 2 seconds when the key is turned on. If your pump is running constantly, remove the black cover on the AFM and check the contact points. There is a switch that is open with the flap closed. As soon as the flap moves the points should close and cause the pump to run

[ga.spyder]

I went out to the garage and took the cover off the AFM.The fuel pump runs even when I open and close the flap(points) by hand.I can hear the fuel running thru the rail and return line.Is Ron correct that this is normal on a 82 F.I. ,or did the p/o somehow bypass the correct way to wire in the pump? My MG's pump ran constantly so I thought it was normal(as if anything is normal on a British car)
thanks ,Craig

[rlux4]

I could be wrong. I don't understand how we would have pressurized fuel flow without the pump running. Mark?
Ron

[pope]

I think what you guys are talking about is that the fuel pump turns on and pressurizes the system when you put the key to the ON position (car not started) , then shuts off within a few seconds. When you go past ON to Start, it energizes the pump again and continually runs. START and ON are two different positions and the pump acts accordingly.

[rlux4]

Exactly pope! I checked my car and that's what happens. Good engineering eh? If the key is on for a while before the car is started, no use to have the pump running after pressure is up if you don't start the car.
Ron

[ga.spyder]

I went back out to check mine ,and it keeps running in the 'on' position.I guess it isnt really hurting anything . I will try to trace to see where the p/o might have gone wrong.There has been an aftermarket ign. switch installed ,and that could be the problem area.This is where this forum really works.Guys like me that dont live where there are any mech. or other owners to compare notes with rely on this for feedback.I look forward to FFO so I can see some other cars,and have someone who 's in the know drive mine to see if I have everything right.
thanks again ,Craig

[So Cal Mark]

the set of points in the afm should be open when the engine is off. The arm can be easily bent to adjust the point opening. If the pump runs when those points are open, the relay may have been bypassed or is shorted. I've seen many cars that had a hot wire to the fuel pump because the PO didn't understand how the pump was controlled. They all thought the pump should run whenever the key is on.

[ga.spyder]

Thanks ,Mark the pump does run w/ the points open.The p/o mumbled something about the pump and how the wiring could be put back ,but I honestly forgot about it.I will try and trace the wires and get them the way they are supposed to be.Since the car is working fine it never crossed my mind until I read the post about a non-start issue.Thats why I read every post on here.....you never know
Craig