So my girlfriend has an 88 Nissan Stanza (precursor to the Altima). Its got the CA20E EFI engine and has been running like a champ till recently. What's happening is that every once in a while the fuel pump will not come on with the ignition. You know normally, you turn the ignition to "ON" and you can hear the hum of the fuel pump priming before you actually crank it over. Well sometimes it just won't kick on and then of course the engine won't start. It seems to have fits where sometimes the fuel pump will just cut out while you are driving. If it does that, then it usually takes 5 or 6 flicks of the key (OFF to ON and back) for the pump to fire back up.

Now, I realize it could be the pump itself....but if that was the case, wouldn't it just die and never work rather than working 90% of the time and just dieing inexplicably? I've looked through the haynes manual for the car and based on the schematic of the system the fuel pump has power and takes signal from the ignition switch....that's it. There are no relays (that I can find) or any inertia switches that most EFI cars have. That being said, if there is no fuel pump relay in the system, then I suppose it is possible that the relay is integral to the pump....in which case, the pump would have to be replaced anyway.

I guess I'm just looking for other options before I go through the hell of dropping the tank and replacing the pump. Unfortunately, this year does not have an OBD port even though it has an ECU. ::sigh::

Anything you guys can suggest would be awesome. Thx.

Ideas besides what you listed that I can come up with

1) Fuel Pressure Regulator
2) Fuel Filter might be clogged
3) Quirky Alternator

1 - Can be tested with a fuel pressure gauge. Guage shouldn't run too much. Just don't spend like over $15

2 - Can be visually inspected and replaced for cheap.

3 - Might try testing at an Autozone or nearby shop that does it for free.

Might be a wiring problem with the fuel pump. Not too sure.

might be the fuel pump relay is starting to take a crap and not making good contact . A relay is cheap.

You are more than welcome to search the entire car from top to bottom for a fuel pump relay. I'd love it if it was that simple. It has a box of relays under the hood for everything from the AC compressor to the horn. No fuel pump. The Haynes manual lists no such thing as a fuel pump relay. I know there has to be one somewhere, but no piece of documentation or person can point me in the direction of it.

I found this after a google search. (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_location_of_the_fuel_pump_relay_on_an_ %27_88_Nissan_Stanza) but it is filled with lies. The only relay box under the hood is on the other side opposite the battery and it does not have a fuel pump relay in it.

I could be wrong but I don't remember there being a fuel pump relay. My wife had an '84 300zx when I met her that I later traded for an '87 300zx Turbo for her. It was common for the fuel filter to clog and burn out the fuel pump at around a couple hundred thousand miles. Your sounds to me like the filter is clogged and the pump might possibly be starting to die.

On another note, I would double check the distributor cap and spark plugs to make sure they're good while I was replacing the fuel filter.

The fuel filter should be dirt cheap and the fuel pump shouldn't be much more.

my girl friend has neon and had the same situation , she let it go and after 6 mo it stopped running ,when a opened it up the plastic top on the fuel pump was broken off.

Well, I have come to the realization that since the Stanza only existed in this form for 3 years (87-89) and there are differences in all three years that I would have to find another 88 to compare this one to. As luck would have it, the junkyard had an 88 Stanza today. I had to pull the dash looking for a wire that is not working on her car (tach signal) and in the process found a bank of relays that are mounted ABOVE the fuse panel. You can't see them or get to them through the fuse panel door. And they are not labeled. Now, I haven't checked her's yet because I'm still at work.....but if it has the same relay panel then maybe....JUST MAYBE. One of those will run the fuel pump. We shall see.

Relay our wires. Fuel pumps usually just die. They don't go back and forth.

if it has no fuel filter and the pump only has a sock on it,it could go in and out with how much crap is stuck on the sock. thats what happen to hers it blew the pump out it couldnt pick up enough fuel.

The older '80's ones can go back and forth if the filter is clogged. Been there, done that. ;)

Keep in mind that those pumps were a bit different than your Gen I ones are and your Gen I pumps are different than the FSU in the Gen II.

Those '80's pumps were purely mechanical with no electric or electronic control at all. There were no wires going to them and no relays to blow, at least not any that I remember. From my understanding, the Gen I X pump is electronically controlled?? The new FSU are definitely purely electronically controlled.

Okay, well I think the filter is next on the list since none of those relays panned out. I'll try to tackle it this weekend.