96-GMC fuel relay keeps burning out

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warrenry - 02 Dec 2007 16:51 GMT

NEED HELP 96 Sieara K-1500 - 350 Vortec - Auto - 180K - Fuel relay
keeps burning out. Put new fuel pump and new relay in and it was fine
for about 2 weeks, blowing relays again.

Question - Is the fuel pump running constantly after the engine
starts.

Thanks
Warren

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Bob Urz - 02 Dec 2007 18:10 GMT

> NEED HELP 96 Sieara K-1500 - 350 Vortec - Auto - 180K - Fuel relay
> keeps burning out. Put new fuel pump and new relay in and it was fine
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Thanks
> Warren

Define what "burning out" means?
relay won't engage?
Contacts pitted?
relay stuck?

I think i would be looking at grounds and running that angle down.

Bob

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aarcuda69062 - 02 Dec 2007 18:37 GMT

> NEED HELP 96 Sieara K-1500 - 350 Vortec - Auto - 180K - Fuel relay
> keeps burning out. Put new fuel pump and new relay in and it was fine
> for about 2 weeks, blowing relays again.

Where are you getting the relays from?
When the relay fails, does the engine quit or do you just
experience hard starting?

> Question - Is the fuel pump running constantly after the engine
> starts.

Are you asking -if- the fuel pump -should- run constantly after
the engine starts? The answer is yes.

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warrenry - 04 Dec 2007 00:14 GMT

The relay gets hot enough so that it has melted the area around where
the relay plugs into. When the relay fails the engine stops and will
not start. He has been purchasing the relays from Auto Zone. Thanks.

Warren

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aarcuda69062 - 04 Dec 2007 01:23 GMT

> The relay gets hot enough so that it has melted the area around where
> the relay plugs into. When the relay fails the engine stops and will
> not start. He has been purchasing the relays from Auto Zone. Thanks.
>
> Warren

When the engine is running, the fuel pump relay is not the sole
path for voltage to the pump. There is also an oil pressure
switch wired in parallel with the fuel pump relay.
The loss of the parallel current path thru the oil pressure
switch along with what are no doubt poor quality third world
relays from Autozone equals component and partial circuit
overload.

Get OEM replacement oil pressure switch and fuel pump relay.

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Steve W. - 04 Dec 2007 03:28 GMT

Well it sounds like there might be a couple of problems. The first is
that the FP relay shouldn't be the only source of power for the fuel
pump. There should be a second power path through the oil pressure
switch. He needs to check the switch, harness and fuse for it. Also I
would put an amp meter on the fuel pump power line and see how much
current the pump is drawing. It sounds like it is starting to go bad and
drawing more current than it should.

Signature

Steve W.
Near Cooperstown, New York

Life is not like a box of chocolates
it's more like a jar of jalapenos-
what you do today could burn your a.s tomorrow!

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Refinish King - 04 Dec 2007 05:29 GMT

When that happens:

The usual reason is that; the connectors in the relay socket are either
loose, or corroded.

If they look corroded now, it's after the fact!

You can replace the connectors, if the plastic isn't melted too badly.

RK

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warrenry - 26 Dec 2007 10:25 GMT

Update on this relay burning out problem. Thanks to all that replied
to this big problem. Special thanks to RK (Refinish King) . The
connectors in the relay socket were loose and corroded. It is working
great now. Thanks again to you all for the help. This Group is the
greatest.

Warren

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