TBI Fuel Pump Waveform
Performing a pre-trip inspection on a 89 GMC P/U 5.7l TBI. I was checking the current waveform of the fuel pump. It had 5 A peak draw during start up, steady at 3 A. Compared to what I have studied, been told and seen. I suspect a weak/failing pump. I am aware that TBI systems only require 9-13 psi of pressure, so a low amp draw is not very surprising to me, I keep this in consideration due to the low demand of the TBI system. The main issue I have is that I saw no visible commutator segments in the wave form. I was originally testing at the fuse and suspected there was more than 1 load on the circuit. Then jumpered the F/P relay and tested there, same results. Went to tank, same results. I didn't capture the waveform, due to being mobile and my versus battery died. Has any one seen a flat line on a fuel pump wave form with no drive-ability issues. I did not measure fuel pressure or volume either. Im suspecting a dirty commutator gaps, or possible shifted brushes?? I will try my hardest to meet up with the customer this weekend to capture the waveform.
Thank you,
Juan …
An OE-style pump cannot draw a steady amperage. Your scope is set up incorrectly or your current adapter is wacky.
The low current level doesn't surprise me on a TBI. Let's see what the waveform looks like. Does the vehicle have any symptomatic complaints? I will try to find an old capture and post it for comparison.
I have a terrible time examining a waveform with no waveform present :) That being said, I am also a little on the lazy side, and will use my scan tool to squeeze as much information from a vehicle as possible. In the case of fuel flow and delivery analysis, we are interested in volume & pressure. Given a fuel filter that is capable of flowing the correct amount of fuel, it is a little hard to have the correct pressure to an engine, and have low volume, unless there is a problem with the pressure regulator.
So, use the system to test its self. Most systems on vehicles are engineered for the vehicle. The charging & starting system is made that way, as is the fuel system. The fuel pump is also made that way, and when it starts to degrade, whether the problem is a worn out motor, or a worn out pump, the failure will always rear its ugly head when the demand for fuel is high, such as in a "wide open throttle, maximum engine speed condition".
This is an easy condition to put a vehicle in, unless you are working on high horsepower engines. Use the FRTD (flat fate test drive) and a scan tool. Graph out the oxygen sensor & fuel trim and see what it will say. As long as the oxygen sensor volts are above .9volts at WOT at maximum RPM, there is no need to take a fuel pressure or volume reading, after all, this vehicle is a little hard to do this task.
Scan data graphs just plain rock.
Albin's test is valid, as for a flat line for current, if we think about it's impossible, unless it's brushless. In my experience I used to scope ton's of pump's back in the day , even if they were ugly they still did there job. Now a no start with a bad com bar would show up beauty on the scope. I'd look at the rpm , pattern uniformity and current. We need a capture to go on here. Being it's and 89 it may be time, just for confidence in the vehicle.
I used to know a guy and he'd look at a current wave of a fuel pump and I quote "if this was an airplane I wouldn't fly in it" Many new him as a great instructor. Post a capture please.