update to 'car mysteriously won't start'

[Soma576@xxxx]

Hey all,

many thanks to everyone who replied while i try to determine why my car won't 
start lately. 

i checked the coil spades - good.
checked the inertia switch - plunger is down
tried starting with accelerator down - nope, didn't work.
tried to keep on cranking. still no start.

so next i decided to check my fuel pump... hmm..... as soon as i took the 
fiberglass panel away, i could see a possible problem - the fuel pump boot 
had about one inch of water on the inside of it. the terminals were totally 
immersed in murky stagnant water. ugh!! it was kind of a sludge - tiny thin 
sticks, black decaying stuff, and icky water. i would bet that this has 
something to do with my car not starting?

surprisingly, my fuel pump, boot, rings, and hoses are all in excellent 
shape. perhaps a previous owner changed them all within the last couple 
years? it looks like the pump has been underwater for quite some time 
though. the top is pretty rusty, and so are the connections. however, beyond 
the boot, the pump looks brand new. and fortunately, the rest of the parts 
are pretty clean. maybe the water helped short out my pump? or something 
like that?

well i took the pump out and i am busy cleaning it up. my tank appears to be 
quite clean, by the way. i can see the bottom where there's a mouse-trap 
looking yellow thing down there. 

would this fuel pump situation be consistent with my starting problem? 
before i removed the pump, i tried to sop up the water and start the car. as 
i cranked, i could hear the car sound like it's sneezing every few cranks. 
like the car is SO close to starting, but it just can't quite make it. what 
do the pros think?

should i just replace my pump itself? or is it possible to clean it up? 
more importantly, where could the water have come from?

thanks,
Andy

Soma576@xxxx
1982 DeLorean DMC-12 VIN#11596
Fargo, ND 58102


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