On our way to the rallycross, we were on the I-15 when I smelled gas. A lot of gas… “Is that us?” I asked aloud. We passed a slow moving tow truck with a wreck on it and the smell dissipated. “Oh, okay. Not us…” We pulled off for the Glen Helen exit and the smell came back. “Okay – that’s us. What’s the deal?” I pulled over and hopped out. When I came around the back of the car I heard a hissing noise from the gas cap. Slowly twisting the gas cap I released what might have been 40psi of pressure. A really, really hot day. Full tank of gas. These things happen right? Later I think of the new aluminum plates reflecting all of the exhaust heat back into the floor. The same floor the brake and gas lines are attached to.

Last night I took the rallycar out to PepBoys and a date with the high pressure car wash. I picked up some essentials. Some new hose for the PCV, new wipers, spare belts, etc. I dropped 5 bucks in the ‘scrubadub’ and hosed the cement from the rallycross off. I headed home.

Less then a mile from the house, I’m coming up to a stop sign – heel toe downshift to 2nd. ‘RRRevvvvvv… stall. coast.’ I turn her off to the right and try starting again. No go. “hrmmm.” Open the hood. Check all the obvious stuff. Hop back in – cranking – not starting. I stop and turn the key off. I listen close for the ‘whirr’ of the fuel pump. I click the key forward. Nothing… No sound from the fuel pump. Bingo!

I fumble the fuse box in the engine bay open. I glance at the primer and pull the 20A fuse for the pump. Sure enough it’s blown. “Okay!” I go for the bag of fuses stashed in the car. Quickly I drop a replacement fuse in – close up the bag and start the car. “Sweet!” Off I go down the road.

In about the time it takes me to contemplate the fact that fuses just don’t blow for no reason, and that the fuel pump was probably over loaded, maybe from getting it soaked at the car wash, maybe from the other day when we were in the sun… The engine cut out again. This time I bumped it up with a 25A fuse. I gave it some time to sit. I made it barely 100 feet before it died again.

Now I’m maybe 1/4 of a mile from the house. I have 1 hill to get over and I can coast down most of the rest. The Blazer is up at the shop and I refuse to call AAA to tow me until I ‘need’ a tow. I go back into the magic tool kit and grab the solid copper wire. (don’t try this at home kids…) I pull off the coating and twist up a fuse replacement. Start the car and floor it up the hill while giving it a 10 count. After 10 seconds and the top of the hill I kill it and coast. At the stop sign I wrestle no power steering and a rolling pause to the right. One more start. I only need a 5 count this time. I get the Neon up into our parking lot.

My thinking is that the heat and pressure pushed the 10 year old pump past it’s life expectancy. I really don’t think getting the wires to it wet would be popping fuses. I really have no choice but to drop the tank and replace the pump as well as insulate all the lines. AAA Plus will be getting some use tonight.