Hi all, this is my first time posting here but these forums have been very helpful to me in the past. Forgive me if I'm asking questions that have already been answered.

I have an 01 Mazda B3000 with the 3.0/auto. I had it out yesterday and it was running great, stopped by a friend's for a few minutes and when I came out it would crank but not start. It did sputter a few times but nothing else, so it appears I have spark.

What I've done so far - checked the fuel pump fuse with a meter, it's good. I can hear and feel the fuel pump relay when I turn the key to the run position, but can't hear the fuel pump at all. I didn't have a pressure gauge but I pressed the valve on the fuel rail there was pressure there initially but after I let that out it never pumped back up (pressing the valve again there was nothing). The inertia switch was not tripped. Waited a couple hours and tried it again - no change. Disconnected the battery for about a half hour, no change. My wife said she had trouble starting it once the day before but then it started and was fine til yesterday.

Seems to me it would have to be the pump, but wanted some other opinions if possible.

 

try and turn the key to the run position a few times... something like 3 or 4 times then try and start it. my 01 did the same thing. the pressure line would leak all the pressure out after a few mins. so doing that is like a choke style thing. if it starts then you need a new pump. also check your gas filter

 

Yeah, tried the key dance with no luck. I haven't crawled under there yet to make sure there is power to the pump so I guess thats my next step

 

yeah if there is power try hitting the tank with your hand if the pump starts it a bad connection in the pump.

 

The bad news is your fuel pump is out. The good news is is that it is easy to replace and not very expensive. Just search out fuel pump.