I have an '87 or '88 323 Hatchback. Can anyone tell me how difficult it is to change the fuel pump. The local repair shop wanted about $650 to do it. Autozone has the pump for $123, strainer for $15, and complete assembly for $210. Do I just need the pump & strainer or do I likely need the complete assembly? It has quit pumping entirely and won't start.
Thanks,tw

 

Ouch, that is a pretty hefty price tag for a fuel pump on your car tcw. Mitchell only shows R and R time of .7 hours or 42 minutes. Either they have an astronomical labor rate or fuel pump better be Platinum.
There should be an access cover to allow for testingor R and R underneath the rear seat cushion that should allow you complete access in under 5 minutes. Might even double check before replacing to be sure it is even needed. Maybe no power to the pump due to faulty relay or fuse?? Wire that is Green w/ Red stripe should be fuel pump power and Black is ground.
Given that the complete assembly would also give you a new fuel level sender and yours is probably worn after 20 years then I think I would go for the assemble for the extra $70 but that is your call. At least replace the strainer as well and don't forget a new fuel filter as a clogged one can overload a pump and cause the initial failure to start with.

 

Thanks for the quik reply, babyhuey. That sounds like a job I could handle. The local shop said they'd have to drop the tank and the pump was an oem part. They said they couldn't trust aftermarket pumps. I've used this shop for years and now I'm wondering if I should trust them anymore.

Thanks again,
tcw

 

Not toobig on "local" shops tcw as I workfor a Mazda dealer as a master tech for many years and have had my share of cars towed or brought in from independent shops but some are still an honest shop. If you have trusted them for years then maybe they just assumed that the tank would needed to be dropped down for a pump as most are and did not do the checks to see that this was not the case for you. Perhaps also they have had poor luck with aftermarket fuel pumps and have had to go back in and replace some again and again from the aftermarket source so they just decided to go withOE. Take a minute to talk with them now that you have a second opinion and see what they are saying now is all I am sayingtcw.