1998 Mazda Protege only runs when fuel pump relay is jumpered
 

All,

I have a 1998 Mazda Protege that will only run when I jumper the fuel pump relay.

While driving the car just died, after some investigative work i found the time belt was off and the car not timed correctly.

the car still would not run so i verified that the fuel pump was still working.
I found a post about bypassing the fuel pump relay. Once I did that the car started right up.

I have been trying to figure out why it will not run when the relay is plugged in and I have found nothing

I have replaced the fuel pressure regulator (that was not it)
Cleaned as many connectors as I could and still nothing.

Thank you in advance for any tips, hints or direction before i break down and take it to the shop.

I am having the same problem with my 97 MPV. Did you get the issue sorted out??

turns out the fuel pump relay was bad. both the old and the new. there was a very distinct possibility i might have done that. eventually got a new one that worked and it solved the issue.