Q&A

 Rookie

Where is the fuel pump relay and what does it look like. The owners manual does not specifically label or mention anything about a fuel pump relay or fuse

 Master

OK, let me rewind a bit - there is a Fuel Delivery Module in the trunk that also needs checked. I gotta be honest - this shop manual is tough reading and the diagnosis is complex. There is circuit protection certainly for the fuel system, but I cannot see the fuse box in my shop manual so I'm not entirely sure where it is.

The Fuel Delivery Module communicates with the Powertrain Control Module in order to operate the fuel pump. I suspect you may have an issue there.

1995 Continentals had a CCRM - which is a relay module that handled the cooling fans as well as the fuel pump, but on the 1998 model, it was eliminated and the fuel system was separated out.

 Rookie

I removed the carpet from the trunk and found various black boxes with numerous wires coming out but did not find a reset button or anything labeled fuel pump control module or the like. On the back wall of the trunk there is a black box with wires running upwards towards the rear window I'm figuring its the wires attached to the on board factory cell phone and antenna. However there is another on the right side of the trunk just behind the fuel door and fuel door manual release wire maybe thats it? if so how do I test it. I'm a fairly smart and logical guy but damn why would you take away all simple means of diagnosing a simple problem like maybe a replaceable FUEL PUMP RELAY or maybe a FUEL PUMP FUSE or some sort of circuit breaker ?????

 Master

Passenger side rear is the location indeed.

I'm digging more about this system - here is a description of the operation of the fuel system from the shop manual -- it does shed some light on the operation.
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The fuel system consists of a fuel tank with reservoir, fuel pump, fuel rail pressure sensor, fuel filter, fuel supply line, engine fuel temperature sensor, fuel rail, fuel injectors, and Schrader/pressure test point. Operation of the system is as follows.

The fuel delivery system is enabled during crank or running mode once the PCM receives a crankshaft position (CKP) sensor signal.

The fuel pump logic is defined in the fuel system control strategy and is executed by the PCM.

The PCM commands a duty cycle to the fuel pump driver module (FPDM).

The fuel pump driver module modulates the voltage to the fuel pump (FP) to achieve the proper fuel pressure. Voltage for the fuel pump is supplied by the power relay or FPDM power supply relay.

The fuel rail pressure (FRP) sensor provides the PCM with the current fuel rail pressure. The PCM uses this information to vary the duty cycle output to the FPDM to compensate for varying loads.

The engine fuel temperature (EFT) sensor measures current fuel temperatures in the fuel rail. This information is used to vary the fuel pressure and avoid fuel system vaporization.

The fuel injector is a solenoid-operated valve that meters the fuel flow to each combustion cylinder. The fuel injector is opened and closed a constant number of times per crankshaft revolution. The amount of fuel is controlled by the length of time the fuel injector is held open. The injector is normally closed and is operated by 12 volt VPWR from the power relay. The ground signal is controlled by the PCM.

A pressure test point valve (Schrader valve) is located on the fuel rail. This is used to measure fuel injector supply pressure for diagnostic procedures and repairs.

There are three filtering or screening devices in the fuel delivery system. The intake sock is a fine, nylon mesh screen mounted on the intake side of the fuel pump. There is a fuel filter screen located at the fuel rail side of the fuel injector. The fuel filter assembly is located between the fuel pump and the pressure test point/Schrader valve.

The fuel pump (FP) module is a device that contains the fuel pump and the fuel sender assembly. The fuel pump is located inside the reservoir and supplies fuel through the fuel pump module manifold to the engine and the fuel pump module jet pump.

The inertia fuel shut-off (IFS) switch is used to de-energize the fuel delivery secondary circuit in the event of a collision. The IFS switch is a safety device that should only be reset after a thorough inspection of the vehicle (following a collision).
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All those things said - I think there is an error in your theory to start with about listening for the fuel pump with the key on. As described by the manual, the FPDM is seeking a crankshaft signal before providing power to the fuel pump.

In theory, if you had a faulty CKP sensor, you would then never get fuel pump operation.

Truthfully...you really need a diagnostic tool to monitor several things, such as CKP signal, FPDM duty cycle, etc. The rest is frankly guess work.

 Rookie

Last night I had another mechanic friend of mine come by only this time he was armed with an ohm meter we started down the system again starting with the all purpose relay at the front of the vehicle and worked our way through the power distribution box,inertia switch,fuel control module in the trunk {found that after a much informative conversation with a local ford dealer parts manager}and lastly to the fuel pump itself we came to the conclusion that we had power all the way through right up to the fuel pump which had 12 volts Thank God !!that the new fuel pump is defective. I called the auto parts store where I purchased the pump and spoke to the same person who sold it to me only this time he wasn't as nice as he was when he sold it to me saying that there must be a mistake and that maybe my diagnosis was incorrect in a rather billigerent manner I might add so I educated him on all the methods I used to come to this conclusion including this repair blog and he realized that I was now fairly knowledgable on a 1998 Lincoln Continental fuel delivery system!!! so with that my mechanic will be by tomorrow to remove the pump and bring it back and re-install the new pump. I will keep you posted of my progress but must say I appreciate your time and research that you have provided me thus far !! Thank You !!!!!

 Master

Wow, how miserable is that? We all count on our new parts to be good, and then when they aren't...wow. What a headache. I'm crossing my fingers for ya. Let me know how it works out.