No fuel pressure in rail, bad regulator???

[Kevins911]

I have been having some starting issues with an '84 944. Engine was out for a rebuild. New fuel pump and filter, DME relay is fine, 12v at fuel pump. I took the nut off at the end of the fuel rail and just a dribble of gas came out. I cracked the fitting at the start of the fuel rail and fuel sprayed out, cracked the fitting at the pressure regulator and there was no pressure there either. Would this be caused by a bad regulator?

Timing is fine, new spark plugs cap and rotor, wires are on right and I have spark, fuel injectors are fine, all new vacuum lines, the car starts but dies right away. According to Clark's Garage a bad regulator causes a high pressure, could it also cause no pressure at all? Can they get stuck shut? Maybe a blockage in the rail, is that even possible?

Thanks
Kevin

[TibetanT]

Hey Kevin:

I am no expert here, but my gut feeling tells me the Fuel Dampner is bad. That puppy, if I am not mistaken, is in charge of ensuring the pressure stays up and constant. I believe the Fuel Pressure Regulator sends the excess fuel back to the gas tank.

[Kevins911]

hmm, that makes sense, the return line is off the regulator. I'll try putting some vacuum on the damper and maybe tap it a bit with a screwdriver and see if that helps. Hitting things that don't work is always my first course of action

Thanks
Kevin