[kidrock]

The DME relay serves as the "fuel pump relay" in the '84-'89 Carrera 3.2 with Motronic. The DME relay, as explained to me, also serves as the relay to the various sensors associated with the Motronic DME (speed, reference and cylinder head temperature sensors).

Your fuel pump will operate only while the motor is running, ***UNLESS*** you bypass the DME relay. To do this, you need to disconnect the relay from it's housing. Then, with the aid of a jumper wire, you will "jump" the relay housing by connecting the wire from junction #30 to #87b of the relay housing. By doing this, you are bypassing the DME system, and you should hear the fuel pump whirr to life. Careful with the wires down there under the front seat!!!

Before you test the fuel pump by jumping the DME as explained above, you asked which hose to disconnect to test your fuel system. Do you know what the Idle Control Valve (ICV) is? It's the silver cylinder located near your throttle body, and has a hose going vertically into it, and another coming out below. You can safely and easily disconnect either of these hoses. When disconnected, spray a small, short burst of "quick start" (ether) or carb cleaner into the hose, and quickly reconnect (no need to reinstall the hose clamp yet). Quickly, attempt to start your car. If you have a helper, have him (or her) start the car as soon as you put reconnect the hose.

If your car starts immediately then subsequently dies, then it is probably a dying, intermittent fuel pump. They usually won't work well when hot...but your car will start after the pump has had some time to cool down.

Let us know how she goes, keep us posted. Good luck.