A couple mornings ago when I was trying to leave for school I had a lot of trouble getting my 98 Rodeo 3.2L started. When I turned the key to start it would turn over and over but wouldnt 'catch' to start it. Finally after trying to start it for about minute of repeat of attempts to start I heard the fuel pump come on and it cranked right up and drove all the way to school perfectly.

Then about 7 hours later when I was trying to leave school I couldnt get it to start again. Once again it just kept turning over but wouldnt start so I hitched a ride home.

Later that evening I was back at school for a meeting and decided to go out to the parking lot to see if it would start this time. When I got in I turned the key to 'On' and heard the pump pressurize as it always does and I turned the key and it started like nothing was wrong. Again I drove it all the way home (5-6) miles with no problem at all.

About 4 hours after that I tried to start my Rodeo to leave for somewhere again, but it wouldnt not start at all. If I just turn it to 'On' I do not hear the fuel pump at all like I am supposed to. Even if I give it some gas while cranking it - it still will not start and has been that way for the last 3 days. I have tried starting it everyday and have had no luck.

I would be absolutely sure that it was the fuel pump, but I thought it was odd that when it did start that it would drive fine.

Any quick help will be greatly appreciated.

Try swapping your fuel relay for the horn relay. No biggie if your horn doesn't work, at least till you can get a new relay. It's under hood. Your stock pos book should give you the locations for the specific relays.

Swap them and it it works then you just need a new relay.

Hope this works for you. It'd be a lot cheaper.

Well I opened the fuse box and there wasnt a relay for the horn (just a fuse), but we did swap the heater relay for the fuel pump relay and still nothing.

So I am guessing it is definately the fuel pump?

Thanks for the reply.

Nothing how? Like it wouldn't start at all, or the same symptoms of sometimes starting and sometimes not?