Half of the in-tank fuel pump is.... in the tank... 89 240
 

So my girlfriend's 89 wagon has been having some fuel issues for awhile. It takes 3-4 tries to get the car started, and it idles really rough. At first, it was only when the car was under half a tank, but recently it still takes atleast 2 tries even with a full tank. The fuel pump and filter has been replaced, as well as the fuel pressure regulator. I finally pulled the internal fuel pump out and the sock thing and little plastic piece above the sock are laying the the bottom of the fuel tank. my hand doesn't fit through the hole and I can fish them out any way. I can't seem to find any place that sells the pieces I am looking for either. I'm worried that junk yard cars are going to be rusted out to hell and difficult to get out without damaging the unit, but I'm going to give it a shot this weekend. Does anyone know a site I can get new parts at? Do you think that this is the reason the car isn't starting well?

Check out FCP Groton. I believe they have the whole sending unit. I'm not sure what all is setting at the bottom. Fish it out. See what broke and why it broke.

For good info on in-tank pump issues, take a look at http://cleanflametrap.com

Good luck.

At one point I dropped the fuel level float into the tank ... I created a net with bent wire and a cut piece of window screen to get it out.

I got the sock out with a "gopher" extend-a-arm thing lol. After I put it back together though, the car ran worse than it did before, and I still can't tell if the internal pump is actually working or not. The car used to just start hard, taking 3 or 4 tries to get it started, and it would idle rough. Now it is hard starting, idles rough and continues idling rough until it dies, even if I drive. (It wont die while it is driving, but it runs rough.) Any other tips?

Want to check the flow of the in tank lift pump? Keep in mind it's a low pressure pump...all it has to do is deliver a sufficient quantity of fuel...the inline pump cranks up the pressure. If it is all together again, my test is down and dirty. If you do this near a pilot light or open source of ignition (even cigarettes) we may have one less member.
I disconnect the feed hose coming from the tank right where it connects to the rear of the inline pump. I use an oil catch pan and have someone turn the key on, engine off. If the pump is working properly, there will be a surprising amount of fuel expelled in the short time before the pumps cycle off. If it dribbles like an old man at a public urinal well, then...it's no good.
What plastic piece did you lose? The roundish float?

No, no, not the floater! Ha, It was just the mounting bracket between the pump and the sock. I don't think it played a significant role in the functioning of the unit.

I guess I'm going to go test out the pump the way you said! Thanks a lot!