the fuel pressure regulator is a bypass regulator, any excess pressure releases fuel to the fuel return line where it goes back to the tank. the pumps run continuously as long as the engine is turning. if the engine stops turning (as detected by the hall effect or crank position sensors), the pumps stop about 1 second later.

 

Yeah I read that a bad crank sensor can make the pumps stop working, but from what I understand these cars don't have a CPS? Someone on another forum mentioned that the ground between the pump relay and the ECU/FICM is known for going bad on these cars, so I'm gonna try to bypass that and just ground it on the chassis and see what happens, and if that solves it then I guess it's time to find another ECU.

 

crank position sensors were used on 1989+ LH 2.4 cars.

up to 1988, LH2.2 cars used a hall sensor in the distributor for all timing functions.

 

Update: My main problem ended up being a bad ground from the fuel pump relay to the ECU, and then after I figured that out I found out it had a bad MAF sensor, but she's purring like a kitten now, after new plugs, wires, distributor cap, fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel lines, IAC valve, ball joints, and motor mounts. Now I just have to flush the rest of the fluids (starting with the transmission) and I'm hoping it will run for a long time to come. I estimate that she has less than 120,000 original miles based on previous paperwork. This thing really pissed me off sometimes when I was trying to get her running, but it was worth it if only for the feeling I got when I pulled her out of the driveway for the first time.

 

Congratulations