Have to turn the ignition on and off several times to get the fuel pump working

possible problem is a weak fuel pump. The fuel pump relay will engage for about five seconds each time the key is turned to the start position. If the fuel pump is weak then there is nor enough pressure to fire the injectors until the key is recycled several times. You should connect a fuel pressure tester to the fuel system to see if that is what is happening. Try turning the key on and off several times waiting 3 or 4 seconds between turns and then all the way to start.

You don't mention what kind of car it is, but typically, the only time power goes to the fuel pump is when the ignition switch is first turned on and it will run just for a few seconds and then quit. When I replace the fuel pump I will cycle the ignition switch several times, leaving it on for about 5 seconds or so to get fuel to the injectors. This is all controlled by a relay.
Once the vehicle is started it receives signals from the oil pressure to a relay to keep the fuel pump running. This was a safety feature so that the fuel pump would not run in case the ignition was left on or the vehicle was in an accident.

When you smelt fuel, It was flooded. Your best bet would be to replace the spark plugs. Gas will foul them out, just like oil.

you should not have to prime the fuel pump. just install it and turn your ignition key to the start position. You may have to turn the ignition key several times but once it starts, the car should start normally after that.

If you have gas, and the fuel pump is working, all i can suggest is cycling the ignition on and off several times to fill the system. Don't turn the engine over, just turn the key on until the fuel pump cuts out, and repeat. Do this several times. If gas is the problem, it should fire up. If it doesn't, better check for spark. Let me know how you make out.

The fuel-pump relay unit is responsible for turning the fuel pump on when it detects the engine is running. When the ignition signal stops, the fuel-pump relay switches the pump off. Problems with the ignition and starting the vehicle often can be traced to the condition of the fuel-pump relay.

Description

The fuel-pump relay is a small unit, typically enclosed in a plastic case. The unit contains several sprockets on one side that are clipped onto the ignition system. The fuel-pump relay is engaged only during the start cycle. If it is faulty, it can take longer to start your vehicle.

Location

Most fuel-pump relay units are located under the dashboard near the steering column. In some cases, the unit is located in the area where the steering column is mounted or near the engine's firewall. The end of the fuel pump relay is typically located near the center of the floorboard, under the carpet in the front section of the passenger's or driver's side footwell.

Considerations

In addition to difficulty in starting the vehicle, symptoms of a poorly functioning fuel-pump relay include the following: the car dies then starts a few minutes later; the fuel pump makes a strange noise (humming or clicking loudly) for longer than five to 10 seconds after starting; or the engine won't start after you have engaged the fuel-pump switch.

Troubleshooting

When your car does not start properly, you can conduct a fuel-injection relay test. Two relays are located inside the fuel-injection system; one of them is responsible for turning the ignition on without turning over the engine, and the other is responsible for turning on when the engine turns.



You can check to see if the first relay is working by touching it while turning the ignition on and off. You should feel a "click" every time you switch the ignition. If the fuel-pump relay is not working, you can "jump" the unit with a small lead jumper cable. You will need to access the fuse panel and insert the cable into the relay unit; the unit will run as long as the wire is inside the relay and can help start your car.

RELIEF FUEL PRESSURE FROM FUEL LINES.FIRST REMOVE THE GAS CAP.REMOVE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY.START THE ENGINE UNTIL IT STALLS OUT FROM LACK OF FUEL.CRANK ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES.THEN TURN OFF IGNITION SWITCH INSTALL FUEL PUMP RELAY WHEN JOB FINISHED.

Of course you will need to check to see if the fuel pump is actually pumping, or damaged. I suggest that you remove the fuel filler cap, then have someone turn the ignition switch on while you listen through the fuel fill inlet to see if you hear the pump turn on for a few seconds then off. If you're hearing nothing and have no fuel, either the vehicle is not telling the pump to turn on, (verify voltage at the pump electric connection) or the pump is bad.

Generally, when you turn the ignition on, you should hear the pump for a second or two as it builds pressure, after replacing the fuel filter, you may need to do this several times to get pressure to the injectors, and to do that, just cycle the switch to on, then off, in 4 or 5 second intervals. The pump if working, will build pressure eventually allowing the vehicle to start. No need to crank, until you have fuel pressure, Just to "ON", then "OFF" several times.

I hope that you took the time to put some fuel injector cleaner (1/2 filled w/Gumout) into your new fuel filter when replacing it, it's a cheap fuel injector/fuel system cleaning method I've used for years when replacing fuel filters. It can cause a sputter or two initially, but does a good job.

good luck

Your fuel pump is in the tank. Turn on the ignition, and listen if you can hear the pump run in the tank. It will only run a few seconds if the engine is not running. You can repeat this several times to prime the fuel injection.

Rick,
there may be a fuel problem. The fuel pump may not be working properly. Also, if the vehicle has been run out of fuel, there may be air in the lines and turning the ignition off and on will turn on and off the fuel pump which could push the air bubble through the system long enough to let the vehicle run and when it is turned off the air bubble will work its way back up to cause problems again. There may be a problem with the wire from the ignition to the fuel pump as well. When it wont start, you can pop the fuel line off the fuel pump while the ignition is on, or have someone turn the engine over while the line is off and it should push fuel out. If it pushes fuel out, you may have an air bubble in the line somewhere. You can get rid of the bubble by turning the engine over and crack each injector line off one at a time while the engine is being turned over.
Hope this helps!