SIGNS YOUR FUEL PUMP IS ON THE WAY OUT
Rust, dirt, or debris in the gas tank can kill a fuel pump very quickly. Rust occurs on older steel tanks while after 8-10 years, plastic tanks start to break down.
Diagnosing a dead fuel pump is usually fairly easy, which will save you on testing and diagnostic costs. What normally happens is the car has trouble starting and frequently will die. Finally, the car itself will refuse to start even though the engine is cranking itself and getting plenty of juice.
A great way to check if your fuel pump is bad is to check your fuse box. See if any of the fuses are blown. If the metal in each fuse is good, move on to the fuel pressure test port.
Find your car’s fuel pressure test port and crank the engine. If it’s not getting any pressure, congratulations, you have a bad fuel pump.
Don’t you feel handy now?
Now, there are other signs to look out for prior to the car dying which may indicate you have a bad fuel pump. If you notice any of these, but your car is still running, we advise you to take your car to a mechanic before it decides to die on you.
1: WHINING NOISE FROM THE FUEL TANK
Your fuel pump normally will hum quietly when driving under normal conditions. However, an aging fuel pump can make a racket. Of course, this can also be caused by fuel conditions such as not having enough fuel, or having bad fuel, but in most cases, this is one of the first signs your fuel pump is on the way out.
This can be caused by debris in the fuel pump. Unfortunately the fuel filter doesn’t filter out microscopic particles (particularly dirt and metal) that can cause damage to your fuel pump.
The only protection comes from the inlet screen. The inlet screen only blocks large particles and cannot block the microscopic particles that wear a pump out over time. When a pump gets worn, it may get louder and spin at lower an RPM causing starting, driveability, and performance problems. The first sign of this is a “wirrrrrrrr” noise that you can hear when turning on the car.
2: TROUBLE STARTING
An aging fuel pump can have difficulty generating the required amount of pressure to start your car. It can still pump fuel, but it may require several cranks of the engine or multiple turns of the key. This symptom is far from definitive on it is own, as this could be a leaking fuel line or a bad starter. One way to tell is to use the pressure test described above.
3: SPUTTERING ENGINE
A sputtering engine can be caused by an improper mixture of fuel and air where your engine is likely running lean or rich. If you notice your engine sputtering at high speeds before returning to normal operation, your fuel pump may be to blame. Without the correct pressure, your engine may not be getting the fuel it needs. This is a dead giveaway that your fuel pump needs to be replaced.
4: TROUBLE CLIMBING HILLS
When your engine is forced to work harder, it requires more fuel. A prime example of this is when climbing a steep hill. If you’ve got a bad fuel pump, your car can feel like it’s severely underpowered while climbing, even if you’re pressing the gas pedal. A weak fuel pump won’t be able to regulate and accurately provide the right amount of fuel to the engine in order to generate the correct amount of power.
5: RANDOM SURGES
An aging fuel pump may still work intermittently and send a surge of fuel into the engine which can feel like you’re pressing the gas pedal even though you’re going at a consistent speed. When the fuel pump is working properly, it should evenly deliver fuel to your engine.
6: BAD GAS MILEAGE
A bad fuel pump may be causing your engine to run with a rich fuel mixture, which can burn additional fuel. However, this is far from definitive, as this problem can be related to any number of things, including a bad O2 sensor, a cracked fuel line, or issues in the engine itself.
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