All About Auto Financing

Fuel is contained in your car’s gas tank until it is needed by your engine. When it arrives at your engine, it is sprayed by your fuel injectors into each of the cylinders. But how does the gasoline travel from the gas tank to the cylinders? Part of the answer is the fuel pump (FP).

When you turn your car on, the powertrain control module (PCM) sends an electrical current to the FP, triggering its motor. The motor builds pressure within the lines. The fuel pump draws gasoline from the gas tank through an inlet duct. This inlet is outfitted with a filter that prevents dirt and debris from entering the pump. The fuel then leaves through a valve on its way to the fuel filter, a final barrier to dirt and debris. It continues traveling toward the fuel injectors and is ultimately sprayed into the cylinders.

This component remains in operation as long as your engine is running. If your engine dies, the powertrain control module will shut the pump off. For a variety of reasons, the fuel pump may unexpectedly fail. If this occurs, your engine will stall. Below, we’ll take a closer look at some of the factors that contribute to its failure, and the problems they cause.

Why Fuel Pumps Fail

Your fuel pump may fail as the result of an accumulation of dirt and debris. This can happen when dirt gains access to the gas tank, or rust forms within it. Both may be sent to the FP. Even though the pump has a filter to prevent debris from moving past the inlet duct, it can become overwhelmed. In some cases, dirt and rust manage to get past the filter. If the pump becomes contaminated, it may jam.

Another reason it can fail is due to simple wear and tear. The bearings, motor brushes, gears, and other pieces can wear down. Sometimes, this causes the pump to fail suddenly. Other times, the process is gradual, causing pressure to decline throughout the lines leading to the injectors.

If, for some reason, fuel is prevented from reaching the pump (e.g. a blockage in the gas tank), the component can overheat. This is because a constant supply of fuel is necessary for lubrication and to help manage the temperature, similar to the function of motor oil in your engine.

Diagnosing Engine Problems

One of the most common signs of a failed fuel pump is that the engine will refuse to start (though it will crank). The problem is, this can also be due to an issue in the ignition system, or within the engine itself. The best approach is to start checking for sufficient spark and compression.

If the ignition system is fine and a compression test fails to uncover a significant leak, check the timing belt. Pay particular attention to the condition of the teeth. Also, look at the placement of the belt on the sprockets near the camshaft and crankshaft. If the timing belt is fine, the problem usually lies with the fuel pump.

Is The Fuel Pump Operating Effectively?

When the fuel pump is the culprit, it is typically clogged, has overheated, or has lost the ability to produce sufficient pressure in the fuel lines. Of the three circumstances, lack of sufficient pressure is the most common.

If the pressure generated by the FP is merely a few psi less than its normal specs, the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder will be too lean. As a result, you might experience hesitation, misfires, and stalling. You may also be unable to start your car.

There are several tests you can perform to check the pressure within your fuel lines. Before doing any of them, remove the fuse that controls the fuel pump to eliminate any residual pressure. Otherwise, you may suffer injury.

Your vehicle’s fuel pump is responsible for sending fuel under high pressure to your injectors. If this component stops working properly, so too, will your engine.

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