Eight Signs That Your Fuel Pump Is Bad (and How to Replace It)

Your vehicle's fuel pump is vital. Without the fuel pump, your vehicle would soon die.

A fuel pump is required for modern diesel or gas cars. In older cars, however, it depends on gravity to provide the fuel.

For many reasons, a fuel pump may fail or become defective.

This article will explain the signs and locations of poor fuel pumps, as well as how to replace them. Let’s begin by taking a quick look at the signs you should look out for.

Engine hiccups and misfires are the most obvious signs of a poor fuel pump. An illuminated check engine lamp on your dashboard may also be an indicator of a bad fuel pump.

These may be quick solutions, but it is likely that you want to learn more. Here are the top 8 symptoms that indicate a bad fuel tank.

Problems with your fuel pump

1. Auto Experiences Hiccups

Fuel is essential for cars to be able to move, as food does. Fuel is essential for car driving. It's easy to grasp the importance of fuel, but it can also be seen that your vehicle will not perform to your standards if fuel supplies are not available.

You may be experiencing problems with your fuel pump if you push the accelerator hard and notice that the car is hiccupping.

Fuel pump problems could be caused by inferior fuel or by the pump not generating sufficient pressure to propel the fuel into the system.

RELATED: Symptoms of a Bad Fuel Pump Relay & Location

2. Failures

A lack of fuel will cause the chamber to explode if there is not enough. An engine that does not produce combustion will stop it from starting. It may start, but it will take a while to get it started.

Low fuel pressure could be the reason your vehicle is making strange sounds or sounded like it's a tractor when idle.

3. Sudden engine shut down or no starting condition

The engine needs fuel to run, and if the fuel pump is bad, the engine won’t get any fuel. If your engine doesn’t start at all or having sudden engine shutdowns while driving, there might be a problem with the fuel pump.

This is a sign that it's time to meet with your mechanic.

4. Backfires

A bad fuel pump may cause intermittent fuel supply to your engine. This can lead to misfires.

Over-fueling can lead to unburned fuel in your exhaust pipe. This will result in backfiring.

5. Check Engine Light Illuminates

Modern cars have sensors that detect problems right away. The fuel pressure sensor, which intelligently monitors the fuel level, is one example of this type of sensor. When a sensor detects an anomaly, it sends a signal back to the ECU. The ECU lights the check engine light.

The Check Engine Light will display an error code. You can check it easily with an OBD2 scanner.

6. From Exhaust, thick black or white smoke

Black smoke is not a characteristic of vehicles unless they use diesel fuel. Engine damage is often evident if a gasoline-powered vehicle emits this smoke.

A defective fuel pump can lead to black smoke or white smoke. This is because your engine uses a rich mixture of fuel and oil. A poor fuel pump can cause a lean mixture. It is rare.

7. Turbocharger Underperforms

The turbocharger is not necessary for every car, but it does provide a bonus feature. Turbochargers compress air to spin a turbine which adds power to an engine.

Turbos take time to get air into the turbo. If you notice a lot turbo lag in your engine, it could indicate that the fuel pump is not working properly.

8. Spark Plugs Will Die Sooner

The fuel cools the internal parts of your engine. A too low-quality mixture of air and fuel can lead to spark plugs becoming too hot. Problems in the fuel pump can cause engine internal problems.

Cylinder damage is the most severe. The damage to the smaller components of the cylinder can be the worst. The spark plugs could also be affected by this.

If you notice that spark plugs are not being replaced quickly enough, it could be a problem with your fuel pump.

What's a fuel pump?

The fuel pump’s main function is to deliver fuel to the fuel injectors, injecting fuel into the combustion engine system. Carburetor engines rely on mechanical fuel pumps to operate. These are located outside of the fuel tank.

Diesel engines use more than one main pump to fuel their engines. This works both electrically and increases performance.

One pump is located inside the fuel tanks, where it pumps more fuel at lower pressure. Another pump is near or inside an engine and suckers in fuel at a higher level.

For the maximum efficiency and proper functioning, the fuel pump operates under certain conditions that are electronically adjusted to optimize the combustion engine’s air-fuel mixture. If the engine is fed more fuel, it will cause a disturbance in the air-fuel ratio, which means that all fuel can not be burned efficiently.

Locate the Fuel Pump

Newer vehicles have the fuel pump located in the middle of the tank, usually at the top. Some cars have a cover to remove under the backseat or in the trunk to reach the fuel pump’s location.

Some cars may require you to lower or remove the fuel tank.

An external fuel pump is also available for older vehicles.

Prices for replacing a fuel pump

The average cost to replace a fuel pump ranges between $100 and $700 depending on which car you have and how much labor is required. Fuel pumps can be purchased for $50-$400, with labor costs of $50-$300.

The fuel pump can be very affordable if you have an engine that uses electronic fuel pumps. It is more expensive to have the pump replaced by a professional. If the pump is located in the fuel tank there may be a cover that allows you to access it under your back. For some car models, you will need to take the entire fuel tank off to access it. It takes a lot of time.

If you're experienced, it may be possible to complete the task yourself. However, it is dangerous work and can cause serious health problems.

You can expect to pay a higher price for replacing the fuel pump if your diesel engine is running. If you're not lucky, these pumps may cost as much as $1500. The replacement cost can also be very expensive. You will often also need to adjust these pumps.