By: Klon Perez Updated May 2022, 9: 55 am EDT
A fuel pump can break down for various reasons, these trigger a series of symptoms that will help us identify the problem that is occurring and therefore what is the way to solve it as soon as possible.
How do you know if there are faults in the fuel pump?
- The car does not start or only starts sometimes: as there is no minimum pressure on the main injector rail, the fuel will not reach the cylinders and this will result in the engine not having what it needs to start.
- Jerking on acceleration and at idle: when the fuel pre-filter is clogged, the operation of the pump will be insufficient because it will not be able to extract the liquid from the tank with constant pressure. This will automatically cause jerks in acceleration and idling.
- Engine faults and intermittent noises: When you hear noises in the engine while it is running, it may be because the fuel pump is stuck and needs to be repaired.
How to know if it is really the pump that fails or other element?
When the fuel pressure is insufficient, the engine will produce the sound but not will start up, this could indicate the failure of the pump. But it could certainly be due to the failure of other elements of the car such as a bad spark plug, faulty timing chain or a faulty internal engine component.
With this checklist you make sure which element is really failing:
- General check: first of all we have to open the hood of the car and start the engine by turning the ignition key. In the event that the engine does not start but does make the ignition noise, we can be sure that it is the fuel pump.
- Checking the spark plugs : We will connect a spark plug tester to one of the spark plug cables. The engine is then attempted to be started and the tester will be checked for sparks. If so, the spark plugs are not faulty, so it is most likely the fuel pump.
- Chain Check time: It must be accessed to check that it is in perfect condition, it is usually next to the engine. If when you look at it, it rotates smoothly and does not generate any noise, then this element is in good condition.
Once these checks have been made, we will be sure that the problem it does not reside in another element other than the fuel pump.
How to avoid breakdowns in the fuel pump?
One of the most basic but effective things you can do is avoid driving with reserve fuel as much as possible. This affects the cooling capacity of the pump.
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