The car fuel pump is responsible for pumping fuel into the internal combustion engine. As you likely know, fuel is stored in the gas tank of a vehicle. The only way this fuel can be transferred from the gas tank to the engine is with a fuel pump. This pump creates the force needed to move the gas properly. So, if you have a bad fuel pump, then it won’t be able to transfer the fuel to the engine. This causes all kinds of problem for the vehicle because the engine needs to have this fuel for the combustion process to occur. If there is no combustion process, then there is no power generated.
7 Bad Symptoms
Therefore, it is easy to figure out when your car fuel pump is going bad or has already gone bad. The symptoms will greatly limit your driving abilities and the performance of your vehicle. To help you recognize what these symptoms are, below are the top 7 symptoms of a bad car fuel pump. If you notice any of these symptoms, then bring your vehicle to the local auto shop and have a mechanic replace your vehicle’s fuel pump for you.
1) Hotter Temperature
Check the temperature gauge on your dashboard. If it shows the temperature of the car is getting hotter, then it could mean you have a fuel pump problem. If the engine stalls from this, the motor of your fuel pump may be to blame. The engine will continue to stall until the fuel pump is replaced.
2) Sputtering Engine
As you step on the gas pedal to go faster, the engine will sputter erratically. Once you start to maintain the same speed again, the sputtering will stop. If this situation occurs, then it is an indication that your fuel pump is having trouble providing the necessary flow of fuel to the engine in order to satisfy your power demands.
3) Weak Engine Power
One of the biggest symptoms of a bad fuel pump is weak engine power. If the engine does not receive a steady flow of fuel to generate the power that is demanded of it, then your vehicle will have weak engine power. This will be most noticeable when driving uphill or carrying a heavy load.
4) Fuel Pressure Gauge
The amount of fuel that flows to the engine is detected by the fuel pressure gauge. If the gauge shows that less fuel is entering the engine as the accelerator is pressed, then it means there is a problem with the fuel pump. You may need a partner to help you perform this test. One of you reads the gauge and the other presses the gas pedal.
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5) Poor Fuel Economy
There is a relief valve on the fuel pump which restricts the amount of fuel that enters the engine. If the relief valve does not open because of a malfunction, then the engine will receive too much fuel. This will greatly reduce your fuel economy, which means more trips to the gas station.
6) Surging Forward
If your vehicle surges forward on its own as you’re driving at a consistent speed, then it is an indicator that your fuel pump motor is facing some abnormal resistance. You need to replace the fuel pump motor to fix this problem.
7) Cannot Start Engine
If you’ve let the bad fuel pump continue to deteriorate, then it may not function at all. At this point, you won’t even be able to start your engine because the fuel pump will fail at giving fuel to the engine so it can ignite properly. In other words, the engine will crank but not start.
