Signs of a Bad Fuel Pump

Your vehicle’s fuel pump should last about 100,000 miles but nothing lasts forever. Some drivers have reported going 200,000 miles before they had to have the fuel pump replaced. If you drive a high-mileage vehicle and notice any of the following signs, it might be time to bring your automobile into our Dothan, AL, shop for pump inspection and possible replacement.

Engine Trouble While Driving

The fuel pump regulates gas flow to the engine by drawing fuel from the tank and pushing it through to the engine. If the pump is drawing and pushing too much gasoline into the motor, your engine will surge; it will feel as if you stepped on it when you actually didn’t. If the pump is not drawing enough fuel from the gas tank or is partially clogged and cannot push the fuel through to the engine, it will lag and sputter, especially when it’s being stressed out by steep climbs or heavy loads.

Dead Engine

If the pump is completely clogged or dead, you will not be able to start your car, truck, or SUV. You may hear the engine catch, but there won’t be any gas in the combustion system to start the car. A vehicle uses gasoline and air to create a mixture that the spark plugs ignite with a spark. If there isn’t any fuel in the mixture, the spark plugs will have zero fuel to ignite and your vehicle won’t start. Don’t keep trying to start your vehicle, as stressing the pump out will overheat the pump motor.

Speaking of Overheating the Fuel Pump Motor…

If your fuel pump motor is the problem it can overheat while in operation. The problem is, you won’t know that the fuel pump motor is overheating until the heat from the pump causes your entire engine to overheat. If your car, truck, or SUV is overheating and then stalling constantly, you likely have a problem happening inside the fuel pump’ motor. Don’t leave anything to chance. An overheated engine is extremely dangerous, especially if the radiator cap bursts or the engine catches on fire.

Poor Gas Mileage

Finally, if you’ve noticed a significant drop in your vehicle’s gas mileage lately your fuel pump could be the culprit. If the fuel pump is pushing too much gas through to the engine, the engine has no choice but to burn it. This will leave you heading to the gas station more often than you’d like, much less more often than you normally do. Keep track of your gas mileage for a few tank fills to see if it’s unusually low. If it is, bring your car, truck, or SUV in so we can find out why it’s drinking gas.

Call Techway Automotive today for an appointment. We’d be happy to address your automotive concerns.