What Causes Fuel Pumps to Fail? – UnderhoodService

What Causes Fuel Pumps to Fail?

Sponsored by Carter Fuel Systems

Like most vehicle components, natural wear and tear is the unavoidable cause for parts replacement. 

Fuel pumps are often out of sight and out of mind for most shop visitors.

That’s because they are an as-needed repair and not typically a part of ongoing maintenance. Nevertheless, if you diagnose fuel pump failure, customers will want to know what caused it to go bad. You can provide additional service value to them by explaining the likely culprits. 

Causes of Fuel Pump Failure

Most customers understand the primary role of the fuel pump is to deliver fuel from the tank to the engine. But the causes of pump failure could be many. 

Here are some of the most common causes of fuel pump failure you can discuss with visitors to your shop.

1.     Contaminated or “bad” fuel

This is one of the things your customers can watch for. The snag, however, is that they won’t know their fuel is bad until problems appear. They may encounter this if they pump fuel that is saturated with rust or other particulates in the gas station’s storage tank. These particles can then clog the fuel filter and prematurely damage the sensors on the pump. 

Customers might also run bad fuel if they drive a seasonal vehicle or one that sits for extended periods. If they aren’t using a fuel stabilizer, moisture can develop in the fuel tank, leading to phase separation which can corrode the fuel pump’s sensors. This means it’s crucial to remind customers to buy quality fuel from trusted stations. 

2.     Fuel pump runs dry

Some people regularly drive their vehicles on or near “E”, which may be more common these days given the prices at the pump. But what they may not know is having little fuel in the tank threatens the fuel pump. It needs the fuel for lubrication. If too little fuel is present in the tank too often, the pump can dry out and overheat, causing failure. 

3.     Clogged fuel filters

As you know, the fuel filter prevents contaminants from entering the engine through the fuel line. But if the filter gets clogged (due to bad fuel or a dirty fuel tank), the pump will work overtime to push the necessary fuel to the engine. Customers may complain about engine backfires or stalling if the fuel filter is clogged, but if left unreplaced, the pump can overheat and corrode. This also places more emphasis on suggesting that your customers use quality fuel and always keep the tank at least ¼ full.  

4.     Electrical wear 

We mentioned that pushing bad fuel can damage the sensors, but it can also wear out the brushes and communicator on the pump. This will require more amperage to maintain fuel pressure. These extra amps can burn the connectors, leading to pump failure. 

Ensure to your customers you’ll check these connections when you replace the pump because a damaged connector can lead to a replacement pump failure, as well. 

By explaining the causes of fuel pump failure and how they match the symptoms your customers are experiencing, you’ll be able to help them understand the threats to their vehicles and be more mindful of their fuel system maintenance. 

Carter Engineered Quality® fuel pumps are designed to meet or exceed all OE specifications and are engineered for correct operation. Each Carter® fuel pump is 100% factory-tested, and purpose-built to meet the high demands of efficient fuel delivery for today’s advanced engines. 

Since 1909, Carter® has been an industry leader and premier manufacturer of fuel pumps, water pumps, assemblies and accessories, with warranties available for additional peace of mind. See full product lines at carterengineered.com.  

You May Also Like

A Closer Look: Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI)

Gasoline direct injection (GDI) is used on most new vehicles and requires a different approach to diagnosis and service. GDI technology has been an integral part of helping to improve fuel economy while reducing emissions, and can be found on more than half of the U.S. fleet. In fact, the use of GDI engines has

Gasoline direct injection (GDI) is used on most new vehicles and requires a different approach to diagnosis and service. GDI technology has been an integral part of helping to improve fuel economy while reducing emissions, and can be found on more than half of the U.S. fleet. In fact, the use of GDI engines has grown by over 600% since 2010. This means that in the next five years, 42 million more vehicles with GDI will enter the Aftermarket “Sweet Spot” of 6-12 years old, during which their injectors and related parts may need to be serviced or replaced. While GDI systems have proved effective, these systems encounter specific failures and require an understanding of how they work and how to test them when they set a code.

A Closer Look: Electronic Throttle Bodies

A shop’s reputation is affected by things like accuracy of diagnosis, quality of the repair, and friendly service. Equally as important is the quality of the parts installed. If the shop does everything right, and the part fails, the customer will ultimately be upset with the shop. When a new part fails, the customer is

Enhancing Efficiency and Streamlining Operations: The Benefits of Utilizing Nexpart Multi-Seller for Repair Centers

In today’s fast-paced automotive repair industry, staying ahead of the competition is crucial for repair centers to thrive. One key aspect that can significantly impact operational efficiency and customer satisfaction is the availability of OE, Aftermarket, Heavy Duty & Salvage parts. Here are just a few advantages of incorporating Nexpart Multi-Seller, a cutting-edge parts ecommerce

Get your vehicle road trip ready with these summer tips 

Summertime is a great time to take your car out on the open road, but it’s also important to ensure that your vehicle is in tip-top shape. Regular preventative maintenance can help you avoid costly repairs and keep your car running smoothly. Make sure you’re ready with these helpful tips from Delphi Technologies. Chassis The

A Closer Look: Ignition Coils

OE coils are known for their high failure rates. Engine misfires, rough idle, a decrease in power under acceleration, poor fuel economy, and a check engine light are all signs of an ignition coil that has failed. Read along for more technical information on how to diagnose a failed coil, and why the original equipment

Other Posts

Engineering behind chassis: high and low-friction parts

What is overengineering? Overengineering is often described as designing a product or solution in an unnecessarily complicated way where a simple solution had been shown to have the same efficiency, or is even more effective than the original.  In the aftermarket world, the OE part is where the journey starts. It begins with testing and

GDI Fuel Pump Pressure Sensor (VIDEO)

Always measure the values with a scan tool. This video is sponsored by Carter Fuel Systems.

GDI Fuel Pumps and Diagnostic Margins (VIDEO)

A small change can have implications for emissions and drivability. This video is sponsored by Carter Fuel Systems.

EVAP Codes and Fuel Pumps (VIDEO)

Here are three tips can help you avoid having to drop the fuel tank for a second time. Sponsored by Carter Fuel Systems.