Fuel Pump and Murphy's Law

[TallPaul]

Thought I'd share this story:

Three years ago wife's Aerostar fuel pump got really loud and was rumbling. Not wanting her stranded I took it in. Shop said could last a couple more years or could go out any time. I said change it out as I don't want her stranded. They installed a Retech remanufactured pump.

Last month that pump died. Turn key, no pump whine, no start. Took to different shop. Shop diagnoses and installs brand new Carter pump and won't start. New pump bad. They return it and get another Carter and this one works. I take it home and next day it is starting hard, but runs once started. Found I have to prime the pump 4 or 5 times with the key on then it starts right away. Yesterday they put the fuel pressure gauge on it. Each time they hit the key to on to prime the fuel system, it read higher pressure until. Was only 20 psi on first prime. Once running it was fine, about 40 psi. So they called supplier. Supplier is going to provide a brand new Delphi pump with no added cost (apparently costs more) and I'll have it installed next Tuesday. Hopefully that will be the end of this story.

BTW, When I had it towed in last month it had a brimful tank of gas. I had just filled it up and we had only driven about 14 miles before it died. Only nice thing about it is it died in our garage, so I didn't have to go pick my wife up on the road somewhere.

I just wonder if I had left the very loud and rumbling pump in, would it still be running today.

 

[Donald]

I hope there is an access panel available to remove/install all these fuel pumps as opposed to dropping the fuel tank. The pumps themselves are not that expensive, but the labor to drop the tank and on some vehicles the need to replace the fuel sender assembly along with dropping the tank. On my Suburban, you have to clean off all this waxy stuff covering the locking ring (I used a new toilet wax seal as my source for the wax) before you have access to the locking ring and the inside of the tank. Messy.

 

[TallPaul]

No panel that I am aware of. Mechanic broke his jack dropping the tank first time.

To make matters worse, I had a fuel pump go bad in a motorhome last fall in Denver. $1000 parts and labor. This was an 85 gallon tank. Thankfully, only 1/4 full.

 

[occupant]

Even if your shop manual states that a tank must be dropped to remove a fuel pump, that is NOT always the case. For example, 1996 Nissan Sentra (and probably all Sentras) has an access panel under the back seat bottom cushion. 1997 Dodge Intrepid (and all other 93-97 LH sedans) has an access panel in the trunk.

Check under your seat cushions and trunk carpets before committing to drop the tank.

 

[Lonnie]

If you are going to be exchanging so many fuel pumps you might make an access panel somehow to ease the pain.

 

[Virtuoso]

Lucky it sounds like the mechanics are doing the labor on this one!

Last time I had a pump replaced (94 Taurus SHO) I bought a Walbro pump online (~$80) and had Midas install it for $80. Luckily it ran great until a lady in an Expedition turned in front of me. No more SHO.

(85 gallon tank? I'd hate to fill that.)

 

[alanu]

Check your ignition tumbler on the steering column. Check to see the pump gets a signal/power. Check voltage that goes to the pump via fuelpump. I've used carter for years and never had a problem.

 

[TallPaul]

It hums when you put the key to the on position. Someone mentioned the fuel pressure regulator could be bad and be spilling fuel back to the tank. Well, who knows. I just hope this mechanic is not a hack. At this point it's a lot of down time for my wife. They are not charging anything.

 

[Donald]

According to a guy at a NAPA store who had a bunch of returns, some mechanics use a jack in the center of the tank that does not spread out the load and it pushes up on the bottom of the tank which in turn presses against the fuel pump damaging it. Given that the fuel pump and the strainer are basically at the bottom of the tank I could see how this could happen.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Being stranded because of a fuel pump is no fun. I was driving around with my sister and my mom, when her fuel pump died on her randomly while going up an exit ramp, nearly getting struck by dozens of cars not paying attention as they go around the corner, where we were stuck. Hopefully you get it sorted out!

 

[Dave Hess]

Some Fords have very 'buzzy' fuel pumps and 'hissing' power steering pumps from the factory.

When I had a 5.0 Mustang, even when the car was brand new, people would always comment on how loud the fuel pump sounded.

I had the car for 8 years and the fuel pump only got louder as the car got older.

 

[TallPaul]

My Ford pickup has a low hum. My Chevy motorhome has a high pitched and fast whine.

 

[TallPaul]

Not a Delphi, but they installed a Motorcraft. Thats good! It is starting fine so far. Hopefully problem is solved.

 

[cowsareholy]

the pump in my taurus sho was very loud and didnt hold pressure when i shut off the car had to prime it a few time after it sat. it lasted almost 20k miles like that but i know i should of changed it out. well on monday i was dropping off an accident report off 60 miles from my house and when i got back into the car turn the key no start no pump noise. i get out kick the fuel tank and get it started. it ran for a few mins and had to get out and kick it again but made it to a shop. had to wait almost 3 hours to get the car in and had to wait another hour to get the pump dropped off. 300$ for a job i could of done for 100$. and i had my 2year old with me.