Since there are several ways a fuel pump can fail, diagnosing one is pretty darn easy: you simply keep on the look out for specific signs (loss of power under acceleration or engine sputtering at high speed). Signs that a fuel pump is failing include poor engine performance, slow or uneven acceleration and stopping (as well stalling on occasions), as one of the symptoms of this problem gradually becomes more noticeable when a car moves. This decrease in pressure includes worn internal parts or clogs, which can lead to poor fuel delivery and subsequently affect engine output.
Another common diagnostic approach includes listening for strange sounds. Strange noise coming from the gas tank — usually a fuel pump motor or blockage in the fuel line. Technicians and mechanics will tell you that this sound is louder than the normal hum, which usually hovers around 40 – 60 dB if things are good, but when pumps go bad they can be in excess of seventy because their insides are under too much strain. We also were reminded that performance fuel pumps need a steady supply of 12-14 volts for maximum output, and just dropping the car from 60′ to 50′ voltage translates in a minus20% flow rate drop… so if there is strange noise, check to see with multimeter what is really being fed through open wires behind your dash.
Fuel pressure testing reveals a weak pump With the help of a fuel pressure gauge, technicians can check if that pump is doing so with enough power. For example, if the reading is less than that provided by the manufacturer (30-35 PSI for a lot of standard cars and trucks), your pump may be going bad. Fuel pressure testers for professional use run about $50-100, or some shops check it as part of routine maintenance. A major fuel system manufacturer, Bosch recommends frequent pressure tests to both prevent operating problems and keep the flow of gas up.
A fuel pump that’s struggling to keep up with required flow during full-throttle, high-speed driving or when climbing steep hills may cause engine misfires. These problems often occur in the summer when vaporization of fuel from the heat and increased pump loads are more common. Replacing the fuel filter at 20,000 miles can decrease the amount of clogs that reduce pump efficiency and extend up to 40% in a lifespan for pumps.
Checking fuel economy gives more clues of pump condition. A significant drop in miles per gallon (MPG) is often a sign of fuel delivery problems because inadequate supply increases demand. To check for component failure, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends observing fuel economy over time to detect any patterns.
An OBD-II scanner can help you find specific fault codes associated with fuel delivery issues, which makes it a lot easier to get an accurate and timely diagnosis. Symptoms of that is a hard start, Codes had appeared such as P0087 low fuel rail/system pressure or other related codes like with p0230 primary circuit malfunction. Available on sites such as Amazon or eBay, a new OBD-II scanner will set you back somewhere between $30–$200 depending mostly upon what it can be used for… and may well save your bacon by identifying problems before they become serious ones.
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