Unfortunately, you won’t get very far if your fuel pump is malfunctioning or dying. This is because the pump is unable to draw the fuel out of the tank so it can be moved through to the engine. Central Auto Care lists the signs of a malfunctioning or dying fuel pump below. If your car, truck, or utility vehicle is experiencing any of these problems, we can help.
1. High Engine Temperatures
Oddly, your engine overheating is a sign that your fuel pump is malfunctioning. When the fuel pump is unable to draw enough fuel through it, the motor will overheat. The hotter the fuel pump motor gets the hotter your engine gets. Once the engine overheats, it will also stall.
2. High-Speed Engine Sputters
You may also notice difficulty driving at high speeds. This is because the faster you go the more fuel your engine needs. If the fuel pump is unable to push the fuel through to the engine, your vehicle will sputter when you are driving at high speeds.
3. Inability to Start the Engine
If the fuel pump has died completely, you won’t be able to get your engine started at all. Naturally, a dead fuel pump cannot introduce fuel into the engine and, as such, your vehicle cannot ignite the air and fuel in the combustion chamber.
4. Low Fuel Pressure
You can test your fuel pump by testing your vehicle’s fuel pressure. If you purchase a gauge at the auto parts store, you can test the fuel pressure yourself if you want to. Check your owner’s manual for the desired fuel pressure and then check it to see if it is within that range. If it isn’t, your fuel pump is dying.
5. Reduced Fuel Economy
The fuel pump can also leak or get stuck in the open position. When this happens, you have a constant flow of fuel into the engine that can flood it. The combustion chamber will burn away the excess fuel as best it can, but, consequently, this will reduce your fuel economy.
6. Sporadic Engine Surges
You may also notice that your engine will surge sporadically if there is too much fuel in it. This can be disconcerting because you aren’t applying excess pressure to the accelerator to pick up speed yet your engine picks up speed.
7. Stress Power Loss
Finally, if the fuel pump is not providing enough fuel to the engine, your vehicle will lose power when the engine is under stress. This includes times that you tow things and drive on mountain roads.
Central Auto Care in Okotoks, AB, would be happy to inspect your fuel pump if you suspect it is malfunctioning or dying. Give us a call today to set up a service appointment.