Fuel Pump Replacement in Wichita KS

Automotive Fuel Pump Replacement Service near Wichita KS: The fuel pump’s task is to send fuel from your car’s gas tank to the engine. Fuel pumps are typically powered electrically and can be located either in or on the car’s fuel tank. A1 Mobile Mechanics Of Wichita, The convenience and cost of fuel pump replacement is based on the vehicle’s design. Deciding to replace a fuel pump should occur only after it has been determined that the problem with the car is not electrical or related to something else.

The clearest indication that your fuel pump is not working is that your car will not start. (Not surprising if fuel is not getting to the engine.) One way to know if the fuel pump is faulty is if you switch the ignition on and you cannot hear the pump motor activating within the gas tank. Another sign is periodic loss of driving power, especially when acceleration or while traveling at highway speed. If the fuel pump seems to be alright the issue might be that the fuel pickup device in the fuel tank has become blocked and cannot deliver enough gasoline.

With a little good luck, your pump will endure just fine for the whole lifespan of your car. Fuel pumps are not typically a routine maintenance item, so replacement is usually done only as needed. A1 Mobile Mechanics Of Wichita, Some vehicle owners opt to replace as part of preventive maintenance, but until the pump shows signs of malfunctioning there is typically no reason to do it. Many cars have filters that can get clogged, so the filter should be looked at and replaced if needed when a car is diagnosed due to issues with its pump.

If your car or truck is having trouble starting or hesitates during acceleration, don’t risk getting stranded. Bring it to our A1 Mobile Mechanics Of Wichita shop for affordable and fast service.

How to remove and replace your fuel pump

Automotive Fuel Pump Replacement Service near Wichita KS: Replacing a fuel pump won’t look the same for every vehicle, but these basic steps are a good place to start.

First, make sure your vehicle doesn’t have an access panel that will allow you to access the pump without removing the tank. We’ll show you what to do if you do need to drop the tank.

Safety first

We always put safety first, so make sure you’re thorough and careful. Don’t forget to wear safety glasses and gloves. Give yourself room to work and have cleanup materials ready to clean any spills immediately. Work in a well-ventilated area away from an open flame or anything that could cause a spark or ignite fuel, such as pilot lights and incandescent light bulbs. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher on hand. Don’t smoke, either. Always relieve fuel pressure prior to opening fuel systems because releasing fuel under pressure can cause fire and injury. Store fuel in an approved container like a gas caddy or gas can.

Procedure for replacing your fuel pump

• First, you’ll need to lift the vehicle so you can remove the tank. If there’s gas in the tank, you’ll have to drain it into an approved container first.
• It’s important to clean the tank thoroughly during the repair.
• Next, remove the clamps from the fill lines and then remove the fill lines as you prepare to drop the gas tank. You can use a rag to avoid getting dirt in the tank. Make sure to support the tank as you remove the straps and carefully lower the gas tank.
• Carefully lowering the gas tank
• Carefully remove the straps and lower the tank.
• Next, you’ll need to disconnect the wire connectors and fuel lines that connect to the module. Clean the top of the tank, and then remove the pump retaining ring.
• Remove the pump assembly so you can replace it with a brand-new part. Keep in mind that some fuel pumps require parts to be transferred from the old unit.
• And then you just need to reverse the procedure. Get the pump installed and the pump retaining ring back in place and raise the tank close to the vehicle so you can reconnect the wire connectors and fuel lines. Reconnect the straps and fill lines with the tank properly positioned. Partially fill the tank and run the vehicle so that you can inspect for any leaks.
• And you’ve done it. Just be careful and follow safety precautions and you can be back on the road in no time. Don’t forget to replace the fuel filter as well so that your new pump will run smoothly.

A fuel pump’s primary task is to deliver fuel from the storage tank to the engine, and works with multiple other auto parts to accomplish that duty. That can make it difficult to know whether or not it’s failing, unless you know the symptoms of a bad fuel pump.

The most important key to diagnosing a car is listening and understanding how it normally works, runs, and acts on a daily basis. What sounds does it make? What rattles? What are its normal RPMs?  With this knowledge base, and an attentive mindset, you’ll notice when the vehicle starts running irregularly.

Realizing the vehicle starts hard, struggles to maintain idle, or flexes less power is the first step in accepting there’s an issue and setting out to fix it. Because so many car parts are interconnected and interdependent, diagnosis is not always a simple exercise. It requires trial and error, and pinpointing the exact source often requires the process of elimination.

That’s what we’re here to discuss, in regards to fuel pumps. Follow The A1 Mobile Mechanics Of Wichita’s thorough guide to bad fuel pump symptoms and figure out what the heck is going on with your ride.

Types of Fuel Pumps

Automobiles have primarily transitioned away from mechanical pumps on the engine block in old cars to electric pumps inside the gas tank on modern vehicles. Below, we break down the various types of pumps and how they work.

Mechanical fuel pump: A mechanical fuel pump uses positive displacement with a plunger or a diaphragm. In a cyclical action, the pump draws in fuel, traps it, then moves that fuel toward the carb and engine, and repeats the process.

• Electric fuel pump: An electronic fuel injection system on modern vehicles requires higher pressure, which is accomplished, in part, by using an electric fuel pump rather than a mechanical module. Here are a few examples of electric pumps:
• In-tank: The majority of new vehicles sold today use fuel pumps that are located inside the fuel tank. This helps protect the module, and the gas helps keep it cool.
• Inline: Much easier to replace than an in-tank pump, an inline pump is located between the gas tank and the engine and is installed within the fuel system track. These are often mounted under the car or in the engine bay.
• Rotary vane: Like mechanical pumps, rotary vane pumps use positive displacement to move the fuel along. Inside a rotary vane pump, a rotor with paddles operates off-center within a cavity. Because it is off-center, it creates a crescent-shaped pocket of space that lets the fuel in. The vanes close the small amount of fuel as the rotor moves, and release the fuel once it crosses the outlet valve. Different types of vane pumps include rolling vane, sliding vane, flexible vane, and swinging vane.
• Gerotor: A gerotor pump also uses positive displacement but uses different parts to achieve that method. Within a gerotor pump, there are two interlocking gears, a toothed inner gear and an outer ring gear with smooth curved lobes. The inner gear is offset from the outer gear. Thus, when they rotate, small pockets of fuel can be trapped, pressurized, and released.

When Should You Have The Fuel Pump Replaced?

Automotive Fuel Pump Replacement Service near Wichita KS: There are several common signs which indicate an issue with the fuel pump. The most common symptom is the engine sputtering when the car is being driven at a high speed, particularly over an extended period of time. The car will generally run well for around 10 minutes before the issue becomes apparent, and it will usually subside after a minute of two. The sputtering is caused by the pump failing to provide a consistent stream of fuel to the engine, usually a symptom of low pressure in the pump.

Another common symptom is that the vehicle will lose power when accelerating, not unlike the symptoms experienced when travelling at high speeds. The car will usually start to accelerate normally before jerking around and sputtering, then it should return to the normal acceleration pattern. Again, the lack of pressure in the pump means the engine isn’t getting the steady stream of fuel needed to accelerate.

A faulty fuel pump can also cause the vehicle to lose power during times of stress, such as accelerating up a hill or pulling a load behind the car. This is caused by the fuel pump failing to meet the increased demand for fuel, and can cause stuttering or a loss of power. Another common symptom is for the engine to surge without driver intervention, much like stepping heavily on the accelerator, moving the car forward unexpectedly. This is usually caused by a worn out pump which struggles to draw the electricity needed to maintain a constant supply of fuel. It will occasionally ratchet up the pressure unexpectedly, resulting in a surge from the engine.

The most severe symptom is the vehicle failing to start at all. If the previous symptoms are ignored for an extended period of time, the chances are the owner of the vehicle will end up in this situation. When the pump fails completely there will be no fuel reaching the engine during ignition, meaning the engine won’t start at all.

What Is Done During Fuel Pump Replacement?

• The first step is to remove the pressure from the fuel pump. Turning the engine off won’t remove the pressure, so it will have to be done manually before the repair can take place.
• The negative terminal to the battery will need to be removed to avoid any possible sparks during the repair.
• There are two common types of pump, either inside the gas tank or mounted just in front of it, underneath the car. This can be found by either checking under the car or following the fuel line from the tank to the pump.
• The insulating sleeve will need to be removed to allow access to the pump. This should be loosened and allowed to drop slightly ahead of the removal.
• Once the pump has been located, everything needs to be disconnected from it before it can be removed.
• First, the fuel lines will be removed. There will be a line in and a line out, otherwise known and the low pressure and high pressure ends. The hose clamp will need to be loosened and removed before the lines can be disconnected.
• Finally, the power wires should be removed from the fuel pump. There will be two wires, positive and ground, which need to be disconnected. These are usually held in place by small bolts or screws, and it should be a straightforward task.
• Once it’s all disconnected the old pump can be removed. The new pump will be put in place, and everything will be reconnected. Once it’s all hooked up the mechanic will perform a few tests to make sure it’s performing as expected.