What are the symptoms of a bad fuel pump in the car?

The engine of a car burns the mixture of fuel and air in the combustion chamber to generate the mechanical energy required to move a car. The fuel pump is an essential component of the car which helps to deliver the fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine. The fuel pump is of two types based on the working principle. The Carbureted engine uses a mechanical pump that is located outside of the engine. It delivers low-pressure fuel to the carburetor. However, a fuel-injected engine uses an electric fuel pump which is located inside the fuel tank and delivers highly pressurized fuel to the fuel injectors.

The fuel pump ensures continuous fuel supply to the combustion chamber of the engine. So, mechanical problems in the fuel pump might disrupt the fuel supply to the combustion chamber of the engine which could impair the engine. So, warning signs which show that the malfunction should not be neglected. Such errors should be detected and repaired immediately to ensure continuous fuel supply to the engine.

Working principle of the fuel pump:

The working principle of a fuel pump is similar to that of the heart. The working principle is different than the working principle of an electric pump. The mechanical pump is operated by the camshaft. Rotation of camshaft helps to create suction inside the fuel pump which draws fuel from the fuel pipe to the pump through the inlet valve. Similarly, the fuel moves from the pump to the combustion chamber through an exit valve. The inlet valve prevents the backward flow of the fuel.

An electrical pump gets power required to pump the fuel from a solenoid. Other valves and tube arrangements in an electric pump are similar to that of a mechanical pump.

Symptoms of a bad fuel pump:

Malfunctions in the fuel pump might disrupt fuel supply to the engine and could bring down the vehicle to a halt in the middle of nowhere. So, symptoms which indicate that the fuel pump has mechanical errors should not be ignored. It should be repaired immediately.

Unusual noise from the fuel tank:

The appearance of unusual sound from the fuel tank is an early indication of a damaged fuel pump. So, such an important sign should not be overlooked. The reason behind the appearance of such sound from the fuel tank should be detected immediately.

Spitting sound from the engine:

It is another important warning symptom which indicates that the fuel pump might have some sort of mechanical error. A damaged pump could not supply the fuel continuously to the engine. An insufficient amount of fuel in the combustion chamber might be responsible for the appearance of such a warning sign.

Poor gas mileage:

Issues in the valve operations in the fuel pump are solely responsible for the pumping of excess amounts of fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine. The excess amount of fuel inside the combustion chamber of the engine doesn't generate more power. However, it causes the emission of excess amounts of unburned hydrocarbons to the atmosphere. So, faulty valves in the pump should be repaired.

Difficult to start:

A damaged fuel pump could not supply fuel to the engine continuously. Difficulty starting is another common symptom of a bad fuel pump in the car. Besides, driving a vehicle with an abnormal pump might bring down the vehicle to a halt in the middle of nowhere. So, such a damaged fuel pump should be repaired or replaced immediately.

Fuel pumps maintenance:

A fuel pump needs regular maintenance to work efficiently. The deposition of sludge or other kinds of contaminants might have negative impacts on the performance of a fuel pump. So, efforts should be made to prevent the deposition of sludge or other kinds of contaminants in the fuel pump to keep it in working order. Besides, the damaged fuel pump should be repaired immediately.

Key takeaways:

The fuel pump plays an important role as it ensures continuous fuel supply to the internal combustion chamber of the engine. A damaged fuel pump could not do its job efficiently which could bring down the vehicle to a halt in the middle of nowhere. So, warning signs which indicate that the fuel pump has mechanical errors should not be ignored. It should be repaired or replaced immediately to ensure continuous power supply to the internal combustion chamber of the engine.

We at Professional Automotive have more than 22 years of experience in handling Asian, Domestic and European automobiles. We provide the best auto repair service for Marlborough, Hudson, Southborough, Sudbury, Northborough and other surrounding areas