Fuel Pump

[Nylah]

My SIL (former heavy duty mechanic) has told me that if you let your fuel get too low you can damage your fuel pump.

Well last week that happened I couldnt get my gas cover to pop open and I had to drop something off for a friend.

My fuel light was on but I have a feature that tells me how many kilometres I can drive before it is truly empty. Well, while on my way home the reading went from 15Km to zero in a blip

I turned off to find a gas station to fill up. As I was driving though the car was sounding really rough and acceleration was sluggish. I though I was going to stall just before the gas station.

I finally got the gas cover to pop off and filled up.

However, my car has been running roughly ever since. The engine is normally quiet as a mouse but now it is sluggish to start and sluggish to accelerate when I am beginning out.

Could it be the fuel pump you think?

P.S. I do maintenance on my car like clock work and I have no issues.

[Emperah]

Re: Fuel Pump

could be.
I let mine go right down to fumes nuff times myself.

If you find it is make them put in a better fuel pump next time.

[Nylah]

Re: Fuel Pump



oh for real?

I need to do my 40K tune up plus get the body work done next week, so I'll ask them to take a look and let me know.

[Emperah]

Re: Fuel Pump

tune up.

yuh kno all now I'm @ 251k and i haven't had one of those yet.
No point in doing it when everything is working right.
OOOO wait, maybe it's a tune up you need.

[Nylah]

Re: Fuel Pump


I doubt it because I do mine every 6K and I have never heard my engine sound like this before.

[Emperah]

Re: Fuel Pump

you don't do a tune up every 6K?

[Nylah]

Re: Fuel Pump



yes

[halfwaytree]

Re: Fuel Pump

Are you hearing a hight pitched noise from the back of the vehicle or from under the back seat?

Could also be a clogged fuel filter which is causing it to act that way, this could have been brought on by the fact that the car was run right down to the empty mark.

[Nylah]

Re: Fuel Pump



there is a high-pitched noise that orginates from the back when I start the car. I dont hear it afterwards.

My brother heard it as well when we both were standing outside the car when someone else started the car. It happened twice, so I dont know it that is the same as what you are referring to?

I did read that a flush might be necessary...?

[halfwaytree]

Re: Fuel Pump

High pitched noise coming from the back <span style="font-weight: bold">COULD</span> mean it is the fuel pump.

[Nylah]

Re: Fuel Pump



okay. I'll see when I get it checked out.

thanks guys.

[j-kid]

Re: Fuel Pump

Gas has contaminants in it. If you are in the habit of filling up at say half tank, those contaminants can build up at the bottom of the tank, and never gets flushed, similar to someone who regularly runs their tank down to &quot;E&quot;, or a quarter tank.

Also, you could just have gone to a station with bad gas by pure coincidence (for example: moisture in the fuel), or got E-85 by mistake and the car can't handle flex-fuel.

If I were you, I would first go to the auto parts store and buy some fuel system cleaner and pour it into a full tank of gas and drive it for a while. Your injector(s) may have gotten fouled. If it is bad gas you either have to run it out, or have it pumped out. Too much sulfur content in the gas can also cause fouling of components.

By the way, the momentary noise you hear when you first turn the key is normal. That is the pump priming. If the noise becomes constant, then that is not a good sign, and indicates fuel pump trouble.

[Magician]

Re: Fuel Pump

That's the first ting weh cross mi mind Jkid. All the suds from the bottom of the tank get stir up.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Fuel Pump

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dahJahPawtTwo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">tune up.

yuh kno all now I'm @ 251k and i haven't had one of those yet.
No point in doing it when everything is working right.
OOOO wait, maybe it's a tune up you need.

</div></div>Where you get the idea that any car being built today need a tune up at 40M Km? Todays Cars are designed to do their first tune uo ar 160M Km+.

It seem to be a matter of condensatuin in the tank.

What she need to do is to run the car low before the next fill up and add a can of deicer.

Then run it for a whole and then fill up.

[Nylah]

Re: Fuel Pump

you guys are a wealth of information

I normally fill up because I hate the pumping gas business but I do let my tank run very close to E before I fill up again.

My brother just told me I should have &quot;pumped&quot; the ignition switch a few times before pulling out and driving. But since I didnt know that before I'll just keep in mind for next time.

The car needs to go to the dealership next week to get the body work done, so I will get them to sort me out.

My car normally purrs when I drive and right now it sounds like a supped up mustang

P.S. I checked my manual and it is an oil change and fluid check that I get done every 6K. I just bring it in when they tell me and done.