I really think my fuel pump is weak/dying

[Synned]

Well forever I've had a crappy pinging problem...timing doesn't seem to affect it either. And I cannot help myself from thinking that my problem is just a weak fuel pump. The pinging ONLY happens when I floor it above 45. The problem has gotten progressively worse over time.
Some reasons I believe its the fuel pump:
I ran the tank dry before (whoops)
I'm a poor high school student, so I'm not going to lie...i'm almost always around 1/4 tank.
I can hear it whine loudly at idle.
I can also hear it whine sometimes under load in like third gear.

I really don't feel like running a fuel pressure line into the car to check FP while I'm driving...
Does it add up?

 

[HISSIN50]

Joe, the way I see it is: though your car doesn't have too many miles on it, the pump has been sitting in there for a bit. At some point it's probably going to take a poop, so being proactive and replacing it sooner than later (even if it doesnt fix your issue) isnt a bad idea.

 

[Synned]

Yeah, thats probably true.
How hard is it to do? Do you need like a transmission jack to raise/lower the tank? And then what you just reach in and pull the old one out? lol, I should look for a writeup. I wonder what a shop charges...

 

[95strokerPSU]

It's really not that hard and there a couple of write-ups on here and on corral.net. I just did mine last week for the second time without using a jack. The hardest part in my opinion is disconnecting the fuel feed and fuel return line. Other than that it's pretty simple and you could probably get it done by just using a Haynes manual as a reference.

 

[yellowstang1994]

From what I've always heard. Fuel pumps either work or they don't, theres no in between where they work somewhat. I was told this by a few people, so please don't flame me if I'm wrong, they seemed pretty credible. As for the noise, all fuel pumps are pretty loud. I ran a walboro 255lph on a car before and didn't use the bucket on it, you could hear that thing 10ft away from the car. It could be that the person who had your car before you didn't re-use the bucket and thats why it could be so loud. But like everyone else said, it's not too bad of an install, and they're not too much money. If it'll help you sleep at night, by all means, but I don't think it will help with your pinging problem. You could always check the FP while it's stationary, or even just kind of taping it to your windshield and driving around the neighborhood to see where it's at. You don't want to throw parts at a problem your not completely sure of and then get frustrated with the car. Maybe give us some more insight on what you checked with your pinging problem?

 

[Synned]

Well, I've had this problem for a little over a year.
Before that, the car was perfect. Never pinged once.
I have replaced the ECT, ACT, and all regular maintenance stuff. The MAF has also been replaced with another stocker just to check. O2's are new. Fuel filter is new.
If I ran out of fuel on the top end, wouldn't that cause pinging if the pump was weak?
Timing was at 14, now its at 10 and even with 91 or 93 it pings :-/.

 

[Pokageek]

Buy mine.

 

[HISSIN50]

Joe, I'd really expect a lean code to pop up if you were running out of pump, but who knows.

I'm one of the guys who has had a pump slowly take a dump (I live in a real hot climate, which can cause issues that milder temperatures won't necessarily cause). The diaphram gets weak when it's hot and volume drops. Once the pump cools off and the diaphram gets some rigidity back, it will work till it heats up again. I've limped cars around by stopping every 15 mins and waiting just as long to allow the pump to cool. The last one I did only flowed approx 1/2 the volume/minute it should have been. As soon as the truck would heat up, it would start stalling (it wouldnt even idle anymore). Let it cool and it was ok. It did this for two days before crapping all over itself.

None of that is here nor there - I only mention it in case someone has an issue and cant find the cause - don't completely rule out having a half-gone pump.

Joe, as everyone said, the pump swap is quite easy. Be sure to get a fresh tank grommet too. I just use a larger jack with a decent sized piece of wood on the pad. The jack holds the tank while you undo the brackets and manipulate around tailpipes if necessary. It's really academic except for the need to be careful with concern for sparking while removing the lockring.

I think the how-to thread has a couple articles/write-ups (David - 5 Spd GT - did a nice one, for one).
Good luck bud.

 

[95Mustang302]

if you need I have a 190lPh fuel pump i could sell ya cheap, pm me!

 

[RIO5.0]

Have the FP tested...Its a 5 minute job and will tell you if the pumps weak instantly....
I had some issues with my daughters car recently.....I had to check the pump pressure to rule out a weak pump...Rather than wait or get an appt at a local place...I pd 56.00 for a Actron fuel pressure tester at Napa..It couples right to the fuel rail and viola...instant answer...The pump was good as the pressure was right in spec...

Stop over...it'll take me 5 mins to get your answer... Seriously though, stop at a garage and see if you can get it tested...our test port is right out front...tell the guy its a tit check...