so when do the fuel pumps on these cars go out???

Foxfan88

Foxfan88

My Grandpa has great wood.
Sep 13, 2004
2,487
4
0
Miami, Ok
#1
car just rolled over 139k miles.
Ran just fine and dandy last night. this morning, the car runs like ASS!
sputters and the rpms go crazy and there seems to be a wall. the car wont rev past 2k at all.

a couple days ago i ran out of gas, and i couldnt figure out what was wrong, i tried to start the car numerous times and finally it wouldnt start and i noticed the fuel pump make a different whine, then it hit me, i was out of gas.

ever since then the fuel pump sounds different, sounds like it may be a little weaker. Think trying to start it with out gas at all killed the pump??

We thought it may have sucked up junk from the bottom of the tank and clogged the fuel filter, i changed the fuel filter today, still does it.

I am stumped, tomorrow i am going to dig in more since i will have more time. I will check the plugs, see if any are fouled out. and check fuel pressure...
what should stock fuel psi be? around 45?

here is another detail.
we've been on christmas break the last 2 weeks. I have slept in so when i start the car for the first time in the day, its usually not too cold. This morning, i was up at 7 and it was pretty cold, windows were frosted over. The car hadnt been started up in that cold of weather for like 2-3 weeks, think this may be a part of the problem??

if this is a stock pump, which i am almost certain it is, does 139k miles sound about right for it going out or what.

Just kind of stumped me, ran just fine yesterday and this morning ran like ass.

this may sound crazy, but i kind of hope the pump went bad, might as well replace it with a performance piece, get a FPR and also a great chance the fix my gas guage while i am at it!
 
#2
usally pumps die because of lack of gas around them. it may sound wierd but the gas in you fuel tank is actually the cooling factor for the fuel pump. run your tank out of gas 2 many times and over-heat the pump and it is bound to die on you. sounds like you got a long life out of it. time to upgrade with a bigger pump to supply the fuel to keep future mods happy.
 
#5
You can use a FP gauge to confirm it is the pump. As said, the gasoline is not only what cools the pump, but it is the lubricant for the diaphram.

You can get new Walbro pumps (OEM manufacturer) for not very much money. Might want to replace your fuel tank grommet while you are at it (20 bucks at the dealer).

David (5spd GT) has a nice write up floating around for doing the pump.

Good luck.
 
#6
86bluecobra said:
usally pumps die because of lack of gas around them. it may sound wierd but the gas in you fuel tank is actually the cooling factor for the fuel pump. run your tank out of gas 2 many times and over-heat the pump and it is bound to die on you. sounds like you got a long life out of it. time to upgrade with a bigger pump to supply the fuel to keep future mods happy.
Click to expand...

Yup,the circulating fuel cools the pump.

Run the tank dry,the pump will keep runing and burn up.

Though it might have been a coincidense,and your pump was going anyways.
 
#7
86bluecobra said:
usally when a fuel pump goes your car doesn't start or at least that has always been my experience with pumps going.
Click to expand...

Same here...When mine went about a month ago which was when it was like 15 degrees outside:mad: I just got back from a 2 minute test drive after doing my lifters and it was idling and i was playing with my timing and all of a sudden it stalled, and when i tried to start it sputtered a few times then that was it, I noticed the pump had a much deeper lower buzz to it and had a sound as if the battery was running out of juice and i looked at my fp gauge and it didnt even move when i hotwired the pump to turn on. I had to admit i was really low on gas so that was probably the cherry on top of the sundae if that made sense. I popped in a Holley 255lph pump and started right up. It really was not hard at all to change... only hard part was putting the tank back up but i was also doing it without a jack or anything, me and my friend had to bench press the tank up which was no fun in 20 degree weather:nonono: I was planning on changing it anyway and now i can actually hear the pump whining even with my engine running if ur standing at my trunk...it doesnt have a normal BUUZZZZZZ....Mines more like a BBBEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPP...sounds pretty cool though :D


Oh yea you can hotwire the pump to turn on...go to the data link connector, the black trapezoid looking thing that u plug a code reader into...run a wire from the bottom right spot to a good ground and that will turn the pump on.
 
#8
hows the holley pumps... they have a 155lph pump for abour 80$ on summit

not the biggest flowing pump, but i think will do well for what i need it for, my car is going to be N/A for the time being anyway. Would you guys reccommend a pressure regulator also???

also any performance gains with a good pump and regulator???
worth it to run more fuel pressure that stock??
 
#10
Foxfan88 said:
hows the holley pumps... they have a 155lph pump for abour 80$ on summit

not the biggest flowing pump, but i think will do well for what i need it for, my car is going to be N/A for the time being anyway. Would you guys reccommend a pressure regulator also???

also any performance gains with a good pump and regulator???
worth it to run more fuel pressure that stock??
Click to expand...
Pretty much all pumps are made by Walbro. I have a Holley 255 it says Walbro right on it.
 
#11
These guys can confirm it, but AFAIK, BBK pumps are Walbros, as are Holley pumps (the walbro name can be found on the side of the pump). The pumps just get repackaged.

Oops, I was beat to the punch. :)
 
#12
Foxfan88 said:
hows the holley pumps... they have a 155lph pump for abour 80$ on summit

not the biggest flowing pump, but i think will do well for what i need it for, my car is going to be N/A for the time being anyway. Would you guys reccommend a pressure regulator also???

also any performance gains with a good pump and regulator???
worth it to run more fuel pressure that stock??
Click to expand...


The kit was very nice, had the rubber isloator, new curved fuel line, new harness, new butt connectors, 2 hose clamps, pump and new o ring and everything else u needed. Although i paid for it because i wanted to get the BBK instead which was alot cheaper but my place only carried Holley instock, go figure they carried the most expensive brand in stock only:bs: It came to like 150 with everything, I had to get my stang on the road to get to school so i paid the extra cash and got the one they had in stock.

I doubt youll gain much for a bigger pump especially with stock injectors and such, i forget what ur combo is...But its well worth the protection of not leaning out and blowing ur motor and i would think ahead and buy one and thats it. I was gonna get a 190lph since im N/A also but someday ill be going boost so i just got the 255lph instead and its also the same price i think. It will go along with any better mods u do in the future.
 
#14
They can be very loud or quiet in my experience. It really depends upon the actual pump and the car. Newer ones are normally quieter, but not always.

I can hear them from behind the car if the exhaust is not too loud.
 
#16
Fuel pump and or regulator are not going to increase HP regardless of pump size and pressure setting..though you will need to be running the stock setting. Two words for you young man.."gas gauge"...:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Electrical Why does my fox body keep frying eecs
Replies
8
Views
264
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
AeroCoupe
AeroCoupe
F
2004 Mustang GT – Fuel Pump Not Priming
Replies
7
Views
309
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
n0v8or
N
M
01 mustang 3.8 fuel pressure issue
Replies
0
Views
161
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Mhaley2006
M
B
Engine Another no start after washing engine bay
Replies
24
Views
722
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
AeroCoupe
AeroCoupe
djj62478
Fox won't crank over and fuel pump won't kick on.
Replies
16
Views
358
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
General karthief
General karthief
Top Bottom
Back
Forums
Menu