Fuel Pump Replacement

Replacing a fuel pump in your vehicle may be a walk in the park.  Some cars have the fuel pump mounted outside the fuel tank, or have a handy access port in a convenient location like the trunk or under the back seat.  If your vehicle manufacturer was nice enough to help you out in this way, you probably don’t need a how-to article!

For the rest of us, it’s time to pull the fuel tank out of your vehicle!  Here’s a couple of tips:

Fuel Pump Replacement Tips: Removing the Fuel Tank

1. Get as much fuel out of the tank before you start as possible.  Fuel tanks are heavy an awkward enough.  The more weight you can get out of them, the better!
2. You’re working with fuel.  Keep fire and heat AWAY!  Also, when you’ve got the fuel tank open, the fumes will be strong.  Make sure you do the job where there is great ventilation.
3. The top of your fuel tank is going to be FULL of dirt.  Wear something you don’t mind destroying and do the job in an area that is easy to sweep up when you’re done.
4. There are going to be lots of relatively brittle lines and hoses that need to be removed.  Take your time and remove everything slowly and gently so you don’t break anything.  Get a good flashlight and be ready to get flexible to reach everything.

Most fuel tanks are held into the vehicle by 2 straps that are pretty easy to remove, it’s getting all the other electrical connectors and hoses for the filler neck, feed, and return line and evap system that is the challenge.  Many vehicles have specialty connectors for the hoses so make sure you get any special tools you will need before you get started.

Once you’ve got the fuel tank out, actually replacing the fuel pump is a pretty easy process.  We recommend replacing anything else you can while you’re under there so you don’t have to be hugging your gas tank again any time soon.  This would include any gasket or o-ring that seals the fuel pump backset to the tank, any short fuel lines, the fuel level sender and float, and any in-tank filters.  While you have anything apart, it may also be worth checking for power and ground at.

Before you head down the road of replacing your fuel pump it’s important to test your fuel pressures to make sure it’s the fuel pump that is actually causing the problem you’re having.  Many local auto parts stores will rent fuel pressure test kits so you can make sure you’ve actually got a bad fuel pump.

After you install your new fuel pump, consider using BlueDevil Complete Fuel System Cleaner to make sure the rest of your fuel system is working the way it should!

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fuel_pump_replacement.jpb – By Vchal – Licensed by Getty Images – Original Link