| For older models, it wasn't hard to detect when your | | | | for whatever reason, it was actually the wiring that |
| fuel pump was going out, and it was almost as easy | | | | failed, not the pump itself. The only way you could |
| to replace. There were two spots where you can | | | | tell that something was amiss, other than you |
| find the fuel pump, either somewhere near the | | | | couldn't get your vehicle started, was that electrical |
| underside of the block, or attached to the head, near | | | | fuel pumps could be heard working. You could actually |
| the camshaft. How these pumps work is that the | | | | hear it whirring, if it was working. |
| pump unit consisting of a one-way valve, and a | | | | Instead of having to pull the whole fuel tank off to |
| diaphragm that moved up and down with a pump | | | | get at the pump, you can pick up inline pumps, that |
| handle, mounted inside the block, resting against a | | | | totally by-pass the main pump, and is placed along |
| part of the crankshaft. When the crankshaft turns, it | | | | the firewall in the engine compartment. You connect |
| makes the pump handle move up and down, pumping | | | | the fuel lines, and connect it to a power source. If |
| fuel from the tank to the carburetor. | | | | you don't know how to tie it all into your wiring |
| These car parts weren't very hard to replace, and | | | | system, so it only came on when the motor was |
| the main thing that usually went wrong was either | | | | started, you could put a kill switch, somewhere either |
| the handle mechanism, or the internal diaphragm. You | | | | close to the battery or mounted somewhere in the |
| could tell right away, loss of fuel to the motor, the | | | | dash. Newer vehicles with fuel injection have a slightly |
| heavy smell of gasoline, and you could actually see | | | | different fuel delivery system. Fuel comes out from |
| gas spewing out from the little breather hole. The | | | | the tank, through the pump and filter, up to the fuel |
| whole unit can be removed with some open-end | | | | injector rail, then into a fuel pressure regulator and |
| wrenches, and disconnecting the fuel lines. In front | | | | back into the tank. These systems are more |
| wheel drive vehicles, the manual fuel pump would be | | | | complicated than the older car parts, and you have |
| located by the camshaft, and the movement of the | | | | much more to deal with diagnostic wise. |
| camshaft would make the pump work. You could find | | | | First thing you should do when trying to locate the |
| car parts to replace the pump at your local junk yard, | | | | fuel problem is turn off the vehicles motor, then turn |
| as well as order them brand new. You should always | | | | the key forward, If you can hear a whirring sound or |
| replace things like fuel and oil pumps, or alternators, | | | | an electrical motor sound, chances are your pump is |
| brand new, or refurbished in some cases, never from | | | | fine. Next you need to check your fuel filter, located |
| a junk yard. | | | | either near the tank itself, or somewhere along the |
| Now when electric fuel pumps came out, there were | | | | line near the motor. The filter will usually be made |
| ups and downs to them. One the high side, fuel | | | | from a hard clear plastic, and if you can see the little |
| pumps were now fully internal, and had now outside | | | | filter inside, it needs to be replaced. If this is all right, |
| components, other than the fuel lines, and the | | | | then you would continue along the line, to the fuel rail |
| electrical connections. You never had to worry about | | | | and see if you have problems there, or with the fuel |
| the diaphragm going out, or the rod arm breaking. | | | | pressure regulator. If you still can't find the problem, |
| The problem was, for some stupid reason, someone | | | | it may be best to have a mechanic look into it. |
| thought it was a better idea to put the pump unit in | | | | If you need an inline fuel pump, fuel filter, or anything |
| the tank, and the idea probably was that now that | | | | else, you should first go to your local car parts |
| the pump was electric, it could be placed as close to | | | | retailer. With the computers they have, they can |
| the source as possible. | | | | usually find the parts you need, even if it is an older |
| The flip side was that the only way to tell that it | | | | model vehicle. |
| was going out was when it actually failed. Sometimes, | | | | |