Replacing Fuel Pump In Chevy Impala: Step-By-Step Guide

If you need to change the fuel pump on a 2001 Chevy Impala, you can access the assembly through the trunk of the car without the need to drop the tank. With all the necessary tools and replacement parts on hand, you may change the fuel pump in your Impala in a couple of hours.

Accessing the fuel pump assembly

To access the fuel pump assembly in a 2001 Chevy Impala, you don't need to drop the gas tank. Instead, follow these steps:

Park your Impala on level ground in a well-ventilated area and open the hood. Remove the sight shield from the top of the engine using a ratchet and socket if equipped. Loosen the fuel tank filler cap and disconnect the ground (black) battery cable with a wrench.

Next, locate the Schrader valve at the beginning of the fuel feed pipe on the fuel rail. Wrap a shop rag around the valve and depress the inside stem with a flat-head screwdriver, allowing the fuel to drain into the rag. Replace the sight shield.

Now, move to the trunk of the car. Remove the spare tire and any other items from the trunk, then take out the trunk carpet. Locate the fuel sender/pump access panel on the floor of the trunk and unfasten the nuts using a ratchet and socket. Remove the access panel.

Through the access hole, unplug the fuel tank pressure sensor and fuel sender from the assembly. Disconnect the hoses from the fuel sender/pump assembly. For hoses with plastic connectors, press the tabs and pull the hose off. For hoses with metal connectors, use the appropriate tool set.

With the hoses disconnected, you can now access the fuel sender/pump assembly. Rotate and unlock the retaining ring holding the assembly to the fuel tank using a drift punch and a hammer. Lift the retaining ring and assembly out of the fuel tank, and discard the large O-ring seal between the tank and assembly.

At this point, you can remove the old fuel pump from the assembly and install the new one. Reassemble the components in the reverse order, ensuring all connections are secure.

This process should allow you to access and replace the fuel pump assembly in your 2001 Chevy Impala without dropping the gas tank.

Removing the fuel pump

To remove the fuel pump from a 2001 Chevy Impala, first park your car on level ground in a well-ventilated area and open the hood. Remove the sight shield from the top of the engine using a ratchet and socket, if your car is equipped with one. Loosen the fuel tank filler cap and disconnect the black, ground battery cable with a wrench.

Next, locate the Schrader valve at the beginning of the fuel feed pipe on the fuel rail. This is the rail that feeds the fuel injectors. Wrap a shop rag around the Schrader valve and depress the inside stem with a flat-head screwdriver. Use the rag to catch any fuel that comes out of the valve. After that, replace the sight shield to the top of the engine.

Now, go to the trunk of your Impala and remove the spare tire and other items. Take out the carpet from the trunk. Unfasten the nuts from the fuel sender/pump access panel on the floor of the trunk using a ratchet and socket, and remove the access panel.

Through the access hole, unplug the fuel tank pressure sensor and fuel sender from the assembly. Disconnect the hoses from the fuel sender/pump assembly. On hoses with plastic connectors, press the tabs and pull the hose from its fitting. On hoses with metal connectors, use tool set J 37088-A.

Rotate and unlock the retaining ring holding the fuel sender/pump assembly to the fuel tank using a drift punch and a hammer. Lift the retaining ring and fuel sender/pump assembly out of the fuel tank. Locate the large O-ring seal between the fuel tank and the assembly and discard it.

Finally, remove the fuel pump from the assembly using a pair of needle-nose pliers and a flat-head screwdriver.

Installing the new fuel pump

To install the new fuel pump, mount the pump on the assembly using a pair of needle-nose pliers and a flat-head screwdriver. Swing the float arm on the assembly and make sure the pump strainer is not in the way. Adjust it if necessary. Place a new assembly O-ring seal. Insert the fuel sender/pump assembly into the fuel tank and verify that the pump strainer is not twisted. Then, rotate the retaining ring with the drift punch and hammer to lock the assembly to the fuel tank.

Connect the hoses to the fuel sender/pump assembly by pushing the hose connectors against their fittings. On hoses with plastic connectors, push the hose from its fitting. On hoses with metal connectors, use tool set J 37088-A. Plug the fuel tank pressure sensor and fuel sender to the assembly. Tighten the fuel tank filler cap and connect the ground (black) battery cable using a wrench.

Turn the ignition to the “On” position for two seconds, then to the off position for 10 seconds. Turn the ignition back to the “On” position and check for gas leaks around the tank. Finally, turn off the ignition.

Securing the fuel tank

To secure the fuel tank of a 2001 Chevy Impala, you must first park the car on level ground in a well-ventilated area and open the hood. Remove the sight shield from the top of the engine using a ratchet and socket. Next, loosen the fuel tank filler cap and disconnect the black, ground battery cable with a wrench.

Now, locate the Schrader valve at the beginning of the fuel feed pipe on the fuel rail. Wrap a shop rag around the valve and depress the inside stem with a flat-head screwdriver, allowing the fuel to drain into the rag. Once complete, replace the sight shield.

Remove the spare tire and other items from the trunk, followed by the carpet. Unfasten the nuts from the fuel sender/pump access panel on the trunk floor with a ratchet and socket, and remove the access panel. You can now unplug the fuel tank pressure sensor and fuel sender from the assembly through the access hole.

Disconnect the hoses from the fuel sender/pump assembly. For hoses with plastic connectors, press the tabs and pull the hose from its fitting. If the connectors are metal, use tool set J 37088-A.

Rotate and unlock the retaining ring holding the fuel sender/pump assembly to the fuel tank using a drift punch and a hammer. Lift the retaining ring and assembly out of the fuel tank, and discard the large O-ring seal between the tank and the assembly.

Finally, remove the fuel pump from the assembly using a pair of needle-nose pliers and a flat-head screwdriver.

Replacing trunk items

To replace the fuel pump on a 2001 Chevy Impala, you will need to access the trunk. There are a few ways to do this.

Using the Trunk Open Button

Most Impala models have a trunk button somewhere on the dashboard. Usually, it’s located on the driver’s side, next to or below the headlight controls to the left of the steering wheel. If you can’t find the button, consult your owner’s manual. Not all Chevy Impalas have this feature, so if the manual doesn’t mention it, it probably wasn’t integrated into the vehicle.

To open the trunk with the button, simply press it, and you should hear a click that indicates the trunk latch has disengaged. Even with the button, you will still need to get out of the vehicle to access the trunk itself.

Lowering the Back Seats

In most newer models of the Chevy Impala, the backrest is separated into two segments in a roughly 60:40 ratio. You can usually see a dividing line between segments on the back seat.

Segmented seats typically indicate that they can be lowered to make more trunk space or get into the trunk from the inside. You can usually find a lever next to the shoulder area of the back seats, close to the doors, or the trunk.

Pull the lever, and the seats should snap forward a bit. Then, you can lower the seats down manually. If there’s a protective mesh or cover separating the trunk and back seat areas, you will need to remove it.

The lever is a single solid piece. If you find a cable or wire near the seats, it’s most likely an electrical wire connected to the back of the vehicle, so don’t detach it.

With the seats lowered, you should be able to get into the trunk. You may need to remove the entire back seat if there’s not enough room. Once you get into the trunk, you can open it from the inside by pulling the emergency lever or pushing a screwdriver into a hole above the trunk latch and rotating it.

Sometimes, the back seat isn’t segmented but you can still lower it to access the trunk. Check the shoulder edges of the seats for the lever. You can also consult the owner’s manual to verify your car has the lever installed and learn where to find it.

In older models of Chevy Impalas (from the 2000s), you cannot lower the back seat unless you purchased a more advanced model. You’ll need to take out the entire back seat to get access to the trunk. The back seats have handles under them. You need to push on the handles to disengage the seat, then pull it out. Seats are also screwed or tightened to the vehicle, so you’ll need to undo all the screws and all nuts to be able to take the seat out fully.

The steps for removing the back seat are just a recommendation, and the exact placement of the seat locks holding it in place will differ depending on your car model. Confer with your manufacturer’s manual or a qualified mechanic for precise information, and use the tools the manual recommends.

Frequently asked questions