Car Won't Start? Diagnose Fuel Pump Issues Now!

If your fuel pump is out, your car will still crank but it won't start. The starter motor and battery will still function if the car cranks, but the fuel isn't getting to the engine. This can cause major performance and drivability issues with your vehicle.

Car won't start

If your car won't start, it could be because the fuel pump is damaged or clogged. If the car still cranks when the key is turned but won't start, it may be because fuel isn't getting to the engine. Or if the car starts but requires more than the average number of cranks to turn over, the fuel pump could be at fault.

If your car is sputtering or dying while driving, your fuel pump is likely the issue. A failing or failed fuel pump will cause major performance and drivability issues with your vehicle. If your fuel to air ratio is off and the cylinders aren’t getting enough fuel, then the pistons aren’t firing and your engine is struggling to move the vehicle forward.

Yes, an engine will still crank (turn over) when the fuel pump has failed. However, it won't "catch" or start. Cranking is done by the starter motor and battery so these should be good if it cranks. If it doesn't start, it can be many more issues like fuel pump, timing, compression, spark, air etc.

If your fuel pump is bad enough, your car won’t start! It's never a good sign when your car dies as you're driving. If your engine is sputtering or stalls in the middle of your drive, your fuel pump is likely the issue.

Engine sputters or stalls

If your engine is sputtering or stalls in the middle of your drive, your fuel pump is likely the issue.

The fuel pump is the starting point of the process that allows your car to move. Fuel is released from the tank, then energy is released from the fuel, which then powers the crankshaft and moves the car forward. If the fuel you’ve put into your tank can’t make its way to the engine to be mixed with air, steps two through five aren’t happening, and you’re not making progress down the road.

If your fuel to air ratio is off and the cylinders aren’t getting enough fuel, then the pistons aren’t firing and your engine is struggling to move the vehicle forward.

If the car still cranks when the key is turned but won’t start, it may be because fuel isn’t getting to the engine. Or if the car starts but requires more than the average number of cranks to turn over, the fuel pump could be at fault then too.

Yes, an engine will still crank (turn over) when the fuel pump has failed.

Lower gas mileage

If your fuel pump is out, you may experience lower gas mileage. This is because the fuel pump is responsible for sending fuel to the engine. If the fuel isn't getting to the engine, the engine will struggle to move the vehicle forward. This can cause the pistons not to fire and the vehicle to sputter or die while driving.

A failing or failed fuel pump will cause major performance and drivability issues with your vehicle. If your fuel to air ratio is off and the cylinders aren't getting enough fuel, then the pistons aren't firing and your engine is struggling to move the vehicle forward.

If your vehicle is struggling to start or isn't starting at all, your fuel pump may be damaged or clogged. If the car still cranks when the key is turned but won't start, it may be because fuel isn't getting to the engine. Or if the car starts but requires more than the average number of cranks to turn over, the fuel pump could be at fault then too.

If your engine is sputtering or stalls in the middle of your drive, your fuel pump is likely the issue. A bad fuel pump can cause the car to crank, but not "catch" or start. Cranking is done by the starter motor and battery so these should be good if it cranks. If it doesn't start, it can be many more issues like fuel pump, timing, compression, spark, air etc.

Fuel to air ratio is off

If your fuel to air ratio is off and the cylinders aren’t getting enough fuel, then the pistons aren’t firing and your engine is struggling to move the vehicle forward.

The car won’t start. If the vehicle is struggling to start or isn’t starting at all, your fuel pump may be damaged or clogged. If the car still cranks when the key is turned but won’t start, it may be because fuel isn’t getting to the engine. Or if the car starts but requires more than the average number of cranks to turn over, the fuel pump could be at fault then too.

The fuel to air ratio is the amount of fuel that is injected into the engine compared to the amount of air that is drawn into the engine. The fuel to air ratio is controlled by the engine's computer and is critical to the proper functioning of the engine.

If the fuel to air ratio is off, the engine may not be getting enough fuel to run properly. This can cause the engine to stall or run poorly, and can also cause the car to not start at all.

If you suspect that your fuel to air ratio is off, you should have your engine diagnosed by a professional to determine the cause of the issue.

Cranking is done by the starter motor

If the fuel you’ve put into your tank can’t make its way to the engine to be mixed with air, steps two through five aren’t happening, and you’re not making progress down the road. A failing/failed fuel pump will cause major performance and drivability issues with your vehicle. If your fuel to air ratio is off and the cylinders aren’t getting enough fuel, then the pistons aren’t firing and your engine is struggling to move the vehicle forward.

The released energy now powers the crankshaft. You’re officially on the move. That fuel has successfully moved your car further down the road and is being expelled as exhaust after its useful life. That five-step process has dozens of smaller steps in between, but it all starts at the fuel pump. If the fuel you’ve put into your tank can’t make its way to the engine to be mixed with air, steps two through five aren’t happening, and you’re not making progress down the road.

The car won’t start. If the vehicle is struggling to start or isn’t starting at all, your fuel pump may be damaged or clogged. If the car still cranks when the key is turned but won’t start, it may be because fuel isn’t getting to the engine. Or if the car starts but requires more than the average number of cranks to turn over, the fuel pump could be at fault then too.

The car sputters or dies while driving. It’s never a good sign when your car dies as you’re driving. If your engine is sputtering or stalls in the middle of your drive, your fuel pump is likely the issue.

Frequently asked questions