Car's Fuel Pump Failure: What To Expect When It Dies

If your fuel pump gets clogged or dies, it cannot transfer gas to the engine. When this happens, you won’t be able to start your car, truck, or SUV at all. The problem could also be clogged fuel lines.

Engine overheating

If your fuel pump is dying, it might overheat and this heat causes your engine to overheat. Unlike the radiator, which will overheat until it bursts the cap and spews scalding-hot coolant everywhere, an overheat caused by the fuel pump will stall out the engine.

When the fuel pump gets clogged or dies, it cannot transfer gas to the engine. When this happens, you won’t be able to start your car, truck, or SUV at all. The problem could also be clogged fuel lines.

The presence of fluid keeps the impeller from rotating as quickly and the gasoline also cools the pump as it operates. Without gas flowing through it can quickly overheat.

If your fuel pump is dying, it might overheat and this heat causes your engine to overheat. When you turn the key, you could hear the pump power on and pressurize. The car would start and idle, but as soon as you put it in drive or pressed the gas, the engine would die.

Car won't start

If your fuel pump is dying it might overheat and this heat causes your engine to overheat. Unlike the radiator, which will overheat until it bursts the cap and spews scalding-hot coolant everywhere, an overheat caused by the fuel pump will stall out the engine.

If the fuel pump gets clogged or dies, it cannot transfer gas to the engine. When this happens, you won’t be able to start your car, truck, or SUV at all. The problem could also be clogged fuel lines.

The fuel pump is not delivering enough fuel to the engine. The fuel is coming out of the rail when you press down on the valve, but the fuel pump is not delivering enough fuel to the engine.

Letting a fuel pump run dry can quickly burn out the motor in the pump. The presence of fluid keeps the impeller from rotating as quickly and the gasoline also cools the pump as it operates. Without gas flowing through it can quickly overheat.

You might end up with a dead engine even if you don’t notice any of the signs above. If the fuel pump gets clogged or dies, it cannot transfer gas to the engine. When this happens, you won’t be able to start your car, truck, or SUV at all. The problem could also be clogged fuel lines.

Clogged fuel lines

If your fuel pump is clogged or dies, it cannot transfer gas to the engine. When this happens, you won't be able to start your car, truck, or SUV at all. The problem could also be clogged fuel lines.

Overheating is a common symptom of a dying fuel pump. The heat causes the engine to overheat and stall out. Spark plug trouble is another symptom.

If your fuel pump is dying, it might overheat and this heat causes your engine to overheat. Letting a fuel pump run dry can quickly burn out the motor in the pump. The presence of fluid keeps the impeller from rotating as quickly and the gasoline also cools the pump as it operates.

Sputters also indicate spark plug trouble. If your fuel pump is dying, it might overheat and this heat causes your engine to overheat. Unlike the radiator, which will overheat until it bursts the cap and spews scalding-hot coolant everywhere, an overheat caused by the fuel pump will stall out the engine.

The fact that the fuel is coming out of the rail when you press down on the valve indicates that there is fuel in the system, but the fuel pump is not delivering enough fuel to the engine.

Pump overheating and burning out

If your fuel pump is dying it might overheat and this heat causes your engine to overheat. Unlike the radiator, which will overheat until it bursts the cap and spews scalding-hot coolant everywhere, an overheat caused by the fuel pump will stall out the engine.

Letting a fuel pump run dry can quickly burn out the motor in the pump. The presence of fluid keeps the impeller from rotating as quickly and the gasoline also cools the pump as it operates. Without gas flowing through it can quickly overheat.

If the fuel pump gets clogged or dies, it cannot transfer gas to the engine. When this happens, you won’t be able to start your car, truck, or SUV at all. The problem could also be clogged fuel lines.

If you have a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP that the fuel pump relay went bad on, when you turn the key, you could hear the pump power on and pressurize. The car would start and idle, but as soon as you put it in drive or pressed the gas, the engine would die.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is best to have your car inspected by a professional mechanic.

Fuel pump relay gone bad

The fuel pump relay is an electromagnetic switch that uses low current to control a higher current circuit. When the fuel pump relay goes bad, the fuel pump won’t work properly. The most common sign of a bad fuel pump relay is an engine that cranks but doesn’t start. A fuel pump relay will typically fail in the open position, preventing voltage from reaching the fuel pump. As a result, the engine will be starved of fuel and refuse to run.

Other signs of a bad fuel pump relay include engine stalling or failure to start, intermittent starting issues, engine misfires or hesitation, and a lack of power during acceleration.

The fuel pump relay is typically located in the power distribution box in the engine compartment. Replacing a fuel pump relay is a DIY-friendly repair that you can usually do yourself. A fuel pump relay generally costs less than $20 for just the part itself.

If the fuel pump gets clogged or dies, it cannot transfer gas to the engine. When this happens, you won’t be able to start your car, truck, or SUV at all. The problem could also be clogged fuel lines.

Letting a fuel pump run dry can quickly burn out the motor in the pump. The presence of fluid keeps the impeller from rotating as quickly and the gasoline also cools the pump as it operates. Without gas flowing through it can quickly overheat.

Frequently asked questions