Diesel fuel pump failure/injector pump failure symptoms
The fuel pump is one of the most vital components for making the car run. It uses pressure to literally pump fuel from the fuel tank to the injectors, so it’s not that uncommon for it to be also called an injector pump. There are two types of fuel pumps: mechanical (older) and electronic (newer). We won’t go into details regarding the differences, but we will tell you the most common diesel fuel pump failure symptoms as well as diesel fuel pump failure causes.
Lets Take A Look At Four Of The Most Common Symptoms Of Pump Failure
1. Engine splutter
The earliest diesel fuel pump problem is foretold by an engine sputter, particularly at a higher speed. This most often happens on highways or back roads with a slightly higher average speed. The car may run perfect for 10, 20 or even 50 miles, but it will have brief periods of sputtering or jerking (1-5 miles) before returning to its normal state. This symptom can mean other things, but people most often mistake an injector pump failure with dirty gas. When it’s the fuel pump causing the trouble, it most often has to do with the lack of constant pressure. The fuel pump can’t maintain the needed pressure at all times, so you get moments of sputtering. The solution, much like for most of the next issues will most often be the same: a new fuel pump.
2. Engine splutter while accelerating
The second injector pump failure symptom is very similar to the first one, with one noticeable difference: it occurs when accelerating. The jerking and/or sputtering will still be present, but it will occur when accelerating. In particular, when accelerating from a stop. Again, if it’s the fuel pump (which it most likely is), it’s down to the inability of the fuel pump itself to hold the needed pressure to get the fuel from the tank to the injectors. The fuel pump may be repairable but in most cases you’ll want to change it with a new one, even if it can be “repaired”.
3. Loss of power when under stress
The third possible cause for the fuel pump failure only occurs in certain situations and with certain vehicles. A fuel pump (even an old one), can perform just as it should under normal, low to medium stress situations. Certain vehicles however can exceed those levels. Trucks, pickups and vehicles that generally need to carry or tow a considerable amount of weight can put the fuel pump under bigger stress, causing its weakest components to fail. This also implies to climbing steeper hills or generally doing something where the vehicle is under greater stress. It characterizes and manifests itself with a loss of power, most often a big loss of power. It’s not uncommon to see a 50% or more loss of power.
What’s more dangerous than a car which loses power at will? One that will surge. That’s right, sudden surging is also a symptom for an injector pump failure. Due to old age or wear and tear, the fuel pump may have an irregular resistance within its motor. This means that periods of low or normal pressure can be followed by periods of high pressure, filling the engine with more fuel effectively causing the vehicle to “jump” or surge forward.
4. Vehicle won’t start
The last common symptom is also the most serious. If you ignore all of the above symptoms you will eventually encounter this one: a vehicle that does not want to start. Determining if it’s the fuel pump is rather easy: when attempting to start the vehicle it will crank over (try to start), but it won’t burst into life in its own (if you let go of the key). In all likelihood this is a dead fuel pump. A brand new one should see you back on the road in no time.
Remember that these are just a few of the symptoms/causes for a fuel pump, and while they are the most common ones, most of the symptoms listed here can be indicators of something else, not just issues with the fuel pump, especially if they’re coupled with other symptoms. We hope this article helped you with diesel fuel pump failure troubleshooting.
Need help with a Turbocharger:
Contact Our Team on: 0490 059 316
