how to replace fuel pump

Without a fuel pump, your engine will quickly starve. A bad fuel pump will kill things quickly. You can easily replace and install an electric fuel pump. This how to will guide you through the process step by step

Fire Extinguisher!

Replacement Fuel Pump

New Fuel Line

Open End Wrench Set

Socket Set

Flat Head Screwdriver

Phillips Head Screwdriver

Large Fuel Catch Container

When you're ready to replace your fuel pump, be sure you have safety in mind. Work in an open, well ventilated area, and be sure you have a fire extinguisher close by.An electric fuel pumps high fuel pressure to supply your electronic fuel injection system with plenty of pressurized fuel. The pressure doesn't go away just because you turn the engine off. You'll need to take steps to release the fuel pressure before you can remove the fuel pump or any associated parts.

Without a fuel pump, your engine will quickly starve. A bad fuel pump will kill things quickly. You can easily replace and install an electric fuel pump. This how to will guide you through the process step by step.What You'll do

1. Allow engine to cool 2. relieve fuel system pressure 3. put on your eye protection

Before you begin the job of replacing your fuel filter, you must relieve the pressure in your fuel system. A fuel injection system operates under very high pressure. If you don't release this pressure before you start unscrewing fuel lines the result can be explosive. Do this before you attempt to change the fuel filter.To release the pressure in your fuel lines (and fuel filter) you'll need to locate the fuel pump fuse in the fuse box(These days many cars have two locations for fuses. I'm not sure what the reasoning is, but they do it. It does keep things a little less cluttered.

Whether your car has one fuse box or two, it will have one underneath the dashboard. It is usually located just in front of your left knee if you're sitting in the driver's seat. We recommend using your hand to replace the fuse as it will take much longer using your knee. The fuses will be hidden behind a plastic cover, but it's usually marked clearly. Open the cover and you should see a row of different colored fuses sitting nicely inside. You will also probably (hopefully) find a diagram on the cover that shows you which fuse goes to what.

Most cars even provide some spare fuses and a little fuse puller that you can use to remove a blown fuse and insert a new one. In the case of your headlights being out, find the slot on the diagram that indicates the headlight fuse. Grab it with the fuse puller (or our fingers if you have no p

uller) and pull it out. If it's blown, you'll see a melted "bridge" going between the two blades.

Trust me, you'll know if it's blown. If it's not blown, and you know you have located the right fuse, you'll need to either get down to electrical analysis or take your car in for repairs.Find a new fuse in your spares, or if you have no spares get it from the spares you bought. Be sure to use the same amperage fuse. They are both color coded and imprinted according to amperage, so if you install the same color fuse you're golden.)If you don't have a fuel pump fuse, find the relay that operates the fuel pump.

Once you've found the fuel pump fuse or relay, start the car. With the engine running, pull the fuse or relay out. If you pulled the right one, the engine will quickly die. Since it's using all of the pressurized fuel in the system, the fuel lines won't be pressurized when you crack the fittings on your fuel filter.When you're sure there is no fuel pressure in the fuel lines or fuel pump, you can proceed with the fuel pump removal.

There are two types of electric fuel pump. One type mounts inside the gas tank, the other mounts underneath the car just in front of the fuel tank. If your fuel pump mounts underneath the car, it will be held in by a couple of bolts. You can locate your fuel pump by sliding underneath the car (if you can't fit, you can place the car securely on jack stands) and looking just in front of the gas tank on one side of the car or the other. You can also follow the fuel line from the tank to the fuel pump. The pump will often be in a black insulating sleeve.

Unbolt it and let it drop down slightly. You won't be able to remove it from the sleeve until everything is disconnected.

If you have the type of fuel pump that mounts inside the fuel tank, you'll need to remove it from inside the car. The access point to an in-tank fuel pump is either underneath your back seat, or if you're lucky it's under carpet and an access panel in the trunk.When you've located the pump, you'll need to disconnect everything before you remove it from the tank. This is covered in the following steps.Now that you can clearly see everything, you need to disconnect the fuel lines. If you have an in-tank pump, there will be one line on the top of the pump that needs to be disconnected. If you have an under car pump there will be both a line in and a line out. These are also called the low pressure and high pressure side of the pump.To remove the lines, loosen the hose clamp or fitting that are holding the low pressure side in, then loosen the fitting and remove the line.Be sure to have something on hand to catch the gas that leaks from the lines so that it doesn't splash the floor and create a fire hazard.The last step in removing your fuel pump is disconnecting the wires that power the pump. There will be two wires, one is positive, the other ground. It's a good idea to make a note of which is which. What seems obvious while you're taking it off can be baffling when it's time to put it all back. The wires will be held on by plugs, screws, or really small bolts.With everything disconnected, you're ready to remove the pump. As the saying goes, installation is the reverse of removal, so go ahead!.