How to Change Out the Fuel Pump in a Protege

The Mazda Protege uses an in-tank fuel pump assembly coupled with the fuel sending unit. Some in-tank fuel pumps are difficult to replace, because the fuel tank needs to be removed. However, the Protege has a convenient fuel pump access door mounted beneath the rear seat, which makes the process fairly easy compared with some other vehicles. The procedure is applicable to all Protege model years from 1990 to 1998.

Crank the Protege's engine to begin relieving the fuel system pressure.

Remove the rear seat cushion by pulling the straps protruding from beneath the seat. Remove the Phillips-head screws from the fuel pump access cover. Lift the cover away.

Disconnect the visible electrical connection attached to the fuel pump access cover. Wait for the engine to stall, and then turn the engine off and remove the key.

Open the hood and unhook the negative battery cable (-) with your pliers. Set the cable aside.

Unhook the fuel supply and return hoses attached to the fuel pump. Note their position on the fuel pump; they need to be attached to the new fuel pump in the same way.

Remove the screws from the fuel pump assembly. Lift the assembly out of its mount. Remove the old gasket from the mount and discard it. Wipe the contact area with a clean, dry rag.

Insert the new fuel pump assembl, along with the new gasket. Tighten the mounting screws, reconnect the electrical connection and the supply/return hoses.

Replace the fuel pump access cover. Tighten the cover's screws. Replace the rear seat cushion.

Reconnect the negative battery cable. Insert the key into the ignition. Turn the key to "On" for approximately 10 seconds, then turn it off. Repeat the process once to rebuild the fuel system pressure.