How to Tell If Your Fuel Pump Is Broken?
by Jennifer Patterson
The fuel pump is an essential component of a vehicle. Fuel is pumped from the fuel tank to the engine. Without a functioning fuel pump, adequate fuel pressure cannot be delivered to the engine. This will cause problems such as hard starting, rough idle, misfiring, hesitation and stalling and can even prevent the car from starting . This may happen at the most inconvenient time. If you suspect that your fuel pump is broken, there are certain tests that you can perform to confirm it.
Step 1
Listen for a humming sound that normally occurs when the key is turned to the "Start" position. Turn the key in the ignition to the "Start" position and listen for a humming sound from the fuel tank. A hum means that the pump is in working condition.
Step 2
Check if your fuel pump is broken by doing a static fuel test. Turn the key in the ignition to the "on" position. Look at the fuel pressure gauge to detect movements. The fuel pressure should immediately come up and stay steady. If it doesn't, that can indicate that there is a defect in the fuel pump.
Step 3
Connect a voltage meter to the wires that connect to your fuel pump. Connect the voltage meter to the green wire. The fuel pump wires are located under the vehicle, behind the driver's door. Let someone start the engine while the voltage meter is connected to the wire. A normal reading is between 10 to 11 volts. If there is a zero reading, this usually mean that the fuel pump is bad.
References
Things You'll Need
- Voltage meter
Writer Bio
Jennifer Patterson started her writing career as a freelance writer in 2008, contributing how-to articles and other pieces to various websites. She is an expert in the field of computers and health care and attended Miami-Dade community college, where she received an Associate of Science in computer science.
