Dying fuel pump?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 2
From: Cedar Rapids Iowa
Dying fuel pump?
My fuel pump started making a whining noise today. Do these fail catastrophically or can I keep driving it for a while? How hard is it to replace the fuel pump? I am thinking of doing it myself. If the dealer does it does anyone have an approximate price? My car is a 2002 C5Z.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
Not difficult to replace. Just a tedious job. Take off rear driver wheel, remove 4-13mm bolts and 1-10mm bolt, drop the shield then remove approx 7-8 7mm bolts holding in the pump. Mark your lines then unplug them, unplug the harness and slide it out. Before you start, you might want to jump the fuel pump relay and empty the fuel out via the fuel rail and hose. There is a tutorial on removal and reinstallation by Lingenfelter floating around here. Do a search. If you don't find it, use Google and do an advanced search of this site.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 2
From: Cedar Rapids Iowa
Not difficult to replace. Just a tedious job. Take off rear driver wheel, remove 4-13mm bolts and 1-10mm bolt, drop the shield then remove approx 7-8 7mm bolts holding in the pump. Mark your lines then unplug them, unplug the harness and slide it out. Before you start, you might want to jump the fuel pump relay and empty the fuel out via the fuel rail and hose. There is a tutorial on removal and reinstallation by Lingenfelter floating around here. Do a search. If you don't find it, use Google and do an advanced search of this site.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,465
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From: Dyer, IN
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
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From: Not on either liberal coast.
The rust/crud can come from the underground tanks that the fuel is stored in at the station.
To the original poster, do you possibly have a habit of running your tank pretty low before fill ups? The lifespan of the fuel pump will be shortened if the tanks are allowed to get low as the fuel cools the pump.
To the original poster, do you possibly have a habit of running your tank pretty low before fill ups? The lifespan of the fuel pump will be shortened if the tanks are allowed to get low as the fuel cools the pump.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,465
Likes: 1,167
From: Dyer, IN
The rust/crud can come from the underground tanks that the fuel is stored in at the station.
To the original poster, do you possibly have a habit of running your tank pretty low before fill ups? The lifespan of the fuel pump will be shortened if the tanks are allowed to get low as the fuel cools the pump.
To the original poster, do you possibly have a habit of running your tank pretty low before fill ups? The lifespan of the fuel pump will be shortened if the tanks are allowed to get low as the fuel cools the pump.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Not on either liberal coast.
However, in my state (and others), fuel is still stored in large metal tanks (tank farms) and sent via metal pipes. In AZ, the pipes come from TX and the Gulf coast or is trucked in from CA.
So, are these common place above ground storage tanks and pipes immune from rust?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
Heck with the manual. I mentioned to do a search for the Lingenfelter instructions. Color photos and all! Search is your friend!!!! 
You might do as recommended above and try replacing the filter. If you decide to replace the pump. Your instructions are one click away.
http://www.lingenfelter.com/pdf/c5fu...structions.pdf
You might do as recommended above and try replacing the filter. If you decide to replace the pump. Your instructions are one click away.
http://www.lingenfelter.com/pdf/c5fu...structions.pdf
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,465
Likes: 1,167
From: Dyer, IN
Certainly not. It's possible that rust could some how make it past the filter at the pumps, and further somehow infiltrate the filter assembly on the sending/pump unit.....but it my opinion.....not plausible.
