Fuel Pump Issue-Help Diagnose
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 224
Likes: 2
Fuel Pump Issue-Help Diagnose
I have a 2002 Z06 with 25k miles. Short story, my car died on me going down the interstate a couple of weeks ago. It cut out under 1 hard pull in 1st, and then as I was cruising down the interstate after that it just began breaking up and eventually just died. Once I got it home, I checked the pressure at the rails with the key on, and it just spurted a tad of fuel and some air. Nothing after that.
I bought a Racetronix fuel pump replacement, and I put it in early this week. However, even though I can hear the pump prime when I turn the key on, it won't pump any fuel. When I leave the fuel lines off the sending unit, no fuel comes out of the top when the pump is in the tank. I recently added about a gallon of fuel to the tank just to be sure it wasn't empty, and the strainer gets wet, so I know it has fuel. Also, the gauge reads about 1/4 tank. Any ideas what might be going on?
It can't be the filter since it won't even pump fuel out of the top of the sending unit It's getting power to the pump obviously since I can hear it kick on. Do I need to add more fuel to the tank to completely submerge the pump? I read somewhere that the bucket has to be completely submerged before it'll pump...Any help will be appreciated. I'm ready to drive this thing again.
Thanks
I bought a Racetronix fuel pump replacement, and I put it in early this week. However, even though I can hear the pump prime when I turn the key on, it won't pump any fuel. When I leave the fuel lines off the sending unit, no fuel comes out of the top when the pump is in the tank. I recently added about a gallon of fuel to the tank just to be sure it wasn't empty, and the strainer gets wet, so I know it has fuel. Also, the gauge reads about 1/4 tank. Any ideas what might be going on?
It can't be the filter since it won't even pump fuel out of the top of the sending unit It's getting power to the pump obviously since I can hear it kick on. Do I need to add more fuel to the tank to completely submerge the pump? I read somewhere that the bucket has to be completely submerged before it'll pump...Any help will be appreciated. I'm ready to drive this thing again.
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 456
From: USA
I changed the electric left side pump with a new bucket unit as you did. I added 6 gallons of gasoline to the tank before trying to start the engine.
I did that as a precaution of running the pump dry.
I would add enough fuel to be sure in had the pump capsule submerged.
Good luck with your repair.
I did that as a precaution of running the pump dry.
I would add enough fuel to be sure in had the pump capsule submerged.
Good luck with your repair.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 224
Likes: 2
Alright, I worked with it a little more today.. I have it all wired up correctly and the pump works great when I plug it into the factory harness plug and just leave the pump out of the tank submerged in a cup filled with fuel. It pumps fuel out the top of the sending unit like it should. However, when I put the pump inside the tank it no longer pumps any fuel out of the top of the sending unit. My mind is blown...I have about 1/4 tank of fuel, so it should be plenty. I know I have plenty because it runs out of the tank opening when I take the sending unit out.
Any ideas as to what is going on? How could the pump just stop pumping fuel when the only thing that changes is putting it in the tank? I may just go get a bunch of fuel to put in the tank and make sure the pump is fully submerged.
Any ideas as to what is going on? How could the pump just stop pumping fuel when the only thing that changes is putting it in the tank? I may just go get a bunch of fuel to put in the tank and make sure the pump is fully submerged.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 456
From: USA
That is what I did. I added 6 gallons of gas to the tank. That way i was sure that there was enough fuel to cover the fuel pump capsule in gas. the most you would be out was the cost of the gas if you have to remove the pump again. Good luck
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 224
Likes: 2
. However, I think what happened is that my passenger side jet pump isn't operating correctly, so the car was reading 1/4 tank because that amount of fuel was probably still left in the right side tank. I am going to run it down to a 1/2 tank and see if it runs out of fuel. If it does, then that means I need to drain the passenger tank and replace or clean the jet pump to ensure that it is operating correctly.Thanks for the help so far.
