fuel pump issues

Jet-Fighter7700 · Jul 24, 2015

Hi all;

What a night and a morning Im having.......

so Im driving home yesterday; just past modderfontein road, when suddenly my engine dies;
no lights as if its overheating; just dies; and no matter how much I crank cant get it started again;

tried kick starting it; dosent help; can hear the engine turning over, so dont think I snapped a cambelt;
and I recently fitted a guard to protect against my cambelt snapping; as my car didn't have one initially;

plug in my torque app and ELM 327 ( first time its actually really useful)

says injector pressure low on cylinder 1,2,3,4,
anyway got my car towed home; one thing king price did right;
didn't cost me anything, but took EXTREAMLY Long; which is strange on the n3 freeway in JHB;

anyway, got the car into our garage,

thought a fuse for the fuel pump blew, tested all the fuses, nothing shorted out;
tested both inside and under the bonnet fuses;

car still wont start; Im pretty convinced my fuel pump is shot; as when I turn the key from off;

I dont hear the humming that I usually hear when the pump primes;

next thing is to try remove the pump;
on my car Im not sure its safe; this youtbe shows how to do it; but Im not sure its safe;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DbmzcEWnHc

anybody attempted this repair before? and how easy/difficult is it?
(2010 kia picanto)

also how much should such a thing cost? would I need to buy the whole pump? and what would it usually cost?

also , since my car is stationary and cant start right now;

would I be able to ask the insurance to tow me to a mechanic? as I need to fix this over this weekend before the next week starts;
anybody got any advice regarding this;

MickZA · Jul 24, 2015

tried kick starting it; dosent help;

... I think you're jumping to conclusions in thinking that the fuel pump's faulty, get a mechanic to confirm what's wrong before laying out money.

would I be able to ask the insurance to tow me to a mechanic?

... check the yellow pages for travelling mechanics maybe?

Jet-Fighter7700 · Jul 24, 2015

well thats encouraging;

Actually I can tow unlimited up to 50 KM from home; so getting my car to a mechanic isn't an issue;
I thought I can only tow 5 times a month or something;

well I did plug in my torque app; and I dont know a whole lot about cars;
but if it keeps saying injector pressure low on all 4 cylinders, and I cant hear the fuel pump priming when I turn the key;

Im thinking my pump is gone; gain Im not 100% sure of that; but what else could it be that I should check?
if my car cranks, lights come on, but wont catch? got fuel in the tank, low but not empty, about a 1/4 left

what else should I examine?

Sinbad · Jul 24, 2015

There's normally a relay for the fuel pump as well - that could have failed.

KingMikel · Jul 24, 2015

Sinbad said:
There's normally a relay for the fuel pump as well - that could have failed.

This.

Shouldn't cost too much. If it turns out to be the pump and its an in tank pump then good luck!

MickZA · Jul 24, 2015

Anti-theft devices can also incorporate the fuel pump circuitry.

Jet-Fighter7700 · Jul 24, 2015

KingMikel said:
This.

Shouldn't cost too much. If it turns out to be the pump and its an in tank pump then good luck!

yes this is the case, in tank pump

xumwun · Jul 24, 2015

Sinbad said:
There's normally a relay for the fuel pump as well - that could have failed.

I've had this problem before.
Check that your fuel pump is actually getting power.

Jet-Fighter7700 · Jul 24, 2015

xumwun said:
I've had this problem before.
Check that your fuel pump is actually getting power.

where could I actually check that?

Jet-Fighter7700 · Jul 24, 2015

small question guys;

im trying to understand what I need to buy; the fuel pump on its own cost 500 odd rand from 2 diffrent places;
but korean motor spares sells you the whole assembly for R1770 ?

what is advised to get? pump or the whole assembly?

Pitbull · Jul 24, 2015

eg2505 said:
yes this is the case, in tank pump

Take out the back seat, remove tank cover, take out pump, replace, close, put seat back - viola!

Pitbull · Jul 24, 2015

eg2505 said:
small question guys;

im trying to understand what I need to buy; the fuel pump on its own cost 500 odd rand from 2 diffrent places;
but korean motor spares sells you the whole assembly for R1770 ?

what is advised to get? pump or the whole assembly?

Depends on the pump. Do you need the full assembly? Or just the pump?

Could be power related though, remove the pump and give it direct power so see if it works. If not, replace and happy driving.

Akirky · Jul 24, 2015

It could be as simple as the pump pick up filter being clogged up with dirt. I would check that before buying a new pump.

Jet-Fighter7700 · Jul 24, 2015

Akirky said:
It could be as simple as the pump pick up filter being clogged up with dirt. I would check that before buying a new pump.

youtube link shows how to remove this; but afraid it will start a big fire;

is this something safe to do?

Akirky · Jul 24, 2015

eg2505 said:
youtube link shows how to remove this; but afraid it will start a big fire;

is this something safe to do?

Just make sure the ignition is off. It should be connected directly to the pump.

Colin62 · Jul 24, 2015

eg2505 said:
youtube link shows how to remove this; but afraid it will start a big fire;

is this something safe to do?

You can always start a thread when it starts burning. Someone will offer advice on how to put it out. Do you not have any friends at all who have ever worked on cars? Buy some beer and some meat and invite them over. While they're working, you can do the refreshments.

Rickster · Jul 24, 2015

Power to injectors? Check that.

Jet-Fighter7700 · Jul 25, 2015

Colin62 said:
You can always start a thread when it starts burning. Someone will offer advice on how to put it out. Do you not have any friends at all who have ever worked on cars? Buy some beer and some meat and invite them over. While they're working, you can do the refreshments.

Rotfl, no ill ask my alien pals to borrow me their flying saucer.....

Then i Can go to the moon myself

And prove/disprove the moon landings.....

The friends i know golfs and Polo's well,
Dont even know where the fuel pump is in my kia, nor how to fix it,

Well my dad who knows electronics and fuses looked at it, says looks like pump getting power, but not turning,
He thinks impeller is stuck? Bearing shot ect
Not sure myself,

Dosent want to remove the whole pump from the tank, says its quite dangerous as one small spark could start an explosion....
Even the YouTube Guy says its dangerous...

So our mechanic gonna check it out; but Monday and gonna do service same time,

Ill change cv joints at a later stage then....

In the meanwhile, gonna uber and gautrain and catch lifts, that's life i suppose.....

Any uber vouchers out there?

Hemi300c · Jul 25, 2015

Most of the time is the relay switch. Bought one for the wife's Opel a week ago for R66.50.
Steps to follow
1 check fuel level
2 check spark on plugs
3 check fuses
4 check filter
5 check pump

We took out pump with half tank of petrol no problems
You'll need the sealer to ensure a nice seal. Black tar type sealer in silver foil.
Just ensure that battery disconnected when doing fuel pump.
Test pump directly to small 12v battery when out.

But check relay b4 pump in some cars it's in the side/pillar cover at drivers petrol foot side.

Sinbad · Jul 25, 2015

eg2505 said:
youtube link shows how to remove this; but afraid it will start a big fire;

is this something safe to do?

Disconnect the battery positive terminal before doing anything.

fuel pump issues

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