Fuel Pumps

When it comes to low pressure and high pressure fuel pumps, they’re actually both located in slightly different locations. Low pressure fuel pumps are typically located within the fuel tank itself in most modern vehicles. Whilst high pressure fuel pumps are usually located in the engine bay, mounted directly on top of or on the side of the engine. 

We’d recommend that you take advantage of a professional mechanic when it comes to testing the performance of your vehicle’s fuel pumps. They will test the electrical power, listen out for the priming sound and measure fuel pressure with a special gauge. We can check this for you here at Moorfield German Motors, help recommend the right replacement if required and install it for you too. 

There are three common signs to look out for that could indicate that your fuel pumps are failing or have failed. 

1. Hesitation During Acceleration - If your vehicle is hesitating during acceleration, this could be a tell-tale sign that your fuel pump is failing. This is occurring because the fuel pump is struggling to provide the increased amount of fuel that the engine is demanding during acceleration.
   
   This pressure drop results in a lean fuel mixture, which means there’s more air than fuel in the system, resulting in this hesitation and engine misfires. Your fuel pump may well have electrical issues or worn components at this point.
    
2. Rough Idle - For your vehicle to feel smooth whilst idle it requires a consistent fuel supply. If you're experiencing a rough idle, with the engine shaking or vibrating excessively you could well have a failing pump on your hands. 
   
   The inconsistency of the fuel supply caused by the failing fuel pump can cause fluctuations in your vehicle’s RPM’s (which you’ll see displayed on your dashboard) and can also trigger misfires too. 
   
   
3. Your Vehicle Doesn’t Start - If your vehicle fails to start, this could be due to a variety of factors. However if the following ‘symptoms’ are occurring, it could be due to a complete failure of the vehicle’s fuel pump motor or electrical supply. 
   
   If the engine cranks but doesn’t start or there’s no sound from the fuel pump upon turning the ignition, the failure to start could be caused by a faulty fuel pump. Also, if other electrical components are working correctly, you can likely rule out battery or starter issues, pointing it more towards being a fuel pump issue. 

If you notice any of these signs or suspect your fuel pump may be starting to fail, we recommend you contact a car garage to investigate for you. Here at Moorfield we’re happy to help, get in touch and book an appointment today.  

There isn’t really a specific timeframe when you should look to replace your fuel pumps, however if you’re experiencing some of the tell tale failure signs, it’s a good idea to get them checked by a professional. 

Like all vehicle components, fuel pumps suffer from general wear and tear, but they generally last a long time. They usually won’t show any signs until after 10’s of thousands of miles or so are on the clock. 

But, upgrading your fuel pump can help your car to maximise its performance by ensuring the fuel system keeps pace with any aggressive tuning and larger turbochargers. 

Whilst a fuel pump upgrade on its own doesn’t usually provide more performance on its own, it’s a critical supporting modification to help maximise your vehicle’s performance. It helps to enable higher horsepower gains or around 50-100+ when paired with other upgrades such as turbos, superchargers, injectors or tuning adjustments. 

The cost of a fuel pump replacement all comes down to your chosen fuel pump, the type of car you have and which garage you choose to carry out the replacement. Here at Moorfield German Motors, not only do we sell high performance car parts, but we also have a full service garage in Yeadon too, where we provide various specialist services and can help to recommend and replace your fuel pump for you.