Fuel pumps are a vital part of any functioning vehicle; your car, truck, or C/SUV cannot run without the fuel pump. The fuel pump makes sure that the gas gets from your gas tank through the fuel lines and into the engine, where sparks make it combust to fire up your vehicle’s engine. Fuel pumps need attention, service and replacement when they die, and LP & Sons Auto Care can help with this.
Your Car Won’t Start or Starts Slow
As we mentioned in the introduction, your automobile’s engine ignites fuel (and air) to get started and keep running, and if the fuel pump is dead or dying, your car’s engine can’t get the fuel it needs to get started. You may find that it takes cranking the car a few times in order to get it started, but eventually, your vehicle won’t start at all if the fuel pump isn’t serviced or replaced.
The Car’s Engine Is Sputtering
If you’re noticing trouble while starting your car, you might also notice trouble at high speeds. Sputtering typically occurs when you’re going fast, such as at highway speeds. The first time your car sputters, you might not even be sure what’s going on, other than the engine sounds different. As the sputtering worsens, however, you’ll notice it constantly.
The Car Surges While You’re Driving
Surging is another problem that you’ll encounter while the car is in motion. What happens is that you’re driving along at a steady speed and suddenly the car surges, as if you’ve slammed the gas pedal down. The fuel pump is sending irregular amounts of fuel through and that’s causing the car to surge. This can be scary, especially if you’re not sure what’s happening.
Gas Mileage Keeps Going Down
Lots of issues can affect your car’s gas mileage, and the fuel pump is definitely one of them. You might first notice that your gas mileage is sinking because you’re at the gas station more often. What’s going on varies depending on the actual problem with your fuel pump, but the bottom line is that gas isn’t being used efficiently.
You’re Hearing a Whining Noise from the Tank
The fuel pump is a mechanical device, so it does make a little bit of noise when it’s running. But when it’s failing, it’s far more likely to make a whining noise. Normal operation might not sound any different to you, but when the pump is screaming, something’s wrong. The sound will be coming from wherever your fuel tank is, so most likely you’ll hear it behind you.
Don’t worry! LP & Sons Auto Care in DeLand, FL, will get to the root of your fuel pump problem.