Fuel Pump Repair and Replacement at Russ's Wrench Auto Repair in Clinton, NJ
How does a fuel pump work?
Whether you drive a Toyota, Honda, Ford, or Hyundai, all fuel-operated cars have fuel pumps that work in the same way. A car's engine burns a mixture of petrol and air to produce energy. Petrol is pumped along a pipe from the tank and mixed with air in the carburettor, from which the engine sucks in the mixture. A fuel pump draws petrol out of the tank through a pipe to the carburettor. The pump may be mechanically worked by the engine - or it may be electric, in which case it is usually next to or even inside the fuel tank.
A mechanical fuel pump is powered by the camshaft. As the shaft turns, a cam passes under a pivoted lever and forces it up at one end. The other end of the lever goes down and takes the diaphragm with it. When the lever goes down, it creates suction that draws the fuel through the fuel pipe and into the pump. The diaphragm can move up only by expelling petrol from the chamber. The petrol cannot go back through the first one-way valve, so it goes out through another one leading to the carburettor. An electric fuel pump has the same diaphragm-lever arrangement, but instead of the camshaft, a solenoid (an electromagnetic switch) provides the pull on the diaphragm. The solenoid attracts an iron rod that pulls the diaphragm down, drawing petrol into the chamber. We at Russ's Wrench Auto Repair know exactly how your fuel pump works, and if you are in Clinton, Alexandria, Hampton or nearby, can take care of all your auto repair needs.
When I am driving down the street in Clinton, how do I know if my vehicle needs a fuel pump repair?
The following are some symptoms of a faulty fuel pump:
- Whining noise from the fuel tank.
If you hear a screeching or whining noise coming from the fuel tank while the car is running, there may not be enough fuel, a damaged pump, or a contaminant in the system.
- Difficulty starting.
Because fuel pumps constantly run whenever the ignition is turned on, they can eventually wear out and weaken over time. A weak fuel pump may still pump fuel, but the vehicle may experience difficulty starting from the lack of pressure. A weakened fuel pump can cause the vehicle to take more cranks to start than normal, and in more serious cases may even cause the vehicle to require multiple turns of the key before it will start.
- Engine sputtering.
If you are driving at a consistently high speed and your engine suddenly starts sputtering before returning to normal, this means that the fuel pump cannot provide a constant stream of fuel to the engine at the ideal pressure. If you are experiencing this, feel free to drive over to Russ's Wrench Auto Repair so we can check your fuel pump out.
- Stalling at high temperatures.
Stalling with a combination of a high internal temperature in your vehicle usually means there is a problem with your fuel pump's motor.
- Loss of power under stress.
If you experience a loss of power when you are driving uphill in Alexandria, carrying a heavy load or even while accelerating, this indicates the fuel pump is weakening because it cannot keep up with the higher demands of your vehicle.
- Car surging.
Irregular resistance inside the fuel pump motor may cause vehicle surging, and indicates a fuel pump in need of repair. Surging feels like the gas pedal has been used. However, it occurs at a random, consistent speed. If this happens often, it may be because of problems within the fuel pump.
- Low gas mileage.
A valve inside the fuel pump may not be opening, causing more fuel than necessary to pour into the engine system which could cause you to fill your vehicle with fuel more often than usual. Low gas mileage can also mean other issues with your vehicle, and we at Russ's Wrench Auto Repair can figure out exactly what the issue with your vehicle is.
- Car will not start.
If the fuel pump fails completely, the vehicle will refuse to start. The engine will still crank when the key is turned, but it will be unable to start due to the lack of fuel. A no-start situation can also be caused by a variety of other issues, so having the vehicle properly diagnosed is highly recommended.
If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms with your vehicle and are in the 08809 area or nearby, you can bring your car to Russ's Wrench Auto Repair in Hunterdon County to get it fixed up or to get a fuel pump replacement.
Your award-winning local Shop for Fuel Pump Repair
We at Russ's Wrench Auto Repair in Clinton are experts in all things auto repair. We've been fixing cars since 2014 and our service advisor team and owner Russell Crosby have decades of combined experience. We can examine your vehicle bumper to bumper and provide a multitude of services, like scheduled maintenance, transmission repair, and tune-ups, and oil changes, fluid services and tune-ups.
Here are some reasons why you should choose us:
- Family owned and operated since we opened
- Same day repairs on most services
- We have a review score of 5 based on reviews from 126 satisfied customers.
- Award-winning local technicians with extensive repair training
To schedule an appointment with Russ's Wrench Auto Repair in Clinton, give us a call at 908-323-2570 or schedule an appointment online at https://russellswrench.com/.