Symtoms of a fuel pump failure?
 

I'm trying to figure out what exactly is wrong with my car. I drive a 2000 mustang GT, and for the last 2 weeks or so it's been acting up a little bit. About a week ago, it started misfiring(very mildly), and sporadically not turning on. After not turning on, I disconnected the fuel line(right before the fuel rail), and it didn't have any fuel coming out, and the next day i try to figure out what was wrong, and this time when i turned the key over gas spurted out (into a plastic bottle. i know it's ghetto but i didn't have a fuel pressure gauge)

I thought it was weird, and knew something was wrong but i decided to drive it anyways. I got to my destination fine, but as soon as i went to leave the car had a super rough idle, barely staying alive. I wasn't far from home so i decided just to try to get home. Less than a block away the car cut out, and wouldn't start back up. It cranks over just fine, but it just doesn't start. I disconnected the fuel line again to see if i had fuel to the engine and nothing came out.

So far all I've done is replace the fuel filter, check fuses(fuel pump), and made sure the inertia switch wasn't tripped. I guess what I'm asking is, am i heading into the right direction? I would assume that a fuel pump relay would go out all at once(or am i wrong)? I've also read a lot of somewhat similar problems to mine, and those ended with CCRM issues. I'd rather check all my options before replacing the fuel pump(i don't want to drop my fuel tank, or pay someone $500 to do it for me.)

hmmm that's tough... I'm having fuel pump troubles too but my car doesn't misfire or anything like that while driving.

I always thought that typically once a car starts, the fuel pump usually stays on. As in it would be very rare for a fuel pump to die on you while you're driving. I mean it can still happen but i hear it's rare.

When you turn your key to the "ON" position, can you hear the fuel pump humming? It should make a noise for maybe 1-2 seconds because it is priming the lines and shooting the fuel to the engine. If it's hard to hear it, have you or somebody else put their head by the gas tank or gas door where you fill up and have someone listen for the pump while the other turns the key.

Yeah I thought that fuel pumps just kinda suddenly died on you too. The symptoms of my car really made it seem like it was just a fuel filter.

I tried listening but i can't hear anything over the beeping when you turn over the ignition key to "on". Maybe I'll cut the door chime wire, and listen for it again. Or maybe just do what you said, it would be a lot easier :icon_toast:

Thanks for your feedback man, and if anyone else has tips, ideas or anything else to add it would be greatly appreciated.

How many miles on your car?

The electric fuel pump should be replaced by no more than 70K miles, IMO. I replaced mine at about 60K, because I don't want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere and ruin a weekend getaway with my wife.

If you have this many, or more miles, you should do the fuel pump anyway. If you cannot prove what the problem IS, prove what it is NOT!

Jazzer :)

Did you try throwing 12V at the fuel pump connector "near tank"to see if you hear it?
Thats how I test mine.

Over 100,000. Changing the fuel pump is a last resort. I'm just trying to avoid dropping the tank down. I park on a steep incline, and it's sort've sketchy to jack my car up, I've never had any actual problems in the past, but I'm just never comfortable doing so.


No, do you by any chance have a picture of where this is? I'm trying to find it on Google, but no luck.

Do you mean from the fuel pump driver module in the trunk?

I know what you're saying jazzer but i'm not sure i agree with you! Most people aren't going to WANT to get their fuel pumped changed. It's expensive! This isn't a $10 part

The plug im talking about is attach to rear bumper.
It supplies power to pump and sender.

I believe the wire you want to throw 12v at is pink\tan + black\red - on plug near bumper

I know there a picture or wiring diagram somewhere on one of the Mustang forums.
maybe CliffyK may have one.Id shoot him a PM

Yeah well that too! I'd hate to waste money :)

Thank you sir, I'm going to test it out in a little bit.

The cost of the part and/or the difficulty in changing it is 100% irrelevant to whether it needs changing or not. Electric fuel pumps typically should be changed at 75K miles and OP is well past that. Does one think that the fuel pump will last forever, because it is hard to change? Besides, I did my own by myself in about 3 hours. Had some trouble addressing the filler spout disconnection, but not a difficult repair, as most go.

I am sure that we ALL would like to avoid replacing/repairing something, because it is difficult, but this is just a maintanence item and things MUST be maintained to continue operation of your car :D

Jazzer.... speaketh the trutheth :)