Q&A

 Rookie

O wow the fuel pump could fail? This sounds very bad..

The fuel pump is self lubricated by the fuel. If it is the float and it goes completely out you can actually run out of gas because your gauge may show you have fuel when you do not. This in turn usually burns up the fuel pump.

 Rookie

Oh my goodness, perfect! Do you know around how much it would cost? Diagnose? and repair?

A new fuel pump assembly parts & labor runs $ 576.87 + tax. The warranty is 2yr/ 24K

 Master

Just a note -- the sending unit of the fuel pump actually acts as a resistor. What this means is that the gauge gets information from this sending unit, and it's an electrical reading the gauge gets off of this sending unit. As the level of the fuel goes down, the resistance goes down, and the gauge goes down. As the level of the fuel goes up, the resistance goes up, and the gauge goes up. If the sending unit is not measuring the resistance properly, the gauge will follow suit and not measure properly.

To separate the gauge issue from the pump issue - the pump is probably going to continue to operate just fine, pumping fuel. The sending unit is a separate part of the pump assembly, and even if it sends false readings to the gauge as far as your fuel level goes, be assured you will not get stranded -- unless you should run out of gas, as Convoy Auto Repair is suggesting.

Possibly causes of failure -- which requires testing -- are - faulty gauge, faulty wiring, faulty sending unit.

Best course of diagnosis would be to hook up a diagnostic tool that can "active command" the gauge, which means it can send pretend information to the gauge to make sure it responds properly to that resistance level I talked about above. Then, the sending unit can be checked for proper operation.

Sounds like Convoy Auto Repair is really willing to help and take care of you - so that's a wonderful thing. The price on the pump and labor is very good compared to what I am familiar with (especially here in California!) and also the warranty is stronger than most. Good deal.

 Rookie

Thanks! SO what I am getting is that my car will run, i will only get stranded if i run out of gas. So i can put it off for another week and still be ok? I am a grad student and this next week is finals week; will my car be ok another week?

 Master

I can't really say anything for sure. Just that a faulty resistance reading from a sending unit, or a faulty gauge will not cause your fuel pump to fail. So, in as much as the gauge is the only problem you are experiencing driving the car -- yes -- just keep the gas full.

Good luck!

Thanks Dave, I agree 100%