How To Start A Car With A Bad Fuel Pump

A bad fuel pump can turn starting your car into a real struggle, but it does not always mean that you will need to call a tow truck. By reading this article and implementing some easy tips, you can probably slug your car to the mechanics for repair in case of a breakdown.

In this guide, we will tell you how to start a car with a bad fuel pump and show you what signs you may need to look for and what to do next.

What is a Fuel Pump, and Why Does It Matter?

In a car, the fuel pump is the device that transfers gasoline from the fuel tank to the engine. It is a part of the vehicle’s fuel system and therefore, if it begins to deteriorate, your car will have issues with starting, or its running, may be impacted. If your automobile does not possess a correctly operating fuel pump, the motor is not going to obtain fuel to start off, and therefore experience numerous issues.

If you are curious whether it is possible to drive with a faulty fuel pump, the answer will be, It depends based on the degree of the problem. At times, it might be possible to move around occasionally if the pump is not fully worn out or is at initial stages of its breakdown. Nevertheless, it’s not something you should use consistently over a long period. The sooner it is done, the better.

How To Start A Car With A Bad Fuel Pump

Now that you know what to look for, here are some tips on starting your car even with a bad fuel pump.

1. Monitor The Fuel Pump Relay

In some cases, the problem may not be with the fuel pump but with the relay that operates it. The fuel pump relay is an electrical switch that connects power to the fuel pump through the use of an ignition source. If this relay is bad, so the fuel pump does not receive power, and the vehicle cannot be started. To check if the problem is with the relay:

• First, look for the relay with your car’s fuse box, which is normally under the bonnet or the midsection of the car dashboard.
• Replace the relay with another of similar rating to check whether the pump will start working.

While it may take more time and effort, learning how to start a car with a bad fuel pump relay is possible. If the relay is at fault, then replacing the circuit should help in solving the problem.

2. Use Fuel Injector Cleaner

If you’re having a problem with your bad fuel injectors, this can also stop your car from starting in the first place because it prevents fuel from getting to the engine. A fuel injector that has a restricted or faulty passage can closely resemble the signs and symptoms of a faulty fuel pump.

Now back to the question, how to start a car with bad fuel injectors? Then, one way to try how to start a car with bad fuel injectors is to use fuel injector cleaner in the fuel tank. This can sometimes fragment any blockages and assist in the more efficient distribution of fuel. However, if the fuel injectors are badly clogged, you may have to call in a mechanic for help.

3. Use Starting Fluid

Among the most popular tricks to make your fuel pump work momentarily is using starting fluid. This method gets employed by delivering the engine fuel it requires to start on while taking a short time to circumvent the pump. Here’s how to do it:

• Disconnect the air intake hose that goes to the engine.
• Afterward, start the car and squirt a small quantity of starting fluid into the intake.
• Try to quickly turn over the engine after that.

It may start for a few seconds and then conk off. This technique can provide you with the required time so that the car can be started and driven to an appropriate repair station.

4. Tap the Fuel Tank

Occasionally, the fuel pump becomes jammed in place, and one can try to access the fuel tank and tap it lightly. This is another trick that may work when dealing with a failing car fuel pump. Here’s how to do it:

• Try and identify the position of the fuel tank on your car.
• Try striking the fuel tank occasionally with a rubber mallet or even the heel of your shoe as another person attempts to start the vehicle.

This technique is used in a manner that brings the pump back into use though this only serves as a temporary way of handling the challenge.

5. Jumpstart the Car

In this case, your fuel pump in car might be receiving a weak or other times a low charge from the battery. In some positions, using the car’s battery to jump-start it can be sufficiently strong to make the fuel pump operational again. Connect the jumper cables to another working car and attempt to start your car engine. If the pump was failing because of low power, this might probably help it work for a while.

Symptoms of a Bad Fuel Pump

To help you better understand how to start a car with a bad fuel pump, here are the symptoms of a failing pump that they mentioned: Common symptoms include:

• Difficulty starting the car: Sometimes, the engine may take more than one attempt to start, especially during the first few tries.
• Engine misfires: Can a bad fuel pump cause a misfire? Yes, if the engine is not receiving sufficient fuel, it may stall or misfire.
• Loss of power: Sometimes, they may experience poor acceleration and pulling power, particularly when climbing slopes or overpowers.

Unusual noises: It is common to hear a whining or humming noise from a failing fuel pump especially when the engine is turned on for the first time.

How Long Can You Drive with a Bad Fuel Pump?

However, it is important not to continue driving with a bad fuel pump despite having the tendency to do so. Sometimes a fuel pump can just stop functioning without any prior notice, and this often leads to stranding. If you can start the car employing any of the methods above, drive to a mechanic for the issue to be fixed.

Carrying on driving with a faulty fuel pump will only compound the problem which always results in more wear and tear to other elements of the fuel delivery system and the engine. However, this may result in much higher repair costs in the long run.

Preventing Future Fuel Pump Issues

Once you’ve managed to start your car and get it repaired, it’s worth taking some preventive measures to avoid future issues with your fuel pump car:

• Keep your gas tank at least a quarter full: This is because when you frequently drive your car with a low fuel level, the fuel pump tends to overheat and break down.
• Use high-quality fuel: Low quality or dirty fuel will deposit on the walls of the fuel system and over time block the fuel filters and/or damage the fuel pump.
• Replace your fuel filter regularly: This means that if your fuel filter is dirty, you are putting extra pressure on your fuel pump and this can cause it to fail early.

Conclusion

It is never a happy experience to be faced with a bad fuel pump, but where there is knowledge, there is a solution. If you have to diagnose the fuel pump relay, employ starting fluid, or tap the fuel tank then these procedures may help you restart your car and get it fixed. Please bear in mind that all of these are just stop-gap measures and a bad fuel pump will always require replacement at some point in time.

So next time you go for a drive, make sure you get your fuel system checked and if you happen to notice that your car’s pump is failing, then you can fix the problem preventing you from being stranded.