Good evening all

I am going to remove and replace my fuel pumps and I am wondering if there are any tricks I need to know?

Questions:

1. When I disconnect the pumps, do I need to be concerned about fuel running all over the place?
2. Any tricks I need to know or try?
3. Do I need to bleed the fuel system afterwards?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Ron

1990 560 SEL 231, 000 miles

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Spray everything down with PB Blaster or something similar, the screws nuts and bolts will likely be rusted thoroughly, expect that you might damage the small banjo fitting pipes connecting things together if things are very rusted, make sure you use a counterholding wrench as you try to break things free. Go gently and slowly on the electrical connections using plenty of PB Blaster to avoid breaking off a stud and needing a new pump or two in your haste! Get a couple pairs if smaller needle nose vicegrips cover their serrated jaws with duct tape of something similar, use those to clamp of the flexible hose from the tank and the other pair to clamp off the flexible hose connecting the pump/filter set to the hard line running under the car. Yes the tank will empty if you don't clamp it off. Release the fuel system pressure at the engine compartment before starting to disconnect things.

You will still have gas dripping from the pumps/filters so have a pan to catch it, try not to let it run down your arms into your armpits, it burns like hell there! Have a fire extiguisher at hand whenever you have open fuel around, put out your cigarettes, cigars, and spliffs before you start the project. Decent nitrile gloves are gas proof, latex, vinyl gloves are not.

You will need new copper crush washers to reassemble things make sure enough of them come with the new filters or you have some extras at hand, reusing old ones are a last resort and usually leak, but if you can't avoid using the old ones anneal them to make them soft by heating then to red hot with a propane torch or something simolar before reusing them, away from any open fuel of course.

Wow, I can only say a huge Thank You!!!! You have answered all of my questions and more. Thanks again..... I will report back soon.

Ron

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You're welcome, good luck.

I changed the pumps out yesterday. I used a pair I got from the bone yard. The car ran great, and today I drove the car about 4 miles and parked. Returned in about 5 minutes and the car would not start. I removed the relay and tried jumping the pumps. No results because the jumping process didn't work. I then had the car towed home.

What should I do next.

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Anybody got any suggestions?

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Can anyone offer any assistance? Please?

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Is there anything else in the fuel system that controls power to the fuel pumps other than the fuel pump relay? Since I've replaced the relay and pumps with used ones, and the problem of occasional no start persist. When I've jumped the pumps, half of the time they will jump and began working. I jump want to verify before purchasing new parts.

Ron

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what was your original concern anyway? Did you replace the fuel pump(s) because of an issue or just due to age? Did you also consider replacing the fuel accumulator as well? Just to rule things out, get some new parts or known good units and retest. If your problem persists then you may have an intermittent electrical or ignition concern

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2001 E55

2001 E320 Sedan

2001 Subaru Legacy

2006 SLK280

2016 Subaru Outback 3.6

The original problem was a no start issue. The car would start with starting fluid, which lead me to think it was a no fuel issue too. I originally changed the relay and the car started. Each time the problem happens, I am able to jump the pumps about every other time. Knowing that I had replaced the relay, I then replaced the pumps. The next time the problem happened, I started thinking the the problem is something more involved.

Can you explain more about the intermittent problem? Can you explain the location of the accumulator?

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Using used pumps is a recipe for exactly what you experienced. Ones in the junkyard will have been sitting with old fuel in them turning to varnish, are who knows how old, and unreliable. New ones are waaay better way to go. Your pump(s) are probably seized and may have taken out the fuel pump relay.

I have used brand new pumps on multiple cars with 0 issues afterwards.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Thanks for the advice. The car was purchased with the no start issue. The pumps came off of a car that had been at the bone yard for one month. The donor car had been in a wreck and was T-boned on the passenger side. I'll consider purchasing new pumps.

Thanks again....

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One thing I left out, when I can not get the pumps to jump the last time there wasn't any power at the pumps. I checked it with my volt meter. As mentioned before, not every time am I able to jump the pumps when and hear them run.

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How can I test for intermittent ignition issues?

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I went to the car today and she started without hesitating

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