If you drive trucks for a living, you need to be in-tune with your vehicle and notice potential problems as early as possible. Just like the tires or the radiator, your truck’s fuel pump is an important part of your vehicle and will cause major issues if it fails. The fuel pump monitors and adjusts the amount of gas in your engine and allows you to accelerate and decelerate at will. Below are some of the ways you might know your fuel pump is failing. 

Warning Signs of Fuel Pump Failure

1. Car Jerks or Surges 

If you are driving at a consistent speed and your car jerks or surges forward without you pressing the gas pedal, your fuel pump may be failing. This problem is caused when the failing fuel pump can’t deliver a consistent flow of fuel to the engine. The interruption in gas to the engine can cause your engine to skip power strokes and force it to jerk or surge. Early stages of fuel pump failure will cause this surging to last a few minutes at a time, but eventually, your vehicle will not be able to accelerate at all.

2. Difficulty Starting the Engine

If your fuel pump is failing, fuel will have a harder time reaching your engine, and it may take your engine longer to start. Fuel pumps wear out over time, and a weak fuel pump will still send gas to your engine, but it will take longer than normal due to a lack of pressure. You may hear your spark plugs firing when you try to start your truck, and you may need to turn your key several times before it starts. Check the pressure of your fuel lines with a fuel pressure gauge—if it reads zero, your fuel pump is likely dead and will need to be replaced.  

3. Difficulty Accelerating

Accelerating requires your fuel pump to work harder than normal to send more gas to the engine. If your fuel pump can’t send enough gas, your vehicle will have a hard time accelerating. It may take longer than usual to accelerate or, with fuel pumps that are on their last legs, you may not be able to accelerate above a certain speed at all. If your truck feels like it is going to stall when you try to accelerate quickly, you may need to have your fuel pump inspected. 

If you are experiencing problems with your fuel pump, contact American Radiator & Heat Exchanger in St. Louis, MO. From fuel pump repairs to new radiators, they have you covered with a full range of soldering and fabrication services for trucks and other large vehicles. Visit them online to see their full list of services or call (314) 725-3357 to schedule an appointment.