Fuel Pump Life

[Norm's Coupe]

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Edited September 23, 2009 by Norm's Coupe

[Young Ed]

I'm becoming more and more of an advocate for the rebuilt kits. I've got about 7K miles on my self rebuilt fuel pump with no issues. I probably pay a little more attention to details then whoever builds the auto parts store ones.

[Don Coatney]

I'm becoming more and more of an advocate for the rebuilt kits. I've got about 7K miles on my self rebuilt fuel pump with no issues. I probably pay a little more attention to details then whoever builds the auto parts store ones.

I have about 17,000 on my new store bought fuel pump with no problems to date.

[Young Ed]

Don what brand is yours? Maybe a certain supplier is the issue here.

[Young Ed]

Seems like they are having some quality issues. Does the pin on those pumps have clips on the end or is it just a press fit? Its been about 4 years since I did mine but I recall the pin having C clips on the ends. Perhaps they are trying to save labor and a few cents on parts and eliminated the clips.

[cole18cars]

I ordered a new pump from NAPA, and when I got it the spring was bent, and you couldn't move the lever. I didn't buy it.

[TodFitch]

Ed' date='

You may have a point there! I think I'm just going to order another new one now. Then fix that pin (if thats the problem) on this one, then stick it in the trunk as a spare. It's really a shame you have to carry around extra parts when you have a new part on the car though. [/quote']

Having a spare in the car helps to keep the parts on the car working. I guess they know that they can't strand you so there is no reason to break.

I have about 15,000 miles on my self-rebuilt fuel pump. I do have a couple of spares but usually don't bother carrying them around. That is what the cell phone and AAA card are for.

[JohnS48plm]

I had the pin fall out of my fuel pump years ago, it was just pressed in with no clips or anything else to hold it. I measured it and went to the local hardware. There I got an Allen screw the same diameter as the pin with a shoulder the same length as the pin. I put a locking nut on the threaded end and never had another problem with it. JohnS

[55 Fargo]

How about a an electric fuel pump for back up, and or starting prime.

Sorry to hear about your fuel pump dilemna Norm, how about a new pump froma different source, and/or reebuilding your own, or rebuilding a decent pump thats not from Carquest.

The more I read about fuel pump issues, the more I like the electric pump idea as an auxillliary or back up pump..........Fred

[De Soto Frank]

Norm,

I put a new mechanical pump on my '41 De Soto back in 1997, when I first got the car. Got it from Western Auto, pretty sure it was an Airtex 588.

Has worked fautlessly for 11 years & 30,000 miles.

If your car is a post-war MoPar, that came with the Oilite filter element on the pick-up tube INSIDE the tank, these clog-up from rust, gunk, varnish, or excessive condensation collecting in the tank: the Oilite element will pass gasoline, but not water....

While you're playing around with it, remove the gas-cap, and gently apply some air-pressure to the tank-line, at the fuel pump - have a helper listen back at the gas filler to hear whether or not air is gurgling back through the line.

For anyone that has a supply of "core" fuel pumps, you can either get a kit from or send your pump to Antique Auto Parts Cellar in Weymouth, Mass. Their kits use alcohol-resistant nitrile neoprene diaphragms and such. Tom Hannaford is great to deal with.

Your "fresh" pump will deal with any ethanated/methanated fuels you throw in the tank.

Good luck !

De Soto Frank

[BobT-47P15]

I have purchased replacement parts for various things on modern cars over the last few years and some of them weren't so great. I had to take back

some alternators for the wife's Grand Am. After the first one quit early,

I began buying the lifetime guaranteed ones and had to use that feature

two or three times. I think the workmanship is maybe more shoddy in

some parts of the world.

I got a couple n o s fuel pumps a few months ago from a guy who deals old parts. Have no idea how old they are

and doubt they are equipped with the neoprene. Have one on the car now and so far, so good.

[De Soto Frank]

Norm,

If all is well with the rest of your fuel system, then I would suggest contacting Tom Hannaford at Antique Auto Parts Cellar, either for a kit or to rebuild one of your pumps... his rebuilds are "better than new".

Their site is: www.then-now.com

A buddy had a fuel/vacuum pump for his '61 Willys pick-up rebuilt by them last year... I saw the pump before it went back on the truck; great workmanship, and perfect function.

Sorry to hear that Airtex is getting "iffy"; they've been in the fuel pump business since the 1930's...

Good luck getting your situation straightened-out...

Frank

[Young Ed]

I didn't know anyone thought they were stuck with airtex. Good to know there are still options though. One of these days i may get lazy and buy a fuel pump instead.

[Normspeed]

Last time I replaced the mechanical pump in mine, I got a brand new Airtex and it was bad out of the box. It made a knocking sound like a bad rod bearing. Took it back and they got me another Airtex, it seemed to work fine but I switched over to an electric pump right after that. I do carry a spare new electric pump, just in case. Very easy to change on the road if one fails.

[martybose]

Anyone else think that we've just discovered a conspiracy? It sounds like everybody named Norm is sent the same defective fuel pump! I wonder how "they" coordinate that?

Marty

[Don Coatney]

Anyone else think that we've just discovered a conspiracy? It sounds like everybody named Norm is sent the same defective fuel pump! I wonder how "they" coordinate that?

Marty

Good observation Marty:rolleyes:

[Normspeed]

Diabolical. The moral of the story, if you buy one, use a fake ID with some other name.

[Don Coatney]

Other name?

How about "the other Norm?"

Have you left your driveway lately?

[Normspeed]

Darn it Don, you've seen through my clever subterfuge.

Yup, I left my driveway earlier today, to run a few needless errands as an excuse to drive my car. I just got a new GPS and wanted to see how it works. First thing it did was confirm that my speedometer is 4 miles higher than actual.

[55 Fargo]

Fred' date='

As mentioned, I did have an electric bellows type pump on the car. Gas ate it up in about 11 months. As for the other type electric pumps, they aren't much better from what I've seen. Brother in law has them on his 36 and 38 Fords as backups. However, he has to replace those every couple of years too. Believe Normspeed said he has to do the same thing with his electric pumps.

Bottom line is, you really shouldn't need to replace a fuel pump that often. I've owned and driven many cars since 1960, and put lots of miles on all of them. In all that time I've only had to replace one fuel pump. That was on my 90 Caravan that had about 90,000 to 100,000 miles on it when it went out (and that was an electric pump). I've never had to replace, or clean a mechanical pump, except on my coupe in all those years.[/quote']

Norm, I also have been driving since 1977, never replaced a fuel pump to the best of my knowledge either.

I wouldn't want the electric type either if it needs to be replacd that ften, m,aybe 3 to 5 years is acceptable, but 1 to 2 years,nahh

[47Plymouth]

My fuel pump quit a couple of weeks ago and i ordered a new one from Carquest and it was a carter. Haven't installed it yet, will let everyone know how it works. Jerome