A fuel pump is a miniature device that helps move the fuel from the fuel tank up to the engine and then onto the car’s carburetor. Its job, as you might imagine, is central to your car’s operation and ability to start.
If it fails, you can often get it replaced without buying a whole new motor vehicle! However, why does a good fuel pump still have no pressure when it should be pumping out pints of petrol? Here’s what you need to know.
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So, What Would Cause No Fuel Pressure?
1. Clogged Fuel Filter
The most common cause of no fuel pressure is a clogged fuel filter. When that happens, you may still be able to run your car, but it will take longer for it to start.
If you push the gas pedal down, but don’t see any air coming out of the carburetor or gas cap, this is an indication that there is a clogged filter.
2. Bad Idle Control Valve
If your car’s idle control valve has worn out and is no longer working properly, this can cause no fuel pressure as well. In this case, when you push on the accelerator pedal but don’t get any response from the engine, this could mean that the idle control valve isn’t functioning correctly.
You should have it replaced immediately if this happens because once it’s gone, your car won’t be able to idle properly at all!
3. Bad Fuel Pump
The fuel pump is an important part of your car’s engine, and if it fails, you won’t be able to start the engine. A fuel pump failure can cause low engine power and even stall out the vehicle. If you suspect that your fuel pump is bad, you should have it replaced immediately.
4. Bad Fuel Pressure Regulator
There are several reasons why your fuel pressure regulator may be bad. One common reason is corrosion in the electrical connections of the regulator.
If this happens, it will cause a loss of voltage, which will result in no fuel pressure output from your regulator. This can be caused by water or dirt getting into these connections and causing corrosion.
Another possible reason for a bad regulator is if it was damaged during an accident or if it has been exposed to water for too long.
5. Stuck Fuel Injector
There are two common causes of a stuck fuel injector, and they both require a special part to fix.
The first is when the fuel rail is stuck closed and the fuel injectors are starved of fuel. The second is when the fuel rail has been damaged, causing it to stick open and not allow any fuel into the injectors.
To solve either problem, you’ll need to replace the malfunctioning plunger inside each injector with a new one. This will stop it from spraying out when you press on it and also prevent it from sticking in place.
How is No Fuel Pressure Diagnosed?
Diagnosing fuel pressure is easy, but it may not be so simple to diagnose the issue. The first thing you need to do is determine whether or not there is a low-fuel pressure sensor present in your engine. If so, then you can proceed with the diagnosis using a scan tool.
If there isn’t a low-fuel sensor installed in your vehicle, then you’ll need to measure the fuel pressure at each of the four injectors located on your fuel rail system.
You can use any type of gauge or gauge setup that works for you to measure these pressures.
Once you’ve determined which injector has the lowest fuel pressure, then you’ll want to check for leaks at that location. In doing so, make sure that all of the connections are secure and tight as well as free from dirt or debris.
If there are no leaks present at this point, then there’s still hope for finding an issue with your engine’s fuel system.
However, it will be more difficult than if you had found a leak in the first place because now you’ll need to find out why those particular injector pipes are having trouble producing proper fuel pressures at all times (which could potentially lead to other problems down the road).
Fuel pressure is the amount of pressure that is present in a fuel system. If the fuel pressure is low, it can cause issues with your engine performance and make it harder to start.
How Do you Get Fuel Pressure Back?
There are three ways you can get fuel pressure back:
Replace the fuel pump
Or put a new one in your tank and make sure it’s working properly. If you have an electric fuel pump, that’s not a good option because it’s very expensive and hard to find unless you have a lot of money.
Also, if the original fuel pump is still working but not getting pressure from the tank (or vice versa), then you may want to consider replacing the original pump with something stronger like a rebuilt Ford Taurus or Mercury Tracer.
Replace the fuel injectors with new ones
New injectors that are stronger and/or adjustable. This will help boost your engine’s performance by allowing more power through each cylinder and also prevent any issues with knocking in the future.
You can also buy adjustable injectors for some makes and models, but I would recommend either screw-in type or one-piece injection caps as these last longer than some other types of injectors (for example).
Get an external fuel pressure regulator
This will connect between your tank and the rear of your car’s gas pedal assembly (if applicable).
This will allow more precise control over how much pressure is being supplied by the tank to your engine while also providing better protection.
Wrapping Up
It should be noted, however, that just like with most car repair issues, you are better off having a certified mechanic take a look at your fuel pressure gauge.
While these instructions will likely solve the problem for you, it is not always the case. As always, if you get stuck or need more help with anything, simply call up your local mechanic. They’ll be able to help you out with any issue.
