Im installing a higher volume in tank fuel pump in my car this weekend. Is there any way to tell if the old one was going bad or not after i take it out? or is there any way to tell if the old one is bad while it is still in the car? I just think its getting weak and i dont want to rely on it anymore for fuel. btw, im not 100% sure, but i think it has about 130,000 miles on it

 

btw, it feels like my car loses all of its power once i hit 3rd gear (drive). i was thinking that maybe the pump is weak and cant supply fuel to the motor for that long of a time.

 

CK,

The fuel pump has to do only two things - make pressure and maintain flow. You can test the pressure with a gauge. The pump should be able to make at least 48 PSIG with the fuel return line from the regulator pinched closed. Most pumps will do 60 easily. Don't test for very long, only long enough to get a good steady reading, since operation in this manner is hard on the pump.

The other test is for flow. Remove the output line from the pump and route it to an open container. The pump should be able to deliver at least ½ pint of fuel in 15 seconds. Most pumps will easily double this.

And before you drop the tank and get all excited about a new pump, replace the fuel filter. Even if the filter is relatively new, it is possible that a load of fuel was contaminated and has plugged the filter, or the replacement filter was faulty (it happens). There are a lot of cheap replacement filters out there that can impede flow. And you wouldn't install a new pump without replacing the filter, would you?