Silly mechanical fuel pump question
#1
![Red face](https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/images/icons/icon11.gif)
I think I know the answer to this but have to ask anyway -
If you put your finger over the suction inlet and crank the engine, you should feel a suction, right?
I feel nothing and no fuel comes out. Gas tank is full, car has been sitting for 6 months, and it ran perfectly when last parked. I am guessing the diaphragm dried out and cracked, thanks to the crappy ethenol.
Just need some confirmations before changing it.
Thanks!
Edit -old one was an airtex, installed 10 years ago.
Is Carter or spectra any better than airtex? Airtex was the cheapest...
If you put your finger over the suction inlet and crank the engine, you should feel a suction, right?
I feel nothing and no fuel comes out. Gas tank is full, car has been sitting for 6 months, and it ran perfectly when last parked. I am guessing the diaphragm dried out and cracked, thanks to the crappy ethenol.
Just need some confirmations before changing it.
Thanks!
Edit -old one was an airtex, installed 10 years ago.
Is Carter or spectra any better than airtex? Airtex was the cheapest...
#7
Well I pulled the pump off this evening. took all of 10 minutes, included gathering the tools.
The lever moves up and down but the pump plunger does not. Looks like a keeper came off or something. Glad it happened while sitting in the driveway and not on the road!
It was a Carter, bought in 2000. I have the receipt and will claim the lifetime warranty on it tomorrow. Parts store ordered one and should be there now.
Cheap and easy - I love old cars!!
EDIT - it was not the keeper - i was not pulling the lever hard enough. The diaphragm had ruptured.
The lever moves up and down but the pump plunger does not. Looks like a keeper came off or something. Glad it happened while sitting in the driveway and not on the road!
It was a Carter, bought in 2000. I have the receipt and will claim the lifetime warranty on it tomorrow. Parts store ordered one and should be there now.
Cheap and easy - I love old cars!!
EDIT - it was not the keeper - i was not pulling the lever hard enough. The diaphragm had ruptured.
#8
It always makes you stop and think when it happens in the driveway. I know you have traveled a lot in your car. Might think about a spare and the tools to change it.
Last edited by redoldsman; October 8th, 2013 at 07:05 AM.
#9
![Big Grin](https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#10
Hmmm, maybe we should tow a car just like the one we are driving and then .... Oh, what am I thinking.
![EEK!](https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif)
#12
Well, i got the pump replaced for free at Oreillys - love that lifetime warranty!
Easy as can be, too, even for a 13 year old part.
Very friendly folds at the store i went to.
Lifetime warranty is gone now and everything is just a year. I suspect modern part quality might be to blame. Only time will tell though.
The old one had a ruptured diaphragm, and as a result no suction. Earlier I was not pulling the lever hard enough to pull the plunger. I suspect our crappy fuel did this. As the car sat, fuel leaked back into the tank and the diaphragm dried out too many times.
I found that while covering the inlet on the new pump, I could not even pull the lever all the way down. It sucked hard!
In thinking about that, i do not recommend trying to check for suction at the pump with your fingers!
Pump was installed in half an hour and car runs great now. I love how old cars are so easy to work on for the most part.![Cool](https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/images/smilies/cool.gif)
I have the premier level of AAA, so if anything happens to any of my cars, I will just have it towed back to the house. So far I never had to use it, but it is good piece of mind. Breakdowns only happen at the most inconvenient times i have found....
Easy as can be, too, even for a 13 year old part.
![Big Grin](https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Lifetime warranty is gone now and everything is just a year. I suspect modern part quality might be to blame. Only time will tell though.
The old one had a ruptured diaphragm, and as a result no suction. Earlier I was not pulling the lever hard enough to pull the plunger. I suspect our crappy fuel did this. As the car sat, fuel leaked back into the tank and the diaphragm dried out too many times.
I found that while covering the inlet on the new pump, I could not even pull the lever all the way down. It sucked hard!
In thinking about that, i do not recommend trying to check for suction at the pump with your fingers!
Pump was installed in half an hour and car runs great now. I love how old cars are so easy to work on for the most part.
![Cool](https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/images/smilies/cool.gif)
I have the premier level of AAA, so if anything happens to any of my cars, I will just have it towed back to the house. So far I never had to use it, but it is good piece of mind. Breakdowns only happen at the most inconvenient times i have found....
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post