Why are GM fuel pumps so short lived?

What is it about electric fuel pumps that makes them fail after only

100 000 KM or so. Does the motor wear out somehow or is it some other thing that goes bad? ?

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Reply to
Frank White
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Good question. Most of the people I know who have GM trucks with the fuel pump mounted at the tank end up with VERY loud fuel pumps once the vehicle gets a few years on it, then eventually the pump fails.

Seems to be a very common weakness, and the replacement labor cost is fairly high due to the need to drop the fuel tank.

John

Reply to
John Horner

Some fuel pumps use the gas as a coolant/lubrincant, maybe running the gas tank too low might cause them to wear out sooner?

Reply to
croaker68

Detroit's effort to make it cheaper in both senses of the word?

Reply to
Jim Higgins

Because people don't change their fuel filters at the 30k interval like they should. Add running the tank down to fumes to the mix and voila.........

Reply to
Repairman

Greetings,

This is not a Detroit-only or Big Three-only issue. Almost all of the vehicles I've seen built in the past several years have a fuel-tank-mounted fuel pump and even the asian cars and trucks suffer from the same issues. In fact, my wife's non-domestic SUV uses an in-tank fuel pump that has an integrated fuel filter that is non-replaceable (talk about cheap!), but it's waranted for 100k miles.

The units that have replaceable fuel filters I believe have a better filtering ability, but that just emphasizes the need for regular filter changes. A combination of letting the filter go too long between replacements and running the tank low will wear out any fuel pump regardless of maker.

Cheers - Jonathan

Reply to
Jonathan

I agree. I have been driving GM products exclusively for about 40 years and I haven't had to replace a fuel pump since my '61 Impala bubbletop! I have never had to replace an in-tank pump. But I tend to refuel when the level drops to between 1/2 to 3/4 of a tank. My son is presently driving a '98 Grand Am with the 3.1 liter engine and he has over

150,000 miles on the original pump.
Reply to
Cool Jet

I stand corrected, thanks.

Reply to
Jim Higgins

That is the way GM wants it. How hard is it to build a long lasting fuel pump anyway? Engineers know what they are doing. The company spends millions and millions of dollars on R&D every year. That is the way they are designed. They don't design components by accident.

Reply to
Bob Bitch'n

My blazer has a replaceable fuel filter along the underside of vehicle by driver door, as well as a filter at the pump assembly. It eats fuel pumps at least 1 every other year since 95. Lifetime warranty came in handy, but install fee has kicked my ass. I would have liked that blazer if it wasnte for fuel pumps and brakes.

Reply to
dnoyeB

Ho-ly cow! That's crazy. Did you ever replace the gas tank or have it cleaned of sediment? Fuel pumps are usually good for 60,000 on the very low side, but more commonly, 100,000 miles. I can't blame your for not liking that maintenance record, but I'd be looking deeper into the causes. That's

*not* typical.
Reply to
Mike Marlow

Frankie,

I went 250,000 miles and 13 years on my Bonneville's original fuel pump when I had it replaced in 2003. It was still working at the time, but replaced it anyway due to age & the fact it had just reached a 1/4 milllion miles.

Harryface

05 Park Avenue, 34,145 91 Bonneville LE 305,679
Reply to
Harry Face

Where are you getting your pumps? Never seen them fail that fast unless they are junk out of the box. Might be time to look at other issues, like bad ground to the pump or low voltage, also do a flow rate test and see if there is something else as a contributing factor.

Reply to
Steve W.

Reply to
The Adams Family

Uh, the one in my 2000 Yukon XL failed at 20,000 miles. Cost $400 to repair. Shop that replaced it said they see lots of broken ones. GM has no business putting such trash in a $40,000 truck.

Reply to
GLitwinski

Message from Repairman written on 2/3/2006 7:26 AM:

I can see the fuel filter causing strain on the pump, but low fuel levels causing failure? I run for days on fumes. Been doing so for decades. Haven't had fuel pump fail yet (knock on wood)!

Reply to
jcr

I agree. A crimped or bent fuel line can act the same as a clogged filter and may not be easily found. Only a flow rate test will tell you one way or the other, but I would also check fuel pressure as well. A dirty ground is also a possibility, or perhaps a dirty harness connector as well.

Cheers - Jonathan

Reply to
Jonathan

Reply to
Repairman

You've hit upon the crux of the problem, second rate aftermarket new junk or rebuilts. There are a few truths to be noted here, anecdotal "evidence" to the contrary. The first is that in-tank pumps are usually good for most of 100K under normal conditions. The second is that having the tank mostly kept full means the pump runs submerged keeping it cooler thus adding to its potential service life. The third is that an in-tank pump is a bitch to get to, very time consuming if you DIY and very expensive to have done for you. The fourth is that you don't buy half-assed rebuilt junk regardless of the "lifetime warranty". You bite the bullet, buy new OEM or quality aftermarket or rebuilt (good luck finding either of those) and have done with it.

Reply to
NickySantoro

Message from Repairman written on 2/4/2006 8:24 AM:

Guess I've been lucky for a very long time.

Reply to
jcr

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