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hOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN A FUEL PUMP IS NOT WORKING IN A CAR?

 
Jay's Avatar
  • Answered by:Jay
  • Nissan Technician
  • Positive Feedback: 99.1 %
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Customer Question

hOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN A FUEL PUMP IS NOT WORKING IN A CAR?

 

Country: United States
Make: Nissan
Model: Sentra
Year: 2005

Already Tried:
Service Engine Light comes on. Car runs rough and then stops. replaced battery and belts.

Submitted: 373 days and 7 hours ago.
Category: Nissan
Value: $18
Status: CLOSED

Accepted Answer

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Expert:  Jay replied 373 days and 7 hours ago.


Jay :

Hello and thank you for using JustAnswer.com

Jay :

What size engine do you have?

Customer :

2.5

Jay :

The problem is most likely not fuel related

Jay :

It's most likely a Cam or Crank sensor

Customer :

explain please.

Jay :

I would see if you can rent a scanner from your local auto parts store or auto zone and scan the car to see what code you have.

Jay :

The Cam and Crank sensor are the most common problem for stalling, hard start or no start issues

Jay :

Especially since you said you had the service engine soon light come on.

Jay :

These sensors are major inputs to the computer to determine engine position so the engine can fire properly and on time.

Jay :

If one of these sensors fail, it won't know when to fire cause it can not determine engine position.

Customer :

one code I remember seeing is 1150 or 1155. Is this in the range. The mechanic at the gas station did a scan.

Jay :

But the thing about this also is that you don't want to replace these sensors with sensors from you local auto parts store

Jay :

They never work.

Jay :

hold on, let me look up those codes...

Jay :

There is no such codes even close to those numbers

Jay :

You have to watch when you scan this car with a code reader

Jay :

Any codes that Start with P1 are what they call manufacture codes.

Customer :

They reset it. Told me to drive it some more. Light came back on. took it to AAMCO. they said car would not start-need fuel pump. Had it towed home.

Jay :

Code readers may mistaken those codes

Jay :

The codes they read properly are the generic P0 codes

Jay :

If you turn the key to the ON position is the security light on solid?

Jay :

Fuel pumps are extremely rare on these cars.

Customer :

Senior moment. wrong car. 2000 Chevy Lumina.

Jay :

Oh so this isn't a Sentra?

Customer :

no. just had that one fixed too.

Jay :

Then the P1155 could be a good code

Customer :

is that the fuel pump?

Jay :

That is a Fuel system lean code Bank 2 sensor 1

Jay :

Here is the possible causes of this code.

Customer :

????

Jay :

The possible causes of rich codes are:

1. A leaking or faulty fuel injector
2. Fuel injector driver in computer shorted, or wiring short for injectors (likely a ground short)
3. Leaking or faulty fuel pressure regulator or restricted return line
4. Faulty evaporative emissions system - bleeding fuel vapors into engine (not commanded by computer)
5. On newer models a faulty fuel pump or fuel pump driver module
6. Faulty readings from other sensors such as a Mass Air Flow Sensor. You may actually be getting more air than the MAF tells the computer
7. Exhaust leaks before the sensor will cause erratic readings
8. After market components or performance chips
9. And yes, if I dare say it, possibly a computer, wiring issue or even a faulty O2 sensor!

Jay :

That is the same list for Rich and lean codes

Customer :

$$$$$ ????

Jay :

The fuel pump is possible but should be tested to verify

Customer :

Looks like I'm headed to the Chevy dealer for repairs!!!

Customer :

how is it verified. Would it prevent the car from starting?

Jay :

It's best to check into this verses just throwing parts at the car

Jay :

Fuel pressure gauge is used to check the fuel pump

Jay :

Then the MAF sensor is checked by using a scan tool to monitor the fuel trim readings

Customer :

Haven't seen any abnormalities in guages on dash. I'm not a mechanic.

Jay :

02 sensor voltages are checked to determine if they are operating properly and so on.

Jay :

That is something you would not see on the gauges to determine if there is a fault

Customer :

???

Jay :

If it's a fuel pump or something, you wouldn't see anything on the gauges to determine that.

Jay :

You said you haven't seen any thing abnormal in the gauges on the dash.

Jay :

and all I am saying is that you won't see it.

Customer :

true

Customer :

I see. Anything someone with no knowledge or experience can do?

Jay :

A fuel pressure gauge is used to determine fuel pressure to see if it's in spec. This is a different gauge than what you use in the car

Jay :

These checks require some special tools to do the proper checked to help determine and verify the problem

Customer :

Is this something routinely checked in say an oil change?

Jay :

No this is not something that is checked at a quick lube

Customer :

Well, looks like a trip to a dealer or a good mechanic. thanks. Anything else you think I should know?

Jay :

Not much more I can think of I am afraid

Jay :

But a good mechanic or the dealer would be the right place to have this checked

Customer :

Well, at least I have some idea. Thank you! Good night.

Jay :

Your welcome and thank you for using JustAnswer.com

Jay :

Thanks Jay!

Expert TypeNissan Technician
Category: Nissan
Pos. Feedback: 99.1 %
Accepts: 10108
Answered: 5/6/2012

Experience: 20 yrs experience with Nissan & Infiniti Trained & Certified.Currently still working for Dealer

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