Your Land Rover Discovery Sport: Symptoms and Dangers of a bad Fuel Pump

A fuel pump is an important car part. If the engine is the heart of the car, the fuel pump is the pulmonary veins. It is responsible for ensuring petrol is moved from the tank to the engine, in the same way the pulmonary veins move oxygen-rich blood to the heart.

Without the fuel pump, your car can't operate. When this can result in being left stranded on the side of the road, which not something you want to happen. Thankfully, there are a few signs you can watch out for to help you determine when and if your fuel pump is going bad, so you can prevent this problem from happening in the first place.

Types of Fuel Pumps

Before we discuss the symptoms of a bad fuel pump, let's discuss what types of fuel pumps there are. The most common type is the mechanic fuel pump. this kind of fuel pump operates by the engine rotation. It looks similar to a diaphragm and pumps using low pressure, about 10 to 15 psi, to move petrol from the tank to the carburettor.

While mechanic fuel pumps are traditional, they aren't the only option for your car. Electronic fuel pumps are used with a fuel injection system that has been adopted by many car manufacturers today. When a fuel injection system takes the place of a carburettor, the mechanical pump isn't able to produce enough pressure to transport fuel to the engine. The electronic system can, pumping fuel to its destination with high pressure, about 40 to 60 psi.

The electronic fuel pump is located in the fuel tank, and is common on most vehicles today. Unfortunately, more problems can occur with car parts like this because they are controlled via computers.

Understanding the two different types of fuel pumps and the difference between their function is essential when determining whether a problem exists with these car parts. Remember, each type of fuel pump needs the right amount of pressure to deliver fuel to the engine and each needs to be able to push or pump petrol from the fuel tank to the carburettor or fuel injector.

Symptoms of a Bad Fuel Pump

Sputtering Engine

One of the most common signs of a failing fuel pump is sputtering when driving at a higher speed. Let's say you're driving your Land Rover down the road at a constant high speed. The car begins to stutter, and continues to do so for about 10 miles. It then suddenly returns to normal. If you're like most drivers, you might suspect that this is caused by a fuel-related issue. While it might be, it can also be the result of other Land Rover parts, like the fuel pump. If the pump is having a hard time delivering fuel at the right pressure, it could be that it is worn out. When the pressure of the fuel isn't constant, the result can be a sputtering engine.

Loss of Power

There's nothing scarier than not being able to accelerate when you're driving your Land Rover, except maybe not being able to brake. When this symptom occurs, your Land Rover might accelerate at first, but then begin jerking around or sputtering like it's going to die right there and then. It may then continue working as normal. This, again, is due to the pressure delivered by the fuel pump. If that pressure isn't constant, the engine receives an improper mixture of fuel and air.

Loss of Power

Power is important when it comes to driving your Land Rover. When your car is under stress and suffering from a failing fuel pump, however, the climbing that next hill or hauling a trailer behind you may prove to be the most difficult thing in the world. If you notice that your Land Rover loses power or failed to accelerate during these tasks, the fuel pump is likely to blame. Why? When a fuel pump is failing, the stress of these tasks are too much for it to keep up with. Because it can't produce the right amount of fuel to the engine, the car loses power.

Surging

If you've never had the pleasure of being in a car when it surged, it's a moment you'll never forget. When this happens, the car moves forward quickly, picking up speed like you've pressed down on the accelerator- except you haven't. Unfortunately, you can't control when this happens, and it can potentially lead to a car accident if you're not careful. Most people blame the fuel filter for this problem, but it's most likely due to the fuel pump. It's caused when this car part isn't able to obtain enough electricity from the engine to maintain pressure. Because of this, it may surge occasionally with a greater amount of pressure.

Dead Engine

The most severe symptom of a failing fuel pump is a dead engine. If you can't get your Land Rover to start, and you've ruled out other Land Rover parts, the problem could be the fuel pump. The engine might rev, but it won't catch. This is the result of ignoring all the symptoms the fuel pump used to try to tell you there was a problem.

A fuel pump is an essential element to any car, and it's one that drivers must keep an eye on when they own a vehicle. Like any other part of your Land Rover, knowing the types of fuel pumps there are, how they function within your Land Rover and what they require to operate normally can prevent you from finding yourself in some bad situations and save you from having to spend more money than necessary on car parts.