Fuel Pump Making Noise but Not Pumping Fuel- Investigate!!!

Fuel Pump Making Noise

Affiliate Disclosure: When you buy a product via our links, we sometimes earn a referral fee. Learn more

The morning you wake up, get ready for your office, but when it comes to leaving out, the most frustrating issue users can suffer is the fuel pump making noise but not pumping fuel that makes the vehicle unable to run.

Now that’s an awful situation and makes the day start with a bad issue. If you hear the noise, but no gas fuel takes up, there can be a fault in the fuel pump. Do you know why it occurs? 

Being a commoner won’t make you able to find the culprits behind it.

Still, with the help of our expert query-solving guide, any commoner can troubleshoot like a pro and make the question understandable to take proper action.

Most of the time, you forget to add fuel to the tank, so try to fix the common issues and let the prime ones handle by a mechanic. 

Fuel Pump Making Noise but Not Pumping Fuel- Quick Fix

There seem to be multiple reasons behind your query about the pump making noise but not pumping fuel, and the most common ones include; low gas fuel in the fuel tank, electrical breakdown, the problem with the fuel pump filter, and a damaged fuel pump relay.

Fuel Pump Making Noise

Also, faulty pressure regulators, dead fuel pumps, and wrong fuel gas are ubiquitous. Always check the defective fuel pump to investigate the main query and culprit behind the issue.

To solve the problem, try out a detailed section with each reason accompanied by a possible fix. 

Fuel Pump and Its Parts 

Where there seems to be a Running engine, there would be a fuel pump that transfers the fuel from the fuel tank into the engine to power it up and let it run efficiently.

Without a fuel pump, the engine isn’t able to run correctly, and that causes many problems. The fuel pump maintains the pressure required for gas to enter the engine for combustion and efficient working of the vehicle.

The pump contains the following parts, which upon any fault, would lead to failing the pump, and once the pump gets faulty, the user would suffer problems along with various symptoms that will get discussed below along with the issues. But for now, let’s check out which parts a fuel pump owns. 

  • Fuel gauge sending unit
  • Fuel pump intake strainer 
  • Pressure regulator valve
  • Fuel tank pressure sensor 
  • Fuel system filter

What Types of Noise does a Bad Fuel Pump Make?

Based on each scenario, the fuel pump can make various types of noises, each defining a specific set of problems in the engine.

Mostly 04 everyday noises are heard, including whining, buzzing, humming, and clicking. Issues with the wiring cause the pump to click or buzz.

fuel pump

Other issues cause groaning sounds while sometimes an average fuel tank sounds hums, but if sounds occur from a fuel pump, then fuel isn’t supplied and can be because of many reasons. 

Symptoms Of Bad Fuel Pump 

A bad fuel pump may sound strange but along that causes many other symptoms to inform the users about a faulty pump. Any signs would help you identify the problem, and timely fixing would help you avoid future issues. 

  • Difficulty in Starting
  • Sputtering Engine
  • The Stall
  • Nonfunctional Alternator and Starter
  • Faulty fuel filter
  • Physical Damage to the fuel pump
  • Power Loss
  • Surging Power
  • Lower Fuel Efficiency

Why Isn’t Fuel Pump Pumping Fuel Rather Making Noise? Reasons And Fixes 

Is your fuel pump making noise but not pumping fuel? To investigate the case, we have brought in the most common cause for the query, along with simple fixes that would help you regain your working pump. If the pump fails or is faulty, only replacement seems a better option, but parts repair can fix the issue. 

Fuel Tank Low on Fuel

low fuel on fuel tank

Problem- Low fuel in the tank 

Easy fix– full the tank 

Before going towards any primary default check, you need to acquire whether the fuel tank has adequate fuel to run the engine or not.

Sometimes there isn’t enough fuel to handle the engine run, and low gas fuel causes the fuel pump to make noises because the fuel pump needs to carry out more work for running the engine, making it noisy.

The easiest fix to carry out is to fill your pump up to the desired level to avoid unnecessary noises and make the engine power up and work efficiently. 

Faulty Fuel Pump 

Faulty Fuel Pump 

Problem– dead or faulty fuel pump

Easy fix– replace the fuel pump

As discussed above, if a fuel pump is damaged or faulty, it would have many signs and symptoms, including noises and difficulty running the engine.

If these symptoms exist, then there seems to be a chance that your fuel pump is damaged or worn out with time.

So, an appointment with a good and expert mechanic and a change of fuel pump are necessary to make it back to a working state. 

Electrical Break Down 

Problem– problem with electrical connections

Easy fix– fix the connection 

If the fuel tank gets full and the pump is working well, but still no gas is supplied to the engine, the wiring might be an issue.

The wirings might get loose, cut, or dispatched from their place, leading to the electrical power supply getting cut down. Other reasons can be any short-circuiting or corrosion; the fuel pump can get faulty. 

Problem With Fuel Pump Filter 

Fuel Pump Filter 

Problem– damaged or clogged fuel pump filter 

Easy fix– fix or replace the fuel pump filter 

Any fault coming towards the various fuel pump parts would lead to the above query. A default fuel causes the pump not to start and makes strange noises to inform the user that something is wrong. 

Damaged Fuel Pump Relay 

Problem– faulty fuel pump relay

Easy fix– replace the fuel pump relay

A fuel pump relay is another solid-state switch part that functions as an electricity-transferring unit. This transferring mechanism gets stopped by any way the fuel pump won’t work. Fuel pump relays are sensitive to moisture and get rusted over time if not properly maintained and checked out. 

Short-Circuit Or Damaged Wirings 

Problem– issue with the wirings and switch

Easy fix– fix the wirings or change the switch

Your vehicle gets loaded with multiple electrical systems that work synergistically to enhance the overall functions of the engine.

To make it run efficiently if your fuel pump fuse is short-circuited or blown out, then there are chances that the fuel pump won’t be able to supply the gas from the tank to the engine. To fix the issue, contact a mechanic and replace the part. 

Faulty Pressure Regulator 

Problem– faulty fuel pump pressure regulator

Easy fix– replace the regulator

A fuel pump with a damaged pressure regulator stops pressure build-up causing no fuel to get supplied to the engine from the tank.

The pressure regulator is necessary for building up the pressure, so any issue in this system would also cause the fuel pu

mp to get faulty and be unable to work correctly. Experts suggest checking out other reasons. If none gets found, then the replacement of the pressure regulator can fix the problem.  

Wrong Fuel Gas 

Problem– wrong fuel added

Easy fix– replace the old fuel and add the required gas to the tank

A different gas or non-compatible fuel to your vehicle engine can cause the fuel pump to make noise but not pump fuel.

Each car gets designed to run with a particular type of gas per requirements. That’s a common mistake of using the wrong power, like in the octane case; different octane fuels can confuse the user about the desired one.

The issue gets fixed by opting for the proper fuel gas for your vehicle. Check the vehicle manual for more information.

Have a New Fuel Pump but Still Have Trouble? Reasons 

A new pump can cause different noises at the start, and that can be because of;

  • Loosely fitted fuel pump
  • Check fuel level; a low fuel level can be the cause 
  • Fuel might be Contaminated 
  • The fuel filter might get contaminated 

Easy Fix 

Try to fix the issues by properly checking parts, maintaining them over time, and cleaning the accumulated dirt or rust to cause the fuel pump gets back to work.

When replacing the old one with the new one, ensure you got it adequately secured to the site. 

How Much Does a New Fuel Pump Cost?

If you find out your whole fuel pump is faulty or damaged, then a new pump is your current need, but based on your car model and pump requirement, along with installation and labor, costs may vary.
A standard good, quality fuel pump can cost about $220 to $1,062, eliminating the labor cost. For that, you would have to pay around $124 to $260, depending on how challenging the task is.
If you require changing fuel tank parts, the average cost ranges between $95 to $854. The cost ranges are average values and may vary depending upon various conditions and scenarios.

Conclusion

Finally, we had made it to the end of solving the query for the fuel pump making noise but not pumping fuel. We hope you got all the reasons why the issue occurs with the handy solution.

Experts suggest first checking out each part, especially the pump making noise, because, in most cases, the fuel isn’t enough to make the engine run.

Besides that, to replace the fuel pump, go for a high-quality module and consultation from an expert mechanic to get the job done effortlessly and timely. 


Leave a Comment