Fuel Pump Problems

[schueymcfee]

The other night I had a split hose between the fuel pump and the fuel tank. I replaced the hose, but when I started the car there was an air leak and so the the pump made a gargling noise. When I sealed the leak up the fuel pump fails to prime.

It makes a thump noise instead of a whirring noise. The relays are clicking on and it has no immobiliser fitted, power is getting to it, so intertia switch is on.

Any ideas anybody or is it just knackered?

[GreenV8S]

I would fear the worst because these pumps don't like running dry. I have had fuel starvation from fuel surge without any apparent ill effect so I don't think it is immediately catastrophic, but the only time I have run the tank completely dry and actually run out of fuel, the pump failed the next day. This makes me think that running the pump dry for longer than a few seconds may be enough to damage it.

Since you probably have nothing to lose with the old pump, it may be worth trying powering the pump backwards momentarily in case it is just that there is some dirt or something jamming it. But be prepared to replace the pump soon anyway because I reckon there's a good chance it is on the way out.