As its name implies, a fuel pump delivers or “pumps” gas or diesel into your engine’s combustion chamber. It’s a pretty trouble-free piece of equipment but sometimes they go bad. That’s when a fuel pump replacement becomes necessary. Here are the warning signs of a bad fuel pump:

• Engine “chokes” or struggles to maintain speed
• Noises, backfires and a sputtering engine
• Hesitation at start or take-off
• A bad fuel pump can overheat, causing the engine to overheat
• Any of the above issues along with a “Check Engine” light

If you ignore these symptoms for too long your engine will eventually fail to start, so it’s best to see your mechanic as soon as you can.

For more information, read our article to see if your car needs a new fuel pump

The cost to replace your vehicle’s fuel pump can be considerable. It depends on the make and model you have and how old it is, but if you want to ballpark it, you should expect to pay anywhere between $390 and $900. Labor rates can vary from place to place, but KBB.com factors in those variations when we provide our Fair Repair Range. Of course, it’s impossible to give you a precise estimate – for your specific car – until a local service center gets a look.

In the past, mechanical fuel pumps were common, sometimes attached outside the fuel tank. With the advent of electronic fuel injection (found on most modern vehicles), such mechanical devices are relics. They’ve been replaced by electric fuel pumps which are generally mounted inside the fuel tank. Why inside? Because a pump located in the gas tank, submerged in cool “liquid” and at a point farthest away from the hot engine, is less likely to start a fire.

If your name is MacGyver, you might have a chance of fixing a bad fuel pump. Even if you do, it’s just temporary. You’ll still need to replace it. Our recommendation would be to take your car to a professional and have them diagnose the problem. You never know, it might not be your fuel pump after all.

A fuel pump’s job is pretty self-explanatory: it pumps fuel to your engine. It’s a hardy piece of equipment providing years of trouble-free service, but every once in a while you’ll need a fuel pump replacement. How would you know? Look for these bad fuel pump symptoms:

• Engine “chokes” or struggles to maintain speed
• Noises, backfires and a sputtering engine
• Hesitation at start or take-off
• A bad fuel pump can overheat, causing the engine to overheat
• Any of the above issues along with a “Check Engine” light

Ignore these symptoms long enough and you can add another symptom to the list: your car won’t start. So if you’re experiencing any of these warning signs, it’s best to see your mechanic as soon as possible.

For more information, read our article