Why Does My Car Hesitate with a Bad Fuel Pump?

It is easy for a car to develop hesitation when the fuel pump goes bad because of the inappropriate quantity of fuel at the right pressure reaching the engine. The work of the fuel pump is to transfer fuel from the tank to the engine and ensure that it reaches there with a continuous flow to keep the engine running smoothly. When a fuel pump starts to fail, it may not be able to supply enough fuel, hence causing hesitation while accelerating or when the vehicle is idling.
Hesitation occurs because the engine is momentarily starved of fuel, misfires, or loses power. A study conducted in 2019 on car performance indicated that faulty fuel pumps accounted for more than 7% of engine hesitation problems. The problem usually is more evident when driving at high speed or trying to accelerate quickly. For instance, drivers of vehicles with faulty fuel pumps may experience a noticeable lag when pressing the gas pedal or feel a sudden loss of power.

Several factors can cause the fuel pump to fail, including wear and tear, clogged filters, or faulty electrical components. Whenever the fuel pump is not working at its prescribed pressure-which is usually around 40 to 60 psi for most cars-the proper fuel-air mixture will not reach the engine, hence causing hesitation. A damaged or malfunctioning pressure regulator in the fuel pump may cause fluctuations in fuel pressure, making the engine hesitate or stall altogether.

Real-world examples support this. For instance, many owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu reported hesitation issues linked to the fuel pump. Herein, the performance of such a vehicle would decrease in case of acceleration; additionally, the car would seem sluggish. In most of those cases, it was found that the fuel pump is not maintaining pressure, thus leading to hesitation.

It is also important to note that when hesitation occurs, it is normally accompanied by other symptoms, including sputtering or stalling, especially if the pump is almost at a point of complete failure. A faulty fuel pump also increases fuel consumption, therefore making the car less efficient on fuel. Therefore, in case of hesitation or power loss in a vehicle, the fuel system should be checked for problems with the Fuel Pump as the cause.

You can log on to Fuel Pump for more information on the best and quality fuel pump replacement.

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