This mechanical failure is much more common than people realize, and yes, a bad fuel pump can keep an engine from starting. A Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) study on 126 engine starts cited that nearly 87% of all engine start failures were related to fuel delivery, and failing fuel pumps are one of the top three contributors to the problem. If the fuel pump has a failure, it cannot create the right pressure to push the fuel to the engine, thus the combustion process cannot be initiated.
Modern cars average 30 to 80 psi depending on the engine, which is nothing to be messed with. The engine will not get the fuel necessary for combustion without this pressure to go through the gas path, which is essential for ignition. For example, the fuel injectors of a high-performance vehicle depend on the fuel pump to supply fuel at the right pressure all the time. If things are just a few psi below this range, the engine simply won’t start, proving that it is the pump that ignites the engine process.
Problems are more common with higher-mileage vehicles. According to Automotive News, a report states that fuel pumps typically endure for between 100,000 and 150,000 miles before beginning to lose efficiency or fail altogether. When drivers complain of difficulties starting the engine in older vehicles, it is more often the case that the fuel pump, rather than the starter or even the battery is to blame. Frequent use causes wear to the pump, which reduces pressure output and makes it more and more difficult to start the engine.
You often see this with fleet vehicles, so the fuel pumps are typically maintained well because of all the starting and stopping. Because the pump that delivers the fuel is also crucial to keeping the engine running, fleet managers say if a particular fuel pump is ignored, failures to start become more likely. In addition, Popular Mechanics experts state that “the fuel pump is the heart of the fuel delivery system — it serves to get engines up and running reliably.”
So, there is an interesting question that arises when discussing how a bad fuel pump affects the engine starts — can you avoid expensive repairs through regular checks? It is obvious; start failures are drastically reduced with routine inspections and replacing worn parts. Dr Mechanics recommend performing all fuel pump pressure check every year while cleaning or unblocking things on stereotypical basis; besides, this is necessary for vehicles that indicate age. This approach helps vehicle owners save money in the long run because having to pay for a sudden breakdown and a tow includes extra expenses that can easily total $200 to $500, based on the vehicle type and location of the breakdown.
But knowing how much of a good Fuel Pump plays in the ignition process, drivers can prevent unpredictable starting hiccups and keep their vehicles rolling for the longutes.