Hey Everyone,

I have owned 4 GM trucks / SUV's in my lifetime. After being left to change out a fuel pump on the side of a two lane highway in the weeds with no prior warning, I read up on GM fuel pumps. The next three GM vehicles I owned got new fuel pumps between 90 and 100K miles so that it would never happen to me again (especially once I had small children riding around with my wife).

Now, I have read that my Ex has the integrated pump relay into the main circuit board and there is no changing it. I have read a lot about how a fuel pump that is on its way out can also take out that relay due to pulling too many amps. I can't have any of the above happen because of how my Ex is the "family hauler, camper puller, go on 1800 mile trips across the country, etc" vehicle.

I now have over 110K on it. Would it be wise or a waste of money to go ahead and drop the tank and replace the fuel pump on MY terms at my own home with my own tools? I never go below 1/4 tank (Army taught me well that a half-a-tank is an empty tank) so I don't think I have ever overheated the pump.

What would YOU do? What have you done?

Thanks for any input.

James

 

A preventative fuel pump change? I would rather just get AAA and roll on. I have 117k miles and have no plans to change it until it dies. With the way replacement parts are, you may be installing a problem instead of preventing one.

 

I have to agree with ^^^^^^^^..... I replace things all the time, but my v10 was at 228k when I sold it on original fuel pump... I don't think that's a part I would replace unless it needed it or I had to lower my tank for something.

 

This is what I was looking for. Thank you both!

This comes up because my neighbor just had his die on his Expedition at 145K so I got to thinking about mine. Add that to the way GM fuel pumps are notorious for failing at relatively low mileage.... I just thought I would ask.

Michael, your 224K makes me feel more trusting of the pump. Thanks.

05milMachine, thank you for your reply. To be honest, a preventative fuel pump change was wise with all of my previous GM vehicles... I know, this is Ford.... but GM made me gun-shy.

I will stop worrying about mine. (until 200K)

Thank you again.

 

I wouldn't worry as much with the ford fuel pumps, they seem to last a good long time (150K-300K+).

The chevy pumps on the other hand seem to be designed to fail at 100K. I as well have replaced every chevy pump there is around here. I even replaced a couple with pumps from other makes so they would actually last. My grandfathers buick which had a pump fail at 36K got a honda pump like 10 years ago and is still going strong.

I am surprised it didn't blow up, the connectors on the pump were fried and melted INSIDE of the gas tank.

 

Thank you Snowseeker! Yes, Chevy is to blame for making me nervous about fuel pumps in the first place. Never thought of replacing with another make... didn't know I could have! :-)

Just a quick thought.... why is it that I have had Toyota 4X4's, 4Runners and Honda MiniVans that I sold with almost 300K on the clocks and never had a problem with the fuel pumps? What is up with GM? Planned failure so you have to buy another?

James

 

They have bosch pumps, not sure what the deal is exactly but I know none of them last for some reason.

Most fuel pump bodies are the same so most of them will fit other makes. In stock form even the flow isn't a concern between most makes. Like I said I installed a 1989 honda crx dx fuel pump into my grandfathers 1998 buick and haven't looked back. Even the newer vehicles with integrated fuel pumps into the sending unit can be taken apart and swapped. My 89 ford F250 plow truck with the pump on the frame has a MSD pump designed also for a honda civic. lol Yeah I have allot of honda parts around.

Now I am not saying they will just drop right in, sometimes fittings need to be swapped, sometimes a short section of fuel hose is needed, But in the end a pump is a simple motor with an inlet and outlet and needs 12v.