Grex Cars Conference

View Responses

Grex Cars Item 40: Fuel pump advice, please
Entered by roz on Tue Jun 14 21:26:59 UTC 1994:

My elderly Grand Caravan has gone through fuel pumps lately like
kids go through popsicles.  I mean four over the life of the car,
with the last replacement being in December of last year (that's
1993 for those of you reading this note after it's been archived
for a decade <g>).  Now it's having "those symptoms" again.  I
have to think that it's not the fault of the part but that
something in my fuel system is causing the pumps to fail.  Does
anyone out there have any ideas of what the problem might be?

10 responses total.

#1 of 10 by kentn on Wed Jun 15 00:59:04 1994:

What is it about the fuel pumps that is failing?  Is each pump failing
in the same manner?  If it's the diaphragm getting cracked or torn
then I'd say it's probably either bad pump construction/materials,
and/or you're putting something (or unknowingly getting something)
in your gasoline that is degrading the pump innards quickly.  Do you
use any fuel additives?  Do you often buy gasohol?
  I can't say that I've ever heard of this rate of pump failure,
but then I've never known anyone with a Grand Caravan.  In my
experience, the fuel pump fails about once, maybe twice in the life
of my cars before they totally die of other causes.
  Carry a spare and learn how to R&R your fuel pump...

#2 of 10 by wjw on Wed Jun 29 19:21:03 1994:

All Chrysler minivans have an electric fuel pump in the tank, not a
engine-mounted mechanical pump.

Roz, what year is the car.  The '91 model year was a bad one because
the pump was changed and there were quality problems with the new pump.
I haven't heard of any problems with '90 and earlier models.

My brother works for Chrysler, I can have him check if there are any 
outstanding recalls on your car or if he knows of any service bulletins
regarding fuel pump problems in your model year.

#3 of 10 by kentn on Wed Jun 29 19:30:01 1994:

And save your old, failed pumps...maybe you can get Chrysler to
tear into a box full of them and and figure out what's going on.
Certainly it would be an embarassemnt (one would hope) for a large
automaker to be presented with such evidence of poor design.
  Anyway, engine mounted or not, what are you pumping through that
fuel pump?  In what way are the pumps failing internally?  (Is it
an electrical failure is another question you can add).

#4 of 10 by wjw on Thu Jun 30 14:14:52 1994:

Roz, as promised, here is the response from my brother:

I found his minivan under RM King.
There are "no outstanding recalls".
I don't see anything about technical service
bulletins,  I guess that's not in the
computer (or i can't find it).
Maybe he is using bad gas (w/ alcohol),
maybe he has a clogged filter causing the
pump to work too hard,  maybe he is just
unlucky.  Or a clogged pickup in the tank?
 

Not too much, but perhaps a few leads.

#5 of 10 by roz on Sat Jul 2 02:17:00 1994:

Thanks, everyone.  I talked to some mechanics at Arbor Dodge who
said that they've replaced more than a few fuel pumps on the
Mitsubishi 3.0 liter engine and that the new 3.3 liter should be
a lot better. We never used alcohol-supplemented gas that we knew
of, got the fuel filter changed regularly, etc. etc.

It's a bit moot now, though we'd like to as Chrysler customer
service if they will help us out with the replacement costs
since it seems a *bit* excessive.  We have a new fuel pump and
a new Grand Caravan as of the 30th.  Gonna clean that old baby
up (it's an '88, by the way), and sell it as quick as we can.

#6 of 10 by scg on Sat Jul 2 03:51:39 1994:

Glad to hear the 3.3 is supposed to be better.  That's what my parents
just got.

#7 of 10 by kentn on Sat Jul 2 05:21:14 1994:

Yes, really, hope your new experience is better.  (I've never
had to replace more than *one* fuel pump in my life so far -- 9
vehicles -- your experience is extraordinary and it should not
be you who has to pay).

#8 of 10 by wjw on Sun Jul 3 19:37:33 1994:

The 3.3 Liter is a much better engine all around.  BTW, our '90 Grand
Voyager has had no service except oil changes, whatsoever.  Couldn't
be happier with it.  Biggest complaint is nagging sound from the rear,
caused by kids, who want me to trade in for a '94 Grand Voyager. :)

#9 of 10 by roz on Mon Jul 4 01:00:20 1994:

LOL about nagging kids.  It's kind of nice having all that noise
be so far back, isn't it?

#10 of 10 by mcpoz on Sat Feb 11 21:41:20 1995:

Alcohol based fuels, especially those with Methanol, will shorten the 
life of your fuel pumps.  Also, contamination in the gas tank will tear up
the older pumps in short order.

Response not possible - You must register and login before posting.