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Car Forum / Chevrolet / Chevrolet Malibu / January 20071999 Malibu Fuel Pump
My daughter's 1999 Malibu has been very hard to start lately, it cranks over Ok but it does not start for 15 to 30 min. last week we had it towed to the dealer because it would not start at all. They said the fuel pump was bad & wanted $1100 to replace it. She or I don't have that much money. So I had the car towed back home today with the thought that i will do it myself! What has to be done to replace the fuel pump in the tank? Directions would help. Thanks, Steve I can't help you much, but try www.unitedmalibus.com and see if someone there can help you. > My daughter's 1999 Malibu has been very hard to start lately, it > cranks over Ok but it does not start for 15 to 30 min. last week we [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Directions would help. > Thanks, Steve >I can't help you much, but try www.unitedmalibus.com and see if someone >there can help you. Thanks, I got info I needed from that site. >I can't help you much, but try www.unitedmalibus.com and see if someone >there can help you. Thanks, I got the info from that site It's really not that hard two bolts drop most tanks. you will need some items if doing this in your drive way a small square piece of wood a small floor jack to lower the tank some jack stands to get the car off the ground, and wheel chalks for the front wheels. A large screw driver A small rubber mallet or small hammer. A socket set mm and imp a line wrench set you can get a cheap set at AutoZone or some place like that Buy: A new fuel pump $65 t0 $100 , new fuel sock $18.00 and fuel filter $15.00 Most pumps have a 30 day replacement so after market is optional Shop around this should be about $145 bucks The pump will come with a new O-ring, check and make sure some sell them separate to milk you of money after you have the car up on jack stands, place the floor jack under the tank with the piece of wood on the jack. Run the jack up to the tank touch the tank only to support the thank after the straps have been removed. after removing the bolts on the tank straps let them hang do not bend them out of shape. lower the jack now with the tank on it, there is a lock ring over the gauge hole this is were the pump is located as well. Disconnet the tank electrical connection this is about 1 to 2 feet from the tank, do not try to seperate the harness from the thanks as in most cases this is molded to the tanks sending unit as a pig tail. Discontect the fuel lines from the tank they will either be hose clamps , threaded use line wrenches, or the newer snap coupling stop if they are the snap coupling go to the auto store and get the tool do not attempt to seperate this tipe of line with the wroung tool as the will leak when reconnected! Next clean the top of the tank off for the next opperation. Use the screw driver and mallet to turn this ring do not distort the ring, same the O-ring just in case. The pump is on the gauge assembly and care must be taken at this point to remove and replace the pump being carefull not to distort the float assembly. Look for water and trash in the tank remove as much as possible now while you have the tank down. reverse the procedure and your done, replace the fuel filter. Cycle the key 3 times for 10 secounds each do not start the vehicle this will purge the fuel system of air you should here the pump each time. start the vehicla now, if te vehicle still starts hard you will need to find the fuel regulator under the hood and replace it they are around 30 to 90 bucks and are also simple replace as well. If you know of any people with car clubs have them stop by classiccarmall dot net and post their club. This site they dont charge any thing and are always looking for new addtions to the club lisintgs > I can't help you much, but try www.unitedmalibus.com and see if someone > there can help you. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >>Directions would help. >>Thanks, Steve Save yourself the hassle ,, either get the dealer to do it or find a local garage and get a quote from them ,, i had to get my pump done on my '03 and the final tally came in about what yours was. The pump is whats costing you the most money , the labor is pricey too , but the pump price is out of this world ,, man to go back and pay the price for the old manual pumps that were on the engine block would be great ,, but a GM pump was running almost 1000.00 cdn before a friend in the parts department cut the price in half for us. After working in a garage and seeing whats involved ,, you really don't want to try and do this yourself unless you are very very mechanically inclined and not just a backyard mechanic. > My daughter's 1999 Malibu has been very hard to start lately, it > cranks over Ok but it does not start for 15 to 30 min. last week we [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Directions would help. > Thanks, Steve >Save yourself the hassle ,, either get the dealer to do it or find a >local garage and get a quote from them ,, i had to get my pump done on my [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >want to try and do this yourself unless you are very very mechanically >inclined and not just a backyard mechanic. I am a mechanic, I just need instructions. I can get a new pump from Auto Zone 2 blocks away from my house for $300.00. > My daughter's 1999 Malibu has been very hard to start lately, it > cranks over Ok but it does not start for 15 to 30 min. last week we [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Directions would help. > Thanks, Steve Hmm, youre definately sure its a fuel pump and not a problem with the pas-lock anti theft control? When you crank the car over and it doesnt start does it then flash the theft warning light in the dashboard? This is a very common problem with these cars as the key sensor in the ignition switch breaks or wears out. If the sensor is blinking then let the car sit for a bout a half hour with the key in acc. and the light will go out and the car should start. I would think that a dealer (an honest one) would know about this but it cant hurt to check as it wont cost you anything to see. This will mimmick a fuel pump problem but the giveaway is the flashing theft light in the dash. My car has done this 3 times (a 2001) over the whole 6 years that we've had it. The first 2 times it wasnt diagnosed as it just mysteriously started after being towed to the shop both times. ( key was left in acc on the flatbed both times.) The third time the mechanic noticed the light in my driveway, hit the internet and voila diagnosed the problem. I would check into that before spending on the fuel pump. Good luck. >> My daughter's 1999 Malibu has been very hard to start lately, it >> cranks over Ok but it does not start for 15 to 30 min. last week we [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >hit the internet and voila diagnosed the problem. I would check into >that before spending on the fuel pump. Good luck. I will try your suggestion. But, the last time I tried to start the car I didn't notice the flashing light. I have the car up on jacks and was ready to start this morning but its snowing now where I live so I will wait a day or two for it to melt. I am not going to buy the fuel pump until I get the old one out. >>> My daughter's 1999 Malibu has been very hard to start lately, it >>> cranks over Ok but it does not start for 15 to 30 min. last week we [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > melt. > I am not going to buy the fuel pump until I get the old one out. be SURE fuel pres. is really the prob. first!........if needed: drain tank, remove haet shields if needed, lower exhaust if needed, remove both strap bolts and slowly lower tank until you can get to fuel line and elec. connectors, disconnect elec. connector and slide fuel line quick connect tools inside fuel connectors and vapor lines to release.....drag tank out from under car, screw driver and hammer will rotate lock ring off. remove pump/sender module from tank (pull straight up)......reverse for install........be SURE fuel pressure is the problem first!.... many people bang their fist on center bottom of tank when suspecting fuel pump. usually will jiggle pump around enuff to start once or many times.......like i said, make SURE fuel pump is really the problem b4 replacing!!! >My daughter's 1999 Malibu has been very hard to start lately, it >cranks over Ok but it does not start for 15 to 30 min. last week we [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >Directions would help. >Thanks, Steve Fuel pump update, I got the tank out & was able to replace the fuel pump & reinstall the tank without any problem except for weather delays. However, the car still would not start. Remember I changed the fuel pump because the dealer "checked" it out & said it was bad. I was pissed! So I started thinking, Does the fuel pump have a fuse? I checked the manual & found out it not only has a" fuel pump relay fuse" it has a spare fuse right next to it in the fuse box. I put in the spare fuse & the car stared right up. Seems to me the dealer ( Bret Chev. Kent, WA) wanted to charged me $1100 for a fuel pump that I did not need. Comments??? >My daughter's 1999 Malibu has been very hard to start lately, it >cranks over Ok but it does not start for 15 to 30 min. last week we [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >Directions would help. >Thanks, Steve I got the tank out & was able to replace the fuel pump & reinstall the tank without any problem except for weather delays. However, the car still would not start. Remember, I changed the fuel pump because the dealer "checked" it out & said it was bad. I was pissed! So I started thinking, Does the fuel pump have a fuse? I checked the manual & found out it not only has a" fuel pump relay fuse" it has a spare fuse right next to it in the fuse box. I put in the spare fuse & the car stared right up. Seems to me the dealer ( Bret Chev. Kent, WA) wanted to charged me $1100 for a fuel pump that I did not need. Comments??? PS I guess if I let the do the job I would have been also charged for a 'fuel pump relay fuse". A pump on it's way out could blow the fuse also. Pump failure is way more common than it's fuse blowing. I've done the pump in my sister's '01 at 100k miles. Wife's '02 is running at the same mileage as sisters car and no issues. Plugged filters & running fuel down to E will shorten pump's life. > I got the tank out & was able to replace the fuel pump & reinstall the > tank without any problem except for weather delays. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > PS I guess if I let the do the job I would have been also charged for > a 'fuel pump relay fuse". >A pump on it's way out could blow the fuse also. >Pump failure is way more common than it's fuse blowing. >I've done the pump in my sister's '01 at 100k miles. Wife's '02 is running >at the same mileage as sisters car and no issues. Plugged filters & running >fuel down to E will shorten pump's life. I guess I will never know but, In hindsight I wish I would have replaced the fuse first. Or better yet if the dealer diagnosed the bad fuse in the first place. >>My daughter's 1999 Malibu has been very hard to start lately, it >>cranks over Ok but it does not start for 15 to 30 min. last week we [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > PS I guess if I let the do the job I would have been also charged for > a 'fuel pump relay fuse". proper diagnostic procedure would have detemined the pump wasnt being powered up........that would have been part of my statement"make SURE the fuel pump is the problem".........i assume you paid the dealership for a diagnosis. they did a very poor job if you paid for it. now, if you were all just standing around kicking the tires and one of the grease monkies said it might be the pump and you ran with it then it all goes back to you........BTW: $1,100 for pump R&R is outragious! the highest pump module i have ever installed was $500 list. that leaves $600 bucks for labor. at $60 hr. labor thats 10 hours for a 3 hour (max flatrate) job. with a rack and air tools the job is overwith in less than 2 hours so their is no wiggle room to inflate labor hrs......BTW 2: with the advent of the 'fuel module' design, driving with low tank levels no longer aggrevates pump life. the module design keeps pump fully emersed in fuel no matter the level in tank and thus cooling pump.............better luck next time. >>>My daughter's 1999 Malibu has been very hard to start lately, it >>>cranks over Ok but it does not start for 15 to 30 min. last week we [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] >no matter the level in tank and thus cooling pump.............better luck >next time. I did read your first post, but, it was afterI had the fuel tank out. The following is a direct quote from my invoice from Bret Chev, "Customer states engine cranks will not start, diagnose and advise, cause: test systems, ignition spark present, no fuel present at injectors, POWER AVAILABLE AT FUEL PUMP RELAY TO PUMP, FUEL PUMP FAILED". So, trusting their diagnosis I went forward & replace the fuel pump. Thank-you for taking a interest in my problems. >>>>My daughter's 1999 Malibu has been very hard to start lately, it >>>>cranks over Ok but it does not start for 15 to 30 min. last week we [quoted text clipped - 51 lines] > > Thank-you for taking a interest in my problems. i wasnt trying to give you a jab about it and didnt realize you already had tank down......apparantly Bret chevy has never ran into wiring/connector probs before. about 20 yrs ago i got trapped in the same situation. had an energized relay passing load current thru. diagnosed fuel pump failure. sold em a fuel pump replacement (very typrcal failure in those days). after raising vehicle found pin backed out of connector at rear bulkhead. fixed pin prob and charged accordingly. since then ive found rodent damage, debris damage and other things that make me go all the way to the far side of the last connector with a jumper wire before i condemn a pump....im glad you did fix the prob without spending the amount mentioned! >i wasnt trying to give you a jab about it and didnt realize you already >had tank down......apparantly Bret chevy has never ran into [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >condemn a pump....im glad you did fix the prob without spending the >amount mentioned! Never thought you were giving me a "jab". It was a learning experience & I will just move on! |
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