Finding out whether a fuel pump relay is bad or not does not require too many diagnostic steps, and in most of the cases they can save you time and money. A fuel pump relay usually powers the fuel pump, and when it goes bad, engine performance may be affected. First signs of a relay going bad — is when the car having intermittent starting problems. According to reports, approximately 15% of no-start complaints are related to relay troubles meaning that when they fail drivers will struggle to start their engine.
Checking fuel pump voltage directly at the fuel pump with the ignition turned “on” is a simple test of your fuel pump relay. The majority of fuel pumps prefer to have around 12 volts in order to operate at their peak performance. Without voltage — the relay may be bad. As John Smith, an automotive technician, adds, “Always check for voltage making it through the relay to the pump…otherwise you could wind up with a no start or stalling condition.”
If you can hear the fuel pump turning on and off in a cycle, this could be a sign of a bad relay. A good fuel pump relay will prime the pump for 2 to 5 seconds when you turn the ignition ON. If you do not hear that sound, the relay is probably not sending power to the fuel pump. According to a study by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 25% of the drivers surveyed ignore these auditory indicators which in turn halts their diagnostics during times of trouble.
Again, checking your relay for physical damage can help determine if it is dead or still working. If you spot any cracks in the belt, burns or discoloration chances of a catastrophic failure are looming closer. A third of fuel pump relay failure is related to overheating from being on all the time. If you are aware of any visible wear, it is advisable to change the relay so as not to have problems in the future.
Another good way to test the relay is using a multimeter. Relays usually last the life of a vehicle (about 100,000 miles), but other factors such as heat and dust can kill them sooner. You could test the resistance across the relay terminals to determine whether it is working properly. Any reading not in this range would confirm a bad relay. Avoid an inconvenient breakdown in the middle of nowhere — “Instead, you can, do regular relay testing and maintenance,” says automotive expert Lisa Green.
To sum it all up, that is how you can tell if your fuel pump relay has gone bad from checking for starting issues, to voltage readings, to the sound of the buzzing fuel pump and trying to see if there seems to be some physical damage or testing with a multimeter. Doing these tips will make sure your car runs well. Look further for quality fuel pump solutions and parts from Fuel Pump.