Replacing fuel pump, couple questions first.

[Kenz]

Fuel pump has been on the way out in my Cougar. I haven't been driving it much because my luck it will leave me stranded somewhere. Makes a bad moaning sound, and it needs the ignition cycled a few times to build pressure.

I ordered an Aeromotive 11540, @MadMikeyL recommended it in another thread...

Link to the 11540 -

Amazon.com

I assume that a replacement OEM strainer should fit onto the new pump?

The gas gauge has been getting unreliable. It seems to not move much for the first hundred miles, than drops really fast. Would like to fix that as well. Could it need cleaning off or has something gone bad? Maybe the level arm is gummed up somewhere?

Rockauto sells the entire Delphi assembly, that seems to be the best brand available. I was thinking of buying that and replacing the Delphi pump on it with the Aeromotive pump to make the install a quick drop in with all new parts.... Or would it be better to reuse the original assembly? The reviews of the aftermarket stuff seem all over the place.

 

[KevinVarnes]

It looks like the stock strainer should fit just fine on that pump. They are getting a little hard to find locally (at least for me) so make sure you have it on hand before you start.

We just put a Delphi fuel sending unit assembly into Doug Williams' car. We swapped his 190lph pump onto the assembly which wasn't terrible. I did have to bend the tubes a bit to get it to fit. When we first put it in the cap of the sending unit would not sit flush on the top of the tank because I assume the strainer was pressing against the bottom of the tank. I bent the tubes up slightly to get some clearance. I must have overdone it because then it wasn't picking up fuel from the bottom of the tank so I had to drop the tank again and rebend it back down a touch.

I also put a Delphi assembly in the '97 about 4 years ago and it went in fine without any issues. I think there is/was an OEM sending unit on ebay, but it was upwards of $300.

For what it's worth, Delphi was good quality after they spun off of AC-Delco, but they aren't the same as what they once were. I think they went through bankruptcy in the early-mid '00s. Now most of their stuff is just made in China.

Also, for what it's worth, the return line on his original sending unit had come loose from the sending unit cap which caused a fuel leak. Also, the gauge sending unit signal was all over the place and the fuel gauge didn't work on his car. The new sending unit fixed the fuel gauge isse.

 

[Jae 'Bird]

I don't mean to hijack your thread but I thought I would ask this question here cause its an appropriate place. Can I upgrade my stock fuel pump with a upgraded new one on an early model t-bird? Or would it over pressure the fuel system? I will prob want to replace it in the spring and this reminded me of this question I had.

 

[Kenz]

These cars use a return style fuel system so the pump can be upgraded. Extra fuel/pressure will just go back into the tank.

The pump going into mine is probably overkill and I have considered just putting in a new OE style. But I'd like to future proof it for possible upgrades, and the better pumps I assume are much higher quality.

 

[Kenz]

I also put a Delphi assembly in the '97 about 4 years ago and it went in fine without any issues. I think there is/was an OEM sending unit on ebay, but it was upwards of $300.

Thanks for the reply, I am probably going to go with the Delphi pump assembly. That way I get the new float, tank seal and ring, and strainer in one go.

Does the Delphi unit have an accurate read out on the fuel gauge? I saw some reviews on Amazon saying it was slow to adjust the gas level after fill up. Not understanding how that is possible... Seems that the slosh circuit on the cluster would cause that not the level float.

 

[KevinVarnes]

The fuel gauge in the '97 reads accurately enough and hasn't been a problem. The gauge on Doug's car seemed to move around a bit, but he was driving so I didn't see the gauge myself.

Jae, if your current fuel pump is working fine then just leave it. There really isn't much need to upgrade to a higher output pump on your car unless you have big future plans. Dropping the tank to replace a working fuel pump with a higher output pump is not worth the effort/time/cost unless you have other reasons to drop the tank (like say changing to the later model tank for better exhaust routing )

 

[Jae 'Bird]

The fuel gauge in the '97 reads accurately enough and hasn't been a problem. The gauge on Doug's car seemed to move around a bit, but he was driving so I didn't see the gauge myself.

Jae, if your current fuel pump is working fine then just leave it. There really isn't much need to upgrade to a higher output pump on your car unless you have big future plans. Dropping the tank to replace a working fuel pump with a higher output pump is not worth the effort/time/cost unless you have other reasons to drop the tank (like say changing to the later model tank for better exhaust routing )

You are very correct it would be silly to do that, but yes my intent is to do it while I'm changing to the late model gas tank, its a "while im in there" kinda thing. I would say that it is "working fine" right now, however, I also noticed that ever since having the tank go really low on gas one day, (I did not intend to do that, it was a accident) it makes a kind of whine at idle and almost sounds like a old computer with the squeaks and chirps it makes. So I figure it might be time to replace it any way. You are right in that I probably will just go with an oem style fuel pump, I might also replace the whole sending unit because my gas gauge is sometimes off for a while as well. I would just feel better about having a whole new sending unit and pump in there.

 

[KevinVarnes]

Understood. If it is making weird noises, then might as well while you are in there. I think any of the aftermarket units should work just fine for you. If you do decide to upgrade the pump then get something like a Walbro, but make sure you are purchasing it from a reputable source. There are plenty of people (Amazon/Ebay/Etc) selling knock-offs. I'd recommend Summit or Jegs or whatever reputable parts suppliers you have up there in Canada.

 

[Generalee0527]

I had a Delphi pump last only 2 weeks in my '04 Excursion. New OEM cassette cost me $500 not to mention the new auxiliary relay since the original was soldered to the fuse board. I wouldn't recommend Delphi.

 

[Kidd-7]

I’ve heard horror stories about aftermarket sending units with fuel gauge issues. I replaced just the pump in my Ex only to find it’s an aftermarket sending unit. Artex I believe, fuel gauge is fine. I used a Bosch OEM replacement and other than it being really loud, it works well.
I’d probably try to clean the sending unit as opposed to replacing it.

 

[Jae 'Bird]

I’ve heard horror stories about aftermarket sending units with fuel gauge issues. I replaced just the pump in my Ex only to find it’s an aftermarket sending unit. Artex I believe, fuel gauge is fine. I used a Bosch OEM replacement and other than it being really loud, it works well.
I’d probably try to clean the sending unit as opposed to replacing it.

Good to know, thanks

 

[White Lincoln]

Hey Kenz,
What kind of fuel pressure are / were you getting with the pump going bad?

 

[MadMikeyL]

The Aeromotive pump fits fine on the stock sender. I would try to get a used OEM sender to use instead of the aftermarket one, since the aftermarket ones often have inaccurate fuel level readings.

 

[Kenz]

Hey Kenz,
What kind of fuel pressure are / were you getting with the pump going bad?

To be honest I haven't checked. But it's doing exactly what my Ford truck ('02 Navigator) did before the pump went out on it. The pump sounds slow/weak, and the car won't start normally unless I cycle the ignition a few times to build fuel pressure.
If I get in and just turn the key to start it, it will crank for an excessively long time, once it eventually starts up the idle stumbles around for a few seconds like it is fuel starved.

The pump surprisingly/luckily completely stopped working in my truck after I parked it in my garage. I replaced the entire assembly with a Delphi sending unit. I miss that truck, that was the only time it ever let me down, and it did it at home!