Problem: jerking and hard to start. Flushing the fuel pump

Fault diagnosis

There are several signs that indicate that the fuel pump is clogged. Each of them individually may not indicate this one hundred percent, but taken together they are sufficient grounds to begin cleaning. These are the signs:

• the engine stalls when you press the accelerator;
• the acceleration dynamics of the car decreases;
• the engine responds poorly;
• starting with the starter is somewhat difficult;
• When the gas pedal is pressed sharply, jerking occurs.

Depending on how badly the fuel pump is clogged, these problems can vary greatly in scope. For example, if the pollution is very high, then when you press the gas pedal, the car may hardly accelerate.

Cleaning the fuel pump screen can solve these problems, but it is important to remember that there are other reasons that can cause them:

1. The injector has failed.
2. The fuel pump is not working correctly.
3. The fuel filter is dirty.

If the filter and mesh are still easy to change on your own, then for the rest it would be better for a beginner to contact a car service center. This will allow you to avoid gross mistakes that an inexperienced car enthusiast may make during the repair process.

When and why you need to change/clean the fuel pump screen

Let's start with the fact that general problems with the fuel system (fuel pump in particular) should be divided into the most common groups:

• the fuel pump mesh and fuel filter are clogged;
• the fuel pump itself has failed;
• injector problems;

Let us add that we should also not exclude the possibility of air leaks, that is, airing of the power system. Another culprit of problems may be the pressure regulator in the fuel rail. In this case, engine malfunctions may be partially similar to some of the symptoms mentioned above. For example, a slight ingress of air into the fuel system results in the engine not starting for a long time after parking.

We also recommend reading the article on how to determine airing of the power system using the example of a diesel engine. From this article you will learn how to check the fuel system for leaks yourself.

Let's go back to the fuel pump. Its malfunction means that the performance of the fuel supply system is reduced. If the fuel pump breaks down, then the car becomes unsuitable for normal use. Signs of a fuel pump malfunction are as follows:

• It is impossible to start the engine, the fuel pump does not pump;
• the engine starts, but runs with serious interruptions;

In this case, the service often recommends diagnosing, repairing or replacing the fuel pump. It should also be taken into account that the fuel pump mesh filter may become clogged inside the device. Let us immediately note that it is impossible to accurately answer the question of when to clean the fuel pump stack. Some car enthusiasts clean/replace the fuel pump mesh as needed or as a preventative measure every 50-70 thousand km. mileage, while others are faced with the need to clean the fuel pump grid for the first time at mileages of 150 thousand km or more. and more. Let us add that the operating manual for some models specifically states that it is recommended to replace the fuel pump stack once every 120 thousand km.

It should be added that the loss of dynamics and the appearance of symptoms of a clogged mesh occurs gradually. For this reason, each driver decides to clean the fuel pump himself. On powerful naturally aspirated engines, the gradual deterioration in acceleration is not felt as strongly as compared to highly accelerated engines with a small displacement. For this reason, many owners of large-volume trucks begin to solve the problem after noticeable complications appear. Also, the condition of the pump grid is greatly influenced by the quality of the fuel being filled and a number of other factors and individual operating conditions, which we will talk about a little later.

Frequency of procedures

There is no set time frame for cleaning this part.
Some are forced to clean the mesh every 50,000 kilometers, while others have to do this no earlier than the car has traveled 150,000 kilometers. However, there are cases when the manual for using a particular car indicates a specific number of thousands of kilometers, after which it is worth changing this part. However, even before this point it may also be necessary to clean the fuel pump mesh. It is not difficult to make it yourself.

Cleaning method

The procedure is carried out in several stages. First, the rear seat cushion is removed and half of the sofa is reclined. Then remove the plastic cover of the fuel pump. Then you need to relieve pressure in the fuel system.

Now you can remove the negative terminal from the battery. It is necessary to disconnect the tubes from the pump (gasoline may spill). A special clamping ring-cover is unscrewed. The remaining gasoline should be drained from the fuel pump housing and the sealing ring should be removed. The pump can now be removed.

You will need to disassemble the pump to clean it. First, the lower part is removed, and only then the mesh. To dismantle the latter, you need to pick up the filter with a screwdriver at the place where the pump is attached to the housing. Usually the mesh is very dirty.

You can replace the part with a new one, but you can also clean it. As for cleaning the fuel pump mesh, it is better to choose one designed for cleaning the carburetor. If there is a need for mechanical action, it is better to clean the part with a soft brush. Then the mesh is dried and blown. At the end of the process, it is recommended to wash the mesh itself and the bottom of the fuel pump housing with gasoline. All that remains is to put everything back together.

It is not difficult to clean the fuel pump screen yourself. However, as with all repair work, all prescribed safety precautions must be followed. If you don’t want to do the replacement yourself, you can take the car to a service center, where they will do it for little money.

How to clean the fuel pump yourself

So, the fuel pump is located in the fuel tank. Modern cars are equipped with a fuel station, where a large plastic “glass” on which the pump and fuel level sensor are mounted, also acts as a filter. A coarse filter is attached to the pump, on which dirt and other large deposits remain.

So, the process of cleaning the pump and mesh occurs as follows:

• Since the fuel pump is located directly in the gas tank, you need to get to it through the passenger compartment or trunk. Depending on the design, the fuel station cover may be located under the seat of the rear sofa, or under the false trunk floor. For this procedure, you need to equip yourself with a minimum set of tools;
• Next, we find the cover, and before removing it, be sure to clean it of dust and dirt, as well as the area around it, so that nothing gets into the gas tank;
• Then we relieve the pressure by releasing the fuel pressure. On the cover you will see the fuel pump power connector, which must be removed. Now we operate the starter for a few seconds until all the fuel is pumped into the cylinders;
• Now we remove the negative terminal from the battery in order to remove the connectors from the fuel pipes (one pipe is the fuel supply, the second is the return). How to properly remove the tube clamps - refer to the repair and operating instructions for your car;
• If your hatch is structurally equipped with a pressure ring, then it is impossible to unscrew it by hand, so you will have to use a special puller. If there is no such device, then the cover can be removed by adding a flat-head screwdriver and tapping it with a hammer, the main thing is not to overdo it, so as not to break the cover. Stock up on the cover gasket in advance;
• before removing the fuel pump, allow the fuel to drain into the tank, and then cover the tank to prevent unwanted products from getting into the fuel;
• start disassembling the pump. For the pump, it is necessary to remove the lower part of the housing, where all the dirt settles;
• then remove the mesh from the pump; to do this, just dig under the filter retaining ring;
• Assess the condition of the fuel grid; if it is completely clogged, it is likely that the fine fuel filter will have to be changed, and it is advisable to wash the injectors. Remember that due to a clogged filter, the fuel pump overcomes strong resistance, causing it to overheat and fail;
• if the mesh is dirty on the surface, then clean it with a special spray, such as carburetor cleaner, rinse it until the outside of the mesh is clean. Next, blow it out with compressed air. In another case, we simply change the grid to a new one, preferably the original one;
• The final stage is the assembly and installation of the fuel station in its place. We install the pump in the reverse order, and if the level indicator, after turning on the ignition, begins to show the wrong amount of fuel - do not be alarmed, after one refueling the sensor adapts itself.