Need advice on fuel pump or fuel filter problem
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 8:41 pm
Hello, new member here with a new question.
Van: '97 Astro, 170K mi
Symptom: No problem starting the engine, but when driving at any speed and give it hard gas, the engine coughs, sputters a little, then gradually speeds up. At first I thought it was failing to downshift. Mechanic said that trans is downshifting, but fuel pump is failing. Specifically, the fuel pump is putting out enough gas to start the engine but not putting out enough gas under high demand at highway speeds. He suggested replacing the Astro because cost of installing new pump will exceed market value of van.
Current fuel pump does not have that many miles. Fuel pump was replaced once, at 117K miles, by Chevrolet dealer, so I assume they used an AC-Delco pump. Seems like a fuel pump should last longer than 53K miles.
I would like to avoid replacing the van. Discussed symptom with mechanic at Chevy dealer. He said fuel pump failure is a possibility but other possibilities are clogged fuel filter or clogged catalytic converter or bad control module for fuel pump.
Now I am trying to replace fuel filter, but having trouble with very rusty fuel lines and very rusty flare nuts connecting fuel lines to fuel filter. Sprayed lots of penetrating oil on nuts and lines. I am using the correct size flare nut wrench.
I would appreciate any advice about removing flare nuts from the fuel filter without breaking the line.
Does it make sense to continue my attempt to install a new fuel filter? Should I just give up and agree that the fuel pump is at fault and start looking for a replacement vehicle?
Van: '97 Astro, 170K mi
Symptom: No problem starting the engine, but when driving at any speed and give it hard gas, the engine coughs, sputters a little, then gradually speeds up. At first I thought it was failing to downshift. Mechanic said that trans is downshifting, but fuel pump is failing. Specifically, the fuel pump is putting out enough gas to start the engine but not putting out enough gas under high demand at highway speeds. He suggested replacing the Astro because cost of installing new pump will exceed market value of van.
Current fuel pump does not have that many miles. Fuel pump was replaced once, at 117K miles, by Chevrolet dealer, so I assume they used an AC-Delco pump. Seems like a fuel pump should last longer than 53K miles.
I would like to avoid replacing the van. Discussed symptom with mechanic at Chevy dealer. He said fuel pump failure is a possibility but other possibilities are clogged fuel filter or clogged catalytic converter or bad control module for fuel pump.
Now I am trying to replace fuel filter, but having trouble with very rusty fuel lines and very rusty flare nuts connecting fuel lines to fuel filter. Sprayed lots of penetrating oil on nuts and lines. I am using the correct size flare nut wrench.
I would appreciate any advice about removing flare nuts from the fuel filter without breaking the line.
Does it make sense to continue my attempt to install a new fuel filter? Should I just give up and agree that the fuel pump is at fault and start looking for a replacement vehicle?