(866) 678-8505
Issues 0
Car
Shop
Select Date
Your Request for Help
Select your make
Select auto repair shop
Your preferred contact Info
Issues
Symptoms:
Home / Symptoms / Bad Fuel Pump

Hey, Why Does My Car Feel Like It Is Running Out Of Gas?

If you are short on time and want to fast-track the process to professional help, click
Four common causes for a vehicle feeling like it’s low on gas and their related parts.
The fuel pump is an electric motor that is attached to a fluid pump. It is sealed and submerged in gas in the gas tank. The gas in the tank is what helps keep the fuel pump cool. It is important to try to maintain at least a quarter of a tank of gas to help to dissipate the heat coming from the pump to help maintain the longevity of the pump motor. The fuel pump can be controlled by a relay or by a computer. One uses a pressure regulator to maintain pressure and the other uses a duty cycle to control pressure. The fuel pump’s job is to provide enough gas to the engine to perform up to whatever demand is required.

Are You Experiencing Bad Fuel Pump Symptoms?

The running-out-of-gas feeling is commonly due to the fuel pump getting weak. So, the pump isn’t creating the same pressure as before to keep the fuel running. Alternatively, it can be a clogged fuel filter, poor fuel quality, or even a faulty fuel sensor.

Attention to even the slightest warning signs is essential for your vehicle's health. A failing fuel pump should not be ignored and can mean serious trouble.

The fuel pump system is essential for your vehicle to operate; issues in this system might develop into severe problems. To avoid costly repairs or even a breakdown, we suggest you understand how to communicate the issue to your local auto shop and assess it before it worsens.

Let's Get To The Bottom Of It!

Are you hearing a whining or howling noise when your vehicle is idling?

Your car has something called a fuel pump. It helps pump gas from your gas tank to your engine. But if you keep driving your car with low gas in the tank, the pump can get too hot and wear out faster. Over time, the pump naturally wears out. Also, if you hear a whining or howling noise when your car is idling, the pump might be faulty, requiring replacement.

If you notice fuel economy changes, the vehicle suddenly dying, power loss, or a check engine light on the dashboard, save this information; they're essential if you go to an auto shop later.

Does the fuel gauge level change when you fuel the car?

Your car has a fuel level sensor that tells how much gas is in the tank. It's part of the fuel pump and uses a float inside the gas tank that fluctuates depending on fuel levels. This float signals your dashboard to show how much gas there is. Any faulty part in this system prevents it from showing the right amount of gas in the tank. So, you might be driving with low fuel.

If you notice the fuel level isn't accurate, the vehicle cranks but won't start, dies when sitting at an angle, or a check engine light on the dashboard, save this information; they're essential if you go to an auto shop later.

Does the engine sputters when you're accelerating the car?

Your car's fuel pump ensures the engine receives the right fuel to run correctly. It's designed to pump a specific amount of fuel to the engine continuously. But, when fuel pumps fail, they might send too much or too little fuel, which can cause problems such as engine sputters.

If you notice fuel economy changes, the vehicle suddenly dying, power loss, the car cranks longer before starting, the vehicle idling rough, or a check engine light on the dashboard, save this information; they're essential to share with an auto shop if you seek professional service.

Has your fuel economy suddenly worsened?

Your car has a fuel pressure regulator that controls the fuel system's pressure. It uses a particular measurement method, ensuring the pressure doesn't get too high. Sometimes, the part that controls the pressure can damage and cause fuel leaks. This can make the car use more gas, worsening gas mileage.

If you notice fuel smells coming from underhood, vehicle surges at idle, extended engine cranking, engine chugging at startup, black smoke from the tailpipe, or a check engine light on the dashboard, save this information; they're essential to investigate this issue's cause further.

Is your engine cranking but not starting?

Your car's fuel pump sits inside the gas tank and pumps gas to the engine. The gas in the tank cools down the pump. But if you keep driving your car with low gas, the pump can overheat and fail; the pump can also naturally break over time. If the seals on the pump or the electrical connections break, the pump stops working. If the pump breaks, the engine won't get gas or start.

If you notice power loss, the vehicle idles but won't accelerate, the car starts and dies, cranks, or a check engine light on the dashboard, save this information; they're essential if you go to an auto shop later.

Is your vehicle starting and then dying?

Your car has a fuel filter to catch any dirt or debris in the gas tank. It protects the fuel pump and the injectors from clogging. The filter sits between the pump and the injectors. But if the filter gets too dirty, it can block the fuel flow to the engine, causing it to stall or stop working.

If you notice power loss, fuel economy changes, the vehicle idles but won't accelerate, the car starts and dies, cranks for an extended time, fails to accelerate as expected when merging on the highway, or a check engine light on the dashboard, save this information; they're essential to communicating with any professional tasked with testing and repairing the root cause.

Find Professional Help

Please select your vehicle's brand and location so we can locate the best professional help for you
If you are a shop owner and sick of business directories that are based on the cost of repair, AutoTechIQ is for you. If your customers receive Digital Inspection results then AutoTechIQ is definitely for you. Check out the certification page or how to rank in your area.

Vehicle Health Inspection Proof

Explore the following typical inspection results that show a potential cause for the symptom and select the one you believe is similar to your vehicle's issue.

Fuel level sensor failure

This image shows the fuel level sending unit. This part is essential for accurate fuel level measuring.

The customer brought in their vehicle because they noticed the gas gauge was stuck on a quarter of a tank. Plus, they had to fill the tank every few days since they didn't trust the fuel level on the dashboard. They also mentioned that the check engine light was on.

On the test drive, the technician confirmed that the check engine light was on but found nothing related to the customer's concern.

The technician found no leads to the customer's concern during the vehicle health inspection. However, with the customer's approval, they ran additional tests and found an error code concerning the fuel level sensor.

Moreover, they used a scanner to check the fuel level gauge and found it not working correctly. The technician found an issue with the fuel pump sending unit. They had to drop the fuel tank and remove the unit to test it.

They found that the sending unit had a short, requiring replacement as an assembly with the pump. Note that, in this case, the sending unit is not replaceable separately.

Faulty fuel pressure regulator

This proof image shows a failing fuel pressure regulator. In this case, it was failing and causing fuel leaks.

When they dropped their vehicle off, the customer was concerned that the check engine light was active on the dashboard. Plus, they noticed a decrease in fuel economy.

During a test drive, the technician observed the active check engine light but did not detect other issues related to the customer's concern.

During the vehicle inspection, the technician found some issues with the fuel system that were causing the engine to burn too much fuel. To further analyze the problem, the customer approved additional tests.

During additional tests, the technician used a specialized scanner and found that the engine computer was compensating for running rich and having too much fuel. The technician then checked the fuel pressure using a mechanical gauge and found pressure levels higher than the manufacturer's specifications.

While checking the pressure, the technician also discovered raw gas in the vacuum line leading to the fuel pressure regulator. This indicated that the fuel pressure regulator's diaphragm was failing and needed replacement. Consequently, this will fix the poor fuel mileage problem.

Clogged fuel filter

This image shows an aged fuel filter. In this case, the filter had worn signs and clogged the fuel system.

The customer brought their vehicle to the shop because it lacked power. Plus, putting it in gear after a short drive would make the car die. They were unsure if it was a transmission issue or if they needed a tune-up.

When the technician received the vehicle, they could not test drive it and had to push it into the service bay.

During the vehicle health inspection, they found no issues related to the customer's concern. So, the customer approved additional tests.

During additional testing, the mechanic checked the fuel pressure, which was within the manufacturer's specifications. However, when the engine ran, the pressure dropped significantly below the manufacturer's specifications.

The technician then checked the fuel pressure before the fuel filter and found it to be well above the manufacturer's specifications. However, after draining the fuel filter, the technician found it clogged.

The customer authorized a fuel filter replacement. After changing the filter, the technician retested the fuel pressure and found it now at the manufacturer's specifications. In addition, the technician determined that the fuel filter was clogged.

Low fuel through the pump

This proof image shows the fuel pump module. In this case, the module had a crack in the red-arrow-indicated line, resulting in a low fuel flow from the vehicle's fuel pump.

When they dropped off their vehicle, the customer's concern was an active check engine light on the dashboard. They also reported that the car sputters and jerks when accelerating quickly on the highway. However, under average highway speeds, the car performs well.

On the test drive, the technician confirmed that the check engine light was on, and the car sputtered under hard acceleration; it seemed like it was running out of fuel or misfiring.

During the vehicle inspection, the technician found two error codes related to a lean fuel mixture in the engine. However, no other issues were found related to the customer's concern. Therefore, additional testing was approved by the customer.

The mechanic checked the car using special tools and found a problem with too little fuel getting to the engine. This caused the engine to run poorly, especially when accelerating.

Then, the mechanic checked the fuel pressure, which was okay, but the amount of fuel getting through was low. Finally, the mechanic determined that the fuel pump needed replacement.

Worn fuel pump

This image shows a removed fuel pump. The red arrow points to a fuel pump motor removed from the fuel tank, requiring replacement.

The customer came in concerned about a loud noise from the back of their car. The noise started about two weeks ago and was getting louder. They did not experience any problems with driving or stopping the vehicle.

On the test drive, the technician confirmed a noticeable whining or howling noise from the gas tank area, indicating a fuel pump failure.

During the vehicle health inspection, the technician ran the vehicle on the lift and confirmed that the noise was coming from inside the gas tank. The customer approved additional tests.

During additional tests, the technician checked the fuel pressure with a mechanical gauge, discovering it was within manufacturer specifications. However, upon testing the amp draw on the fuel pump motor, the draw was higher than the manufacturer's specifications.

The technician checked the waveform on an oscilloscope, finding rough spots in the waveform. The technician determined that the fuel pump was starting to fail, affecting the fuel line, meaning that the entire unit needed replacement.

Fuel pump failure

This image shows a voltage-checking tool. In this case, the malfunctioning fuel pump receives power but isn't working.

The customer's concern when they dropped off their vehicle was that it wouldn't start. In short, they went to the grocery store earlier, parked, and when they came out, the car started for a moment and then died. They tried to restart it, but it only cranked over and didn't start anymore.

The technician tried to bang on the fuel tank on the test drive to get the vehicle started. However, this didn't work, and they had to push it into the service bay.

During the vehicle health inspection, the technician found nothing related to the customer's concern except that the car wouldn't start. Nevertheless, the customer approved additional tests to investigate the fuel pump problem better.

The technician checked using a mechanical gauge and found no fuel pressure. Then, they checked the fuel pump, which, although it was receiving power from the battery, wasn't running.

The technician determined that the fuel pump module would need to be replaced.

Typical Fixes to Address the Cause(s)

The following chapters bases themselves on experiences from our auto repair shop; we'll describe related problems' causes and fixes.

Sometimes a problem is more challenging to describe than it initially looked like. If you are not sure your problem is described by this article, please find below similar vehicle symptoms, which might describe better the issue you are experiencing.

Vehicle Symptoms

Below are just a few examples of typical Symptoms and Fixes your car might be experiencing

Batteries can develop damages, become weak, or run out of power, preventing the vehicle from starting.

Hey, Why Is My Car's Starter Faulty?

The starter is faulty because itrsquos old and worn or the carrsquos b...
Four common causes for a squealing noise from the vehicle and their related parts.

Hey, Why Is My Car's Ignition Switch Failing?

The ignition switch is failing because the cars battery might be weak ...
Four common causes for a reduced engine power warning on the vehicle and their related parts.

Hey, Why Is My Car's Reduced Engine Power Message On?

The reduced engine power light appears because the vehicle has limited...
Four common causes for a faulty camshaft sensor on the vehicle and their related parts.

Hey, Why Am I Being Told That My Camshaft Sensor Failed?

Camshaft issues are caused by low engine oil or oil contamination affe...
Four common causes for an ESC light on the vehicle and their related parts.

Hey, Why Is My Car's ESC Light Active?

The ESC light appears because the car is activating traction assistanc...

Typical Fixes Pages