new fuel pump/ poor fuel milage.

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fun2drive
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new fuel pump/ poor fuel milage.

Post by fun2drive »

I am looking to replace the fuel pump in my 2002 Bonneville. I don't know for sure yet but I think it is putting out low pressure. When i start the car first thing in the morning it starts fine then dies when i put it in gear. after starting it again and running for a min it runs fine. A mechanic friend suggested it was possible the pump or a plugged fuel filter. The filter was replaced about 6 months ago. Ok first question, what should the pressure be on the fuel rail. Second, what is a good brand of pump to replace the original with? Are there any that will put out a little more pressure? I have been getting about 22 mpg out of the car at best. I know it should be getting better. I have ran cleaner through it, replaced all filters, pcv valve, new spark plugs and wires. and it is still getting at best 22mpg. Any other suggestions that could help.
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Re: new fuel pump/ poor fuel milage.

Post by 00Beast »

First off your Info says 03 SSEi, but your post says 02. Please clear that up.

Good pressure is around 42 at idle, and going up when you apply the throttle.

Have you removed the vacuum line from the fuel pressure regulator and smelled it for gas? If you smell gas, it's leaking. The FPR is the disc shaped thing on the fuel rails with the vac line coming off. When you do your pressure test, remove the vac line from it and the pressure should increase, IIRC.

Unless you plan on some hefty mods, my vote is to stick with either Delphi or AC Delco. You can get them from Rock Auto for a decent price, plus our site discount at the top of the "General Chat" section, which is 5% off your order.

What kind of driving nets you that 22 MPG? City, highway, some combination? I can only seem to get 22 out of my car with it mostly being 2 lane back-roads at 60-65 MPH. Less if there's much city driving mixed in.
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Re: new fuel pump/ poor fuel milage.

Post by fun2drive »

I got 2 Bonneville's. My wife's is the 02 se and mine is the 03 ssei. I have my car stock. I really do not want to do any heavy mods. She gets me in trouble enough as it is.
My wife does a lot of back and forth to town driving and with that she is getting around 19-21 mpg. She has taken it to salt-lake a couple of times and averages 22 at best on those trips. Now compare that with my car that I drive to school 40 miles each way, And I am getting 24.5 on average. Does not seem to matter if i drive it with a grin on my face or like grandma. All of these calculations are manual and not taken from the computer.
Thank you for the tip on how to measure the fuel pressure and and check the fuel pressure regulator.
My brother drives a Buick 02 that he is getting up to 32 out of. I believe it has the same motor in it doesn't it? That is why I was expecting better mileage. Also I just sold my 88 Bonneville that I was getting 28 mpg out of at 260000 miles.
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Re: new fuel pump/ poor fuel milage.

Post by 01bonneSC »

When was a tune up done on the SE last(how many miles ago)? Plugs, wires, etc.
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Re: new fuel pump/ poor fuel milage.

Post by fun2drive »

The 02 got New wires and plugs, pcv valve, fuel filter, air filter, cleaned the MAS and put a new primary O2 sensor on about 10,000 ago at 107,000
Last edited by fun2drive on Wed May 18, 2011 8:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: new fuel pump/ poor fuel milage.

Post by fun2drive »

[quote="00Beast"]First off your Info says 03 SSEi, but your post says 02. Please clear that up.

Good pressure is around 42 at idle, and going up when you apply the throttle.

Have you removed the vacuum line from the fuel pressure regulator and smelled it for gas? If you smell gas, it's leaking. The FPR is the disc shaped thing on the fuel rails with the vac line coming off. When you do your pressure test, remove the vac line from it and the pressure should increase, IIRC.

Unless you plan on some hefty mods, my vote is to stick with either Delphi or AC Delco. You can get them from Rock Auto for a decent price, plus our site discount at the top of the "General Chat" section, which is 5% off your order.

What kind of driving nets you that 22 MPG? City, highway, some combination? I can only seem to get 22 out of my car with it mostly being 2 lane back-roads at 60-65 MPH. Less if there's much city driving mixed in.[/quote

I took the vacuum line off and there is a faint smell of fuel. With the vehicle running would the FPR be loosing fuel visibly out the vacuum port with the line off? Or does it just leak enough that it vaporizes?
Last edited by fun2drive on Sun May 22, 2011 9:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: new fuel pump/ poor fuel milage.

Post by willwren »

I'm not sure why this is posted in "Your Other Rides" which is reserved for non-Bonneville posts?

This is a mechanical topic, and should be in the 2000-2005 section. I'll move it for you.
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Re: new fuel pump/ poor fuel milage.

Post by fun2drive »

Still learning how it all works thanks for moving it. I think I got it figured out now.
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Re: new fuel pump/ poor fuel milage.

Post by myfirstbonnie »

Your trip that you mention, is that in town, stop and go, all highway or a mix?

Do you have the SES light on? Has the IAC been cleaned? LIM gaskets vere been changed or any loss of coolant?
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Re: new fuel pump/ poor fuel milage.

Post by fun2drive »

myfirstbonnie wrote:Your trip that you mention, is that in town, stop and go, all highway or a mix?

Do you have the SES light on? Has the IAC been cleaned? LIM gaskets vere been changed or any loss of coolant?
The trip that my wife took was a long drive 300 miles with just rest stops at 75mph. This is the trip that got 22 mpg. Usually her around town stop and go gets between 19-21 mpg. The intake gaskets were changed when we bought the car in July. I dont think the LIM was changed though. The SES light is not on. I cleaned the MAF sensor but were is the IAC and what would be the procedure for cleaning it? The coolant level was a little low when my wife took it in last time for an oil change.
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Re: new fuel pump/ poor fuel milage.

Post by willwren »

1. The IAC is in the throttle body. It's thin and round. Pull it out, clean the bullet-shaped nose, and the seat inside the passage of the TB, but that won't affect mileage, only idle quality.
2. There's no need to change the LIM. Just the gaskets.
3. Find out if the coolant is still disappearing, and find out where it's going.
4. Pull all 6 plugs and post pictures of them here. KEEP THEM IN ORDER. Put the cylinder numbers on them as you pull them.

Facing the engine, front plugs from passenger side to driver's is 1,3,5 (1 being closest to the coils). Rear is 2, 4, 6.

5. How old is your O2 sensor (front, not rear) and what brand is it?
Last edited by willwren on Sun May 29, 2011 10:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
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