Fuel pump runs all the time

Discuss your 2000-2005 Bonneville SE, SLE, SSEi, Buick Le Sabre 00-05 and Buick Park Avenue 97-05. Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.
Post Reply
Oldman
Posts like an LN3
Posts like an LN3
Posts: 565
Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2010 4:56 pm
Year and Trim: 2001 SSEi
Location: Savannah, Georgia

Fuel pump runs all the time

Post by Oldman »

So, my fuel pump died and I had no choice but to get a junk yard pump. Worked great for a full day. In fact, my car ran better than it has in quite some time. Apparently, my fuel pump had not been working well for a while.
Today, I went to Advance Auto Parts and borrowed their scan tool and erased all my codes including the P0171 code so I could see if the "new" fuel pump had corrected my lean condition.
A few minutes after erasing my codes, I heard a noise and turned down the radio and noticed that the fuel pump was running. My car was a little low on gas, so I stopped and filled up. Still running. I drove for about 10 minutes with it running constantly. I pulled inot a parking lot and took out the relay for the fuel pump and replaced it with another. When I cranked up the car....still running. I drove another 15 minutes to go to my night job. The car sat for 5 hours and when I left work, it seemed to be working correctly.
What could this be?
Is it part of the erasing of the codes and the car just figuring things out?

Thanks for your responses.
2001 SSEi
steelmanwy
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 52
Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2010 12:39 pm
Year and Trim: '03 SE, Galaxy Silver
Location: Greybull, WY
Contact:

Re: Fuel pump runs all the time

Post by steelmanwy »

The fuel pump comes on for a few seconds when you turn the key to run to prime the system, and runs continuously with the engine running. Maybe you were hearing the pump for the air ride?
......
Kurt
......
'03 Bonneville SE
'07 Yukon XL
'00 K2500 Crew
User avatar
crash93ssei
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
Posts: 7671
Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 6:08 pm
Year and Trim: 2002 SE
Location: Midland, Michigan

Re: Fuel pump runs all the time

Post by crash93ssei »

Are you saying the pump runs constantly when the engine is running? If so that is how it is supposed to work. If it runs constantly when the engine is off and key out if the ignition then there is a problem.
Ryan
Image
2003 Bonneville SSEi - The Black Mirror SOLD!
2002 Bonneville SE - The Mutt Complete 2004 SLE interior, drivetrain, and body harness swap, ECC swap, HUD swap, black GXP wheels, GXP headlights and tinted tails - SOLD
2003 BMW 540i M Sport, 2001 BMW X5 4.4i, 2010 GMC Acadia, 2017 Grand Design Imagine 3150BH
1982 Cutlass Supreme - The fun one
MattStrike wrote:It was the worst week of my life! *pause, drinks beer... smiles* But I'm better now!
redzmonte
Posts like an L67
Posts like an L67
Posts: 1358
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 4:21 am
Year and Trim: 2000 SSEI

Re: Fuel pump runs all the time

Post by redzmonte »

I think he is saying the pump is running when the car is off... Or I hope so atleast. If the car is on then fuel pump runs.. if the car is off the pump doesnt run.. thats how it should work.
Shane "RedZMonte"
2004 Z16 Z06: Virgin
2000 SSEi: Kenwood DDX512, 3.25" MPS, ZZP DP, PLog, Puck Mount, NGK TR7's, DHP Tuned
1995 Monte Z34: T04e "60" turbo, 42.5# injectors, Borla Catback, OBDII swap, DHP Tuned, Much more...
Oldman
Posts like an LN3
Posts like an LN3
Posts: 565
Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2010 4:56 pm
Year and Trim: 2001 SSEi
Location: Savannah, Georgia

Re: Fuel pump runs all the time

Post by Oldman »

Sorry, this was a pretty stupid post. I don't know why, but I thought the fuel pump ran intermittently. I think what's going on is that the junk yard fuel pump is simply making a lot of noise, so it's quite apparent that it is running. A properly operating fuel pump would run all the time, but it would be quiet and completely unnoticed.
Sorry to bother you all with such a dumb question.
User avatar
crash93ssei
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
Posts: 7671
Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 6:08 pm
Year and Trim: 2002 SE
Location: Midland, Michigan

Re: Fuel pump runs all the time

Post by crash93ssei »

Don't worry about it at all, better to ask and know for sure then to not ask and always wonder and worry! That's what we are here for :)
Ryan
Image
2003 Bonneville SSEi - The Black Mirror SOLD!
2002 Bonneville SE - The Mutt Complete 2004 SLE interior, drivetrain, and body harness swap, ECC swap, HUD swap, black GXP wheels, GXP headlights and tinted tails - SOLD
2003 BMW 540i M Sport, 2001 BMW X5 4.4i, 2010 GMC Acadia, 2017 Grand Design Imagine 3150BH
1982 Cutlass Supreme - The fun one
MattStrike wrote:It was the worst week of my life! *pause, drinks beer... smiles* But I'm better now!
cprince
SE Member
SE Member
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 1:00 am
Year and Trim: 2002 SE
Location: Wakefield QC, Canada

Re: Fuel pump runs all the time

Post by cprince »

Dont ever worry about posting questions that may or may not sound dumb!! I post them regularly to a few different forums... and without them, some forums would have no life!!

I am wondering with the fact that you are now noticing the sound of the fuel pump if there was some sort of sound proofing or deadening around where the fuel pump went in and it was not replaced properly?

Keep in mind... I have never looked at the Bonneville fuel pump removal and installation procedure to see if there was any...!

I also know that the one for my 2004 Impala was super loud!! Especially when I first turned the key forward and hear it prime...!! Was it EVER loud!! I also noticed it when I fixed my resonator...! It was always there... but sometimes other conditions make you notice it more.

Craig
Post Reply