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Fuel pump runs all the time

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:38 am
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

Re: Fuel pump runs all the time

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:28 am
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?

Re: Fuel pump runs all the time

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:19 pm
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.

Re: Fuel pump runs all the time

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:07 pm
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.

Re: Fuel pump runs all the time

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 12:37 am
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.

Re: Fuel pump runs all the time

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 1:06 am
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 :)

Re: Fuel pump runs all the time

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 1:44 am
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