could a fuel pump cause your vehicle to lose power and die?

Question

I'll be driving and all of a sudden it will lose power and die, it will turn over just not start. I thought it was the ignition modular but then was told it wouldn't turn over till it cooled off, if it was that. it's been to two machanics and still stumped. each one thinks it's something different. HELP!!!!!!

Answer 1

Sounds exactly what I had once.
Fuel pump.
Felt like I applied the brakes, then died.
After waiting for 15-20 minutes, it cranked again. Repeated after a time.

I was on the highway then.

Answer 2

Without knowing the make,(Chev.,Mazda,Ford,etc.), model,(Camaro,Mustang,3000Gt,etc.), the year, engine, it's hard to diagnose. But at the shop I used to have we ran into a problem very similar to this distinct situation that had us pulling our hair for almost a full day! We found that the cars that had a 3.8 engine, and coil pack ignition, had a problem with the wiring harness that goes from the cam sensor, and the crank sensor, to the coil pack. In the harness of wires there would develop a intermittent short. The wire/s had a tiny little break in them inside the insulation of the wire, so sometimes the car would run fine, other times it would not start or crap out down the road. We tested the wiring in the car for continuity, and everything was everything. Drove down the road for three days...FINE!, then just die, and over to the side of the road we'd go! Wouldn't start! Finally we took the harness out,(this wouldn't be that much fun for a do-it-yourselfer!),took the outside insulation off, and checked each individual wire while someone wiggled the wire, and found the problem! Bet I've fixed 50 cars with this problem! An electric fuel pump problem will come close to this, as the pump usually goes out slowly,(usually people let their gas tank get low and the 'sock',(filter), on the gas pump inside the gas tank sucks up all the crap that lays on the bottom of the tank), or they just QUIT! Depending on the car the pumps price range from $80.00 to $400.00. Oh by the way the Ignition Module has nothing to do with it turning over, just providing a timing source for the spark. Check the recommended site/s that people have posted here, as women get ripped off a lot by 'garage' mechanics, (BUT NOT BY ALL OF US!)

Answer 3

lynnette,

yes. a fuel pump can cause a car to lose power and die.

you have a two part question though.
whats the difference between a fuel problem and an ignition problem?

when you have an ignition problem and the car dies, the engine will stop turning very fast. just as fast as when your in a parking spot and turn the key off.

when you have a fuel problem, your car will die slower. you will hear the engine slow down, lose power, and possibly "chug" a little bit before stopping completely.

if the engine wont crank until it cools off, it has nothing to do with it dying out on the road. these are two completely seperate systems within your vehicle.

good luck

Answer 4

The same thing happened with my sable, the fuel pump burned out. I replaced the pump and the fuel filter and have'nt had a problem since. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

if the car is losing power while you are driving then its likely your alternator. if it just dies and still has power then it could be your fuel pump, though you would get some sputtering along with that not just a sudden stop.

Answer 6

It could. Not pumping fuel - not running engine. It also might be a clogged fuel filter. I had one that would clog intermittently. It took forever to figure it out.

Answer 7

yes the fuel pump could be causing problems after it gets hot

Answer 8

Send your question to Pat Goss. This guy is amazing, he has a television and radio show called Goss's Garage.

Answer 9

It could be any number of things. Take it to a honest place like Firestone. They should be able to help you.

Answer 10

YES, it's possible. A lot of OTHER things can be the cause too.