What Causes a Car's Fuel Pump to Fail to Deliver Fuel and Prevent Starting?
1 Answers
Car out of fuel; Faulty crankshaft position sensor; Starter issues; Dead battery; Excessive carbon buildup. Below are the relevant details: 1. Car out of fuel: If the vehicle has very little fuel or the fuel gauge shows below the red line, it naturally won't start. When discovering the car won't start, the first thing to check is the fuel gauge to see if there's any fuel left. Additionally, never wait until the tank is empty to refuel, as this not only affects the engine's lifespan but also the fuel pump's longevity. Operating the fuel pump without fuel can even be dangerous. 2. Faulty crankshaft position sensor: The crankshaft position sensor is the most critical sensor in fuel-injected engines, especially in centralized control systems, and is shared by both the ignition and fuel injection systems. Its function is to monitor the crankshaft's position, allowing the engine's computer to detect speed signals. If the crankshaft position sensor fails, the computer can't detect speed signals, making it unable to determine if ignition is occurring, thus preventing the car from starting. 3. Starter: If the car encounters these issues, it's advisable to check for starter malfunctions. 4. Dead battery: A car's battery can die due to prolonged inactivity, the battery's lifespan expiring, a faulty alternator, insufficient or leaking electrolyte, blown fuses, corroded battery terminals, or overuse of the battery. Additionally, installing xenon headlights, high-power audio systems, or DVDs can also cause vehicle circuit failures. Checking for a dead battery is simple—press the horn to find out. 5. Excessive carbon buildup: Too much carbon buildup can lead to poor spark plug ignition, leaky valves, and inefficient fuel injector operation, causing the car to misfire, accelerate poorly, shake, or in severe cases, fail to start. Excessive carbon in the throttle body can block airflow, preventing the engine from starting due to lack of air. If the car won't start because of throttle body carbon buildup, try pressing the accelerator slightly—it might help the engine start smoothly.