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Fuel pump relay: replacement and selection

When and why a fuel pump relay needs replacement

Manufacturers do not limit operational lifetime of a fuel pump relay by exact terms. The car part is replaced in case of mechanical damages to its housing, short circuit in the coil, and oxidation or thermal damage of the contacts.

Traces of oxidation on the relay contacts occur, as a rule, due to influence of moisture on them. Voltage variations, caused by improper operation of the battery can be the cause of component elements burning-out. Usually, mechanical damages of the housing are caused by its improper mounting or a road accident.

Defects of the part can be indicated by continuous humming of the working pump (it should turn off when the optimal pressure in the fuel system is reached if the relay is OK). Also a faulty component may lead to absence of current supply to the fuel pump. The car won’t start in this case.

In most cases, replacement of the part can be performed on your own. The algorithm depends on relay’s mounting location. You can find out about component location in the car’s manual.

How to select fuel pump relay

By operating principle relays are divided into three types: with closed, with open or switching contacts. The most common parts are the ones with switching contacts, as they allow to remove load from the pump. This is because the mechanism of these relays reacts to excessive pressure and electric circuit failures, turning the pump on or off, or switching the electric circuit.

In some cars, components with a resistor are installed. This element suppresses interferences in control circuits, thanks to which the pump can operate in economy mode, without maintaining a full capacity constantly.

In order to make the part function perfectly during continuous time, give preference to products of reliable companies. For example, high-quality fuel pump relays are presented in the assortment of Herth+Buss Elparts, Vemo, Hitachi, Meat&Doria, JP Group and other manufacturers.

During selection of car part types of the engine and its fuel pump are important. Moreover, for proper installation it is essential to consider quantity, location and marking of component contacts, as well as its sizes. It is worth noting that on the housing of each relay there are letter-and-digit data, reflecting the part’s working characteristics. They are nominal voltage, maximum current intensity, active resistance of the winding and others.