Fuel Pump died at 49K Miles

[Rob Bell]

Yikes... last night I was driving south of Bloomington/Normal IL on I55, cruising at 80mph, and all of a sudden the Firebird just dies w/o warning. It's a 2002 with 49K miles on it. After 2 hours on the side of the road on a cold rainy night, today I find out it's going to be $1100 to replace this thing - $500 or so for the pump assembly and 6 hours of labor. Too bad I can't do it myself, but the car is 120 miles from home. Thank God I had a cellphone. By the time I add in towing, rental car for two days, and misc expenses, I think I'm looking at $1500 for this. Geez!

[badinfluenceRS]

Re: Fuel Pump died at 49K Miles

You can EASILY fix it for ~$130 or not as easily, but still pretty easily fix it for the same amount

1. Trap Door Method = cut a U shaped hole in the back truck metal platform thing (right above gas tank), get a manual and follow the easy steps, takes 30-45min tops.

2. take off the exhaust, lower the gas tank etc

Get a manual, do it yourself

That mechanic who quoted you was on crack

[3.8Fury]

Re: Fuel Pump died at 49K Miles

Damn bro that suks, my transmission fluid pump needs to be replaced... Good thing my bro can do it himself..

[Meatyshells]

Re: Fuel Pump died at 49K Miles

that price sounds about right for a replacement, but yeah if you could get the car back to your place, i would really think about doing it yourself.
but dam man only 49k miles? mine went out at 130k

[badinfluenceRS]

Re: Fuel Pump died at 49K Miles

that price sounds about right for a replacement

$1,500 for a fuel pump replace? God damn that's crazy

I'll sell you a whole car for $1,500!

[Meatyshells]

Re: Fuel Pump died at 49K Miles

it's really only 1,100 not 1,500

with the price of a stock replacement fuelpump, and dropping the rear end to get to the fuel pump (the right way to do it) 1,100 is about right

i personally was quoted only 900 to do it

[candela]

Re: Fuel Pump died at 49K Miles

I had a walbro 255 replace the oem pump and was payed a total of $250. The tank was dropped and done by the book. Price included parts and labor and yes it was done by a shop.

[Sean76]

Re: Fuel Pump died at 49K Miles

I think I'd find a friend that would bring a roll back, or get it towed home some how and fix it yourself! Even getting a Ryder trailer towing thing for a hitch and get a friend with a decent truck to pull it with.

[95redslp]

Re: Fuel Pump died at 49K Miles

get a u-hall car trailer and tow it home... and go from there

[awnm2002]

Re: Fuel Pump died at 49K Miles

I had the same thing happen at 40k miles. Fortunately, mine was covered by my extended warranty because the estimate was $1200.

The mechanic told me to not top off my fuel tank and not let it get below 1/4 tank because both could make the pump work too hard and fritz out. May or may not be related, but I don't take chances!

Good luck.

[vanbibber]

Re: Fuel Pump died at 49K Miles

mine went at 42k.

[Rob Bell]

Re: Fuel Pump died at 49K Miles

Yeah if it had died at home I would have just had it towed home and done the trapdoor thing. But it was like 120 miles from home. I had to be at a meeting the next morning. I didn't have time to mess with it. I'll just be paying on the credit card for a few months :o)

[bbplayer133]

Re: Fuel Pump died at 49K Miles

get a walbro and cut the access hole.. make short work of it for yourself and safe an assload of money

[nascar24jd]

Re: Fuel Pump died at 49K Miles

Does anyone know if there is a defect in the F-body fuel pumps because I see a lot of people on here having to replace their pump.

The reason I ask is many years ago I was told that running your fuel tank low is the #1 reason for fuel pump failure. So, I never run my tank low and I have never had a fuel pump go bad on any of the many cars that I have owned.

Do think think this holds truth or am I just lucky?

[cam98aro]

Re: Fuel Pump died at 49K Miles

Does anyone know if there is a defect in the F-body fuel pumps because I see a lot of people on here having to replace their pump.

The reason I ask is many years ago I was told that running your fuel tank low is the #1 reason for fuel pump failure. So, I never run my tank low and I have never had a fuel pump go bad on any of the many cars that I have owned.

Do think think this holds truth or am I just lucky?

i doubt it, my car is on E 50% of the time, and it hasnt died on me yet