The reasons that can cause Fuel Pump failure include, but are not limited to, an electrical problem, normal wear and tear, or extreme weather conditions. Normally, the Fuel Pump relay is designed to regulate voltage coming into the Fuel Pump at 12 to 14 volts. Permanent electrical load may eventually bring in corroding or wear and tear of the relay contacts in due course, which leads to its failure. In particular, this condition occurs in those vehicles that have very high mileage; their relays usually stop working after running for 100,000 to 150,000 miles due to habitual usage.
Electrical surges or short circuits may be the leading cause of failure of the Fuel Pump relay. A fault in the wiring of the vehicle or if the drawn current by the Fuel Pump is higher than what the relay is designed for, that may lead to overload heat and damage to the relay. That is why many relays have fuses that blow out when the electrical load becomes excessive. A common use would be to take a 20-amp fuse for protecting the Fuel Pump relay circuit; if this fuse blows, it may be one of the first indicators of failure in the relay.
Other major causes of relay failure originate from the environment. The primary enemies of relays are moisture, dirt, and extreme temperatures, which can easily lead to the corrosion of the contacts of the relay and hence intermittent power or a complete failure. If the weather condition in a place is highly humid or undergoes frequent changes of temperatures, this corrosion accumulates much faster and thus cuts down on the life expectancy of the relay. For example, in cold climates, condensation inside the vehicle’s electrical system may be the cause for rust and degradation within components inside the relay, hence its failure after some time.
A specific example of how Relay Failure can affect the public is that in 2018, Ford recalled more than 1.5 million vehicles due to faulty Fuel Pump relays. The failure of the relays shut off the fuel pumps, which caused the engines to stall. Thus, stalling occurs within driving, an action considered to be rather unsafe. It showed that the Fuel Pump relay plays a vital role in vehicle performance and safety.
This could be in the form of unexpected Fuel Pump relay failures, which could largely be avoided with normal and routine checks on the electrical system, including the state of relays and fuses. A faulty relay normally replaces between 20-50 dollars, whereas neglect will cost much more when the Fuel Pump eventually gets damaged from such ignorance. As the pioneer in the automotive industry Henry Ford once said, “Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.” Taking care of important components such as a Fuel Pump relay can avoid greater problems later on.
For more information on how to care for your Fuel Pump and relay, visit Fuel Pump.