# Automotive Question: Could the fuel pump be the problem?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automotive-question-could-the-fuel-pump-be-the-problem/820728>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 4, 2018, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automotive-question-could-the-fuel-pump-be-the-problem/820728 "2018-09-04T07:10:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automotive-question-could-the-fuel-pump-be-the-problem/820728/21 "2018-09-06T01:41:00Z")

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> [@etasyde](#):
>
> Now I already said it’s probably not the coil, but why not take a minute to go over all the possible malfunctions…

That’s fine. What I’m saying is it’s definitely not the ignition coils as they are not among the possibilities for the symptom described, so there’s no point at all in considering them.

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**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automotive-question-could-the-fuel-pump-be-the-problem/820728/22 "2018-09-06T02:37:59Z")

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> [@etasyde](#):
>
> I don’t want to beat a dead horse, because the real point I’m trying to make is to check off the easy, cheap parts before you rush into assuming some expensive part must be to blame, but the coil on plug thing is completely unrelated to the point - my 2001 has the same system, and it gave issues that weren’t exactly the same but we’re similar enough that a malfunction of the same part might explain it.
> 
> Now I already said it’s probably not the coil, but why not take a minute to go over all the possible malfunctions, sort them from super-easy to check to requires professional and work ones way through it rather than risk blowing up the bank account fixing what isn’t actually broken? People like to assume the worst has happened and every car problem will cost thousands of dollars to fix (and plenty of shady mechanics do their best to perpetuate the idea) but it’s often as not something minor and easy to repair.
> 
> All I hope that someone takes away from this is take a few minutes to make a complete list of potential issues and check what’s trivially easy to check first. Maybe save a few thousand while you’re at it.

Keep in mind, there’s a difference between ruling out the easy stuff by checking it and ruling out the easy stuff by launching the parts cannon at it (ie replacing it). Just based on the time alone, if the pressure test port is easily accessible, it’s going to be easy to check it. IOW, go ahead and check for spark, but don’t preemptively replace plugs or coils.  
Also, wouldn’t a bad plug or coil throw a misfire code? Hell, you can usually feel a misfire.  
You may also want to throw a code scanner on it, while it’s not likely to have any stored codes that simply haven’t turned on the CEL yet, if you’re at the auto parts store, have them scan it.

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