Yes, a bad fuel pump relay can and will cause a no-start condition in your car. Relay of the fuel pump is very important because it supplys power to the fuel pump. The main downside of a failed relay is that the pump does not receive enough voltage required to operate, which will prevent it from functioning. Further data suggests up to 40% of all problems with a no-start diagnosis can be traced back to electrical components (including relays), showcasing how vital these systems are in maintaining vehicle performance.
Your whole fuel delivery system is knocked out of whack when a fuel pump relay goes bad. For instance, if the relay does not close, you could get a voltage drop of as much as 12 volts. When voltage is reduced this much the fuel pump will not be able to send enough fuel at initial start up for the engine. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a defective relay has caused a lot of vehicles to be recalled as it is a crucial component in ensuring that cars operate safely and efficiently.
Signs of a Bad Fuel Pump Relay Usually, the signs of a bad fuel pump relay are intermittent starting trouble and strange engine behavior. According to a report by the Automotive Repair Association, almost 25% of drivers experience situations in their vehicles where they’re unaware that the relay is what’s causing all sorts of problems. Furthermore, if the relay fails then it can do so in a way that prevents fuel entirely from reaching the engine and result in a total no-start.
Fuel pump relay life span between 50,000 – 100,000 miles (depending on use patterns and environmental conditions). This can mean that vehicles in very hot or cold climates are likely to have their relay fail sooner than a car in a moderate region. A routine inspection and detection of the symptoms of a bad PCV valve before complete malfunction can avoid no-start circumstances.
Furthermore, you need to know what it takes to test a fuel pump relay. Mechanics typically suspect a bad relay and will test it using a multimeter to check voltage and continuity. Relays that display improper behavior no longer, will need to be replaced. All automotive professionals we spoke with concur on the value of preventative maintenance (like routine electrical-component checks) as a time-saving and cash-sparing strategy.
If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough. -Albert Einstein Knowing what the fuel pump relay is doing sheds some light on how massive the impact of this part would have been like in making an engine perform better. When the EEC power relay fails or has an issue it can cause problems with the vehicle, one of them being a no start condition. At the heart of everything is your vehicle, and it is particularly important to regularly inspect all electrical components, including the fuel pump relay. For more about how to care for your fuel pump visit Fuel Pump.