Types of mechanical damage to electric petrol/diesel pumps

Defects, indications of faults and resulting hazards

Reading time: 2 minutes

Information on diagnostics

Has the petrol/diesel pump been dropped or the connections been damaged during the replacement, installation or fixing process? Is the risk of fire from damaged electric petrol/diesel pumps really that high? What should be taken into account when safe working is to be carried out on the car's petrol/diesel system in the workshop or at home? You can find out here.

Damaged housing

Improper handling (e.g. dropping) can cause damage to the fuel pump housing. Dropping the pump during assembly can result in cracks in the plastic, for example, causing the fuel pump to leak.

Attention: Leaky fuel pumps increase the risk of fire!

Damaged connections During inexpert assembly/removal, connections can be damaged or break of.

Attention: A leaky fuel connection is an acute fire hazard!

All fuel pumps undergo quality controls and function checks at the factory before delivery. Damages such as these could only have occurred later as the result of improper handling.

Damaged filters

In-tank pumps often have a mesh-like filter on the intake side. Some filters have stiffening ribs to make them more sturdy. If inexpertly installed, the filter and any ribs in it may be damaged.

Dirt can penetrate or fragments of ribs in the filter can jam the pump system.

Fluid-level sensor detached from the fuel delivery module

In some fuel delivery modules, the fluidlevel sensor mechanism is equipped with a damping device. This can break if the fluid-level sensor is moved by hand.

Attention: Never move the arm of the fluid-level sensor by hand. Danger of breakage!

Bent fluid-level sensor on fuel delivery module

Inexpert installation can lead to a bent fluid-level sensor arm. This can in turn cause the tank indicator to show an incorrect quantity of fuel.

All fuel pumps undergo quality controls and function checks at the factory before delivery. Damages such as these could only have occurred later as the result of improper handling.