LJ Fuel Pump Woes: Two In A Week

grahamfitter

Expedition Leader
Short version of the story: Original fuel pump quit around 60K miles. The replacement (NAPA -- the only one available and even that involved a ferry) quit after just five days. Is there anything that could cause premature failure in these things or am I just plain unlucky?

Link to long version of the story.
 

Haggis

Appalachian Ridgerunner
I've had an issue with my fuel pump on our LJ but it was a result of the wiring. At last years Ridgerunner Bald Eagle ExPo trip a stick or stone caught the wireloom along the frame rails and gave it a tug while motoring through a mudhole. The result was a shorting out fuse and no working fuel pump. A quick inspection and a wiggle of the pump wiring connector and all was good...for a year. At this years Hootenanny ExPo run I lost the fuel pump again, and like last year it was right in the middle of another mudhole We could not get it working and after a tow later we found out that last years incident resulted in two broken wires in the loom. They were not visible as the breaks were shield by the wire's sheathing. My local dealership found them by hooking up a fancy pants short finding thingy (how do you like that high tech description?). We spliced the wiring loom back with marine grade splices, used marine grade shrink wrap to seal them and then shrinked wrapped the hole loom as a whole. I might be possible that you have a short in your harness and your toasting your pumps. That or you just have bad luck.
 

CRJeepin

Observer
Also possible that whatever took out the first pump (dirt/debris) killed the second one.

I'd suggest draining and cleaning your gas tank next time you replace one. Just be careful w/the fumes!

CR
 

grahamfitter

Expedition Leader
Make that three in two weeks. The chap who replaced the first broken NAPA pump found it was defective -- assembled with an improperly fitted O-ring seal. The chap who is going to be replacing the second broken NAPA pump has ordered us a Delco one. No wiring problems were found by either mechanic. Interesting neither of them had anything good to say about NAPA parts -- in retrospect we should have not replaced the first NAPA one under warranty.
 

Haggis

Appalachian Ridgerunner
Glad your getting it sorted out. I can imagine how frustrating that would be.
 

grahamfitter

Expedition Leader
There was a hole in the short hose between the fuel pump and the sender unit that was causing the pump to run continuously while trying in vain to maintain pressure in the fuel line. New pump, new hose, we're cooking with gas, kind of... :)

Cheers,
Graham
 

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