Hi guys,

Sometimes my car won't start. Maybe 1 out of 40 starts. I found out that if I tap the fuel pump with a hammer, the car starts just fine.

Would you guys sayt that's a good test for a bad fuel pump, or could it be something else (electrical?)?

Thanks for looking.
jobo

I'd rule out the condition of the 25 amp fuse holder while I was at it.

The same thing happened to my daughters car, after trying all the usual suspects I pulled a plug and it was bone dry. As a last resort I wacked the pump with my hand and it fired right up. I put a new pump in a couple of days later. Dan

That is exactly how my fuel pump was acting and I had to occasionally give it a whack to get the car started. After about a week or so it got to the point where whacking it no longer worked and I needed a tow... So, better to replace the pump before you get to that point...

JJ
1987 745T 358K miles

That "frequency" of failure could be a pump with worn out brushes which requires a new pump to correct. But depending on how hard you closed the door on the car so you could go "whack" the pump, it could be the fuel pump relay. Much easier to deal with. Please note: "whacking the pump allowed me to get home once or twice as well, ie. totally acceptable diagnostic procedure!" IMHO

jorrell
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92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!