Eric_Oz_S2

My S2 is still on it's original fuel pump - the car has done around 90,000 miles. I only take it to the track, but often that is a 400km round trip.

I am thinking about replacing it as a maintenance item - rather than wait till it fails when I'm in the middle of nowhere (Murphy says if it fails - this is where it will happen). I'd been keen to here about anyone's experience with fuel pump life on the 944.

Perhaps worth just coughing up the $230 to replace?

Thanks
Eric

Mike C.

252,000 miles on mine and still ticking...

chrisc

My car is still street legal but only used on the track. I just replaced the radiator (new turbo unit), master cylinder, new fuel pump, clutch slave, reference sensors and fuel lines on my 924S for the reason you mentioned. My thinking is spending the time and money to attend track events to have some old part fail is expensive too. Plus, over the last three years almost everything on the car is new or rebuilt making the car one of the worst investments in money I have ever made but it sure is fun!

Mark944na86

Won't you likely be replacing it with a bigger pump anyway when you install the SC?

Eric_Oz_S2

Mark, I would expect the stock fuel pump would provide enough fuel.

V2Rocket

wouldnt hurt to have another one, besides they are so easy to replace you could even carry it in your normal road tool bag

s14kev

Ha! Brisbane. I though that was in the middle of nowhere
How many aussies are on this board anyway?

On a side note, roller cell fuel pumps, especially the old bosch type are usually super reliable. Other things are more likely to strand you - coil, leads, dizzy, timing belt, fuel lines, wheel bearings, DME, alternator, battery, water pump, radiator, clutch, head gasket, oil pump, oil cooler.. And all of a sudden $230 becomes $5000...

kingston944

I replaced new pumps and really old pumps I don't think I'd replace till a problem presents itself. But you never know.

Mike C.

If you can pick up a good used one for cheap it may be worth a piece of mind. You might also want to pack a bottle of dry gas (fuel injector cleaner, etc.) in case you get some bad petrol along the way.

Eric_Oz_S2

So any idea of how many instances of fuel pump failure on 944's have their been for RL members? Do they normally go instantly or are there symptoms?

running_cold924

mine was fine until one day i came into the garage and saw a huge puddle of gas under mine (of course it was just filled up).

turns out it was leaking externally from the pump. 1986 951 with maybe 120K....
had it happened somewhere, i still could have drove it home, just leaking gas though. pump still worked fine.

944Ross

Three failures in my experience (two were the failed pumps on the cars when I bought them); all failed because of crap they ingested, not old age. The screen in the tank outlet is OK as long as it doesn't rip; once it cracks or rips, all the junk in the tank can go right to the pump. I had a replacement pump crap out the second time I filled the tank, stirring up sand in the tank. I put an aftermarket in-line filter in the suction line, have had zero problems since. (there is a thread on this)

I took the three failed ones apart to see why they failed. One had 100k on it and the brushes etc were fine, years of life left. It takes very little to lock up a roller-vane pump.

s14kev

This is my experience also. Poor quality fuel and damaged blocked/screens are the primary cause of pump failures. In addition to debris making its way into the pump, if the inlet screens get really plugged up they essentially force the pump to run dry. Since roller cell type pumps rely on fuel flow for cooling they will seize. Same with running a tank completely dry. Apart from problems like this related to poor maintenance, pumps tend to be uber reliable.

Eric_Oz_S2

How do you check the screens? Can you do it with the tanks still in the car and is it replaceable?

s14kev

Tank can stay in the car. Remove fuel pump. Fuel tank pick up with plastic filter screen is essentially the tank outlet nipple which will unscrew from the tank.

Usually wouldn't bother checking/cleaning it unless you were replacing the pump. I would flush out the bottom of the tank by pouring a litre or two of petrol down the fuel filler while the pickup is out if you go to that trouble. You will be surprised at how much crud is in the bottom of a tank after 25 years.You might even find a new alien life form in there.