Reader with 100K+ miles vehicle experienced failed electric fuel pump during recent wilderness trip, much inconvenience, now asks ‘what parts on my vehicle should I replace to avoid future wilderness breakdowns’? Response is fuel pump failure is rare, so can’t recommend pro-active replacement, and at 100K+, lots of stuff could break. Instead best bet is to bring along cell phone equipped w/a satellite-call option, then call for help if something breaks.
I got to thinking, in days of yore when I used to drive my 4WD truck in Colorado wilderness, same logic as Ray , I didn’t replace stuff just in case. My solution to this dilemma was to bring along some common failure items, and tools needed to replace them, e.g.
fuel pump (mechanical)
alternator
accessory belts
brake master cylinder
engine oil, brake fluid, auto transmission fluid, gear oil
repair manual
compact tool box
In my case, the gear oil and the accessory belts allowed me to continue some of the trips, so good idea. I didn’t need the other stuff, but those items were not wasted, eventually needed to driveway-replace them as part of urban driving. Only downside to bringing that stuff along was the space it took.
So what do you folks think? Would you recommend such a plan for a modern-day wilderness driving reader? Or is diagnosing & replacing failed parts during a wilderness trip impractical w/modern vehicles?
I’ve done all manner of back country 4 wheeling and backpacking. I have never brought along a replacement alternator, fuel pump, brake master cylinder etc. This list is the opposite extreme of what you will encounter; people with inadequate clothing, food and water. For trail repairs we have a means of communication, a tool box and proper survival gear in case we are stuck or need to walk out. When I have went with the radical, let’s try to break something crowd, there is always one guy with a welder set up and maybe a spare axle.
Such a failure is possible of course, but I didn’t bring anything along for that problem myself. I guess I would tried to come up with a way to wipe the driver’s side of the windshield from driver’s seat, a long stick with a cloth on the end, or free up the linkage from the motor and hook the stick directly to a wiper.
through known vehicle history, reported failures, and good record keeping and research, some pro-active repairs are a good idea- especially if you will be going places where a failure would be hard to work out of.
not wilderness related, but: I know (from history on the Chevy’s that I have and have taken care of, and through friends with similar trucks,) that I can expect right at about 7 years out of my fuel pump. if I start driving places where a breakdown would be extremely catastrophic, then I would be wise to change my fuel pump before it fails each 6.5 years.
my old fleet trucks had International 7.3L engines. With our extended idling times, I learned that I could expect right at 50,000 miles out of the water pumps. I would change them at 45,000 to avoid the breakdown that was coming. This was smart planning, and reduced fleet breakdowns due to water pumps to zero.
I always carry some tools with me and a tire plug kit just in case.
when I went off roading I would make sure the spare was good. I would have water, a square board to put under the jack if the ground was soft or for sand if I was on the beach fishing. an air tank or pump, tow rope and a shovel.
And I would always go with someone else unless I was meeting them at a certain place and time. It is always best to let someone know the area you are going in and approximate time when you will be back.
My truck is well maintained but high miles, I’d carry fluids, a limited toolbox and maybe a crank position sensor (cheap and fairly easy to replace). And my cell phone, of course.
But I don’t do any backwoods trail bangin’… she’s just too rusty and old.
Never had one fail on any vehicle I’ve ever owned. Not too sure of any vehicles these days that have a mechanical fuel pump either.
Last alternator I had fail was my 1984 GMC pickup. Failed around 1988. No alternator or starter has ever failed on any vehicle we’ve owned since then…even after 300 and even 450 THOUSAND miles.
Agreed. But before I go on a long trip I’d check them. Serpentine belts or accessory belts these days last for years and years.
Never had one fail on any vehicle I owned.
Maybe. But, unless you’re in the middle of nowhere those fluids can be found anywhere.
Good Idea…but if you have a cell phone or Ipad or laptop, all that info can be found on-line. In fact it’s extremely difficult to get a hard copy repair manual these days.
I’ve heard the opposite in real life, once anyway. When I was in my 20’s I dated a girl who’s father fancied himself a decent mechanic. He was explaining to me how one year before a big camping trip he could hear his water pump making noise and just knew it would go soon. So he was sure to bring along a new pump, coolant, hoses, tools, etc. And it’s a good thing he did because halfway through the trip he had to replace it on the side of the road, and he was gloating about how easy it was since he brought everything he needed to do it.
He got a little snippy when I asked him why he didn’t just change it before they left?
They do seem to be pretty reliable, both the electric type and the mechanical. My truck’s mechanical fuel pump sprung a leak at the 40 year mark. I figured it was going to be very difficult to find a replacement fuel pump for 40 year old truck. I walk into the local auto parts store, tell the parts-guy what I need, he doesn’t even need to get out of his chair, replacement pump is right there on the shelf next to him … lol …
You mean most have an electrical pump, right? I’d say all new cars and trucks with gas engines do, I don’t know of a mechanical pump that would work with fuel injection. There are those diesels with mechanical pumps, I guess.
Just about anything Direct Injection, which is quite common these days, is going to have a mechanical pump. It’s easier to have a mechanical pump make thousands of psi than an electric one. There will still be a supply pump in the system to get the fuel to the engine-mounted high pressure pump.
Interesting. Do all DI engines have a low pressure electric pump in the tank, along with the high pressure mechanical pump? What drives the high pressure pump?
Here’s a good description. So it’s a very high-tech version of the old cam driven pump! How High-Pressure Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Fuel Pumps Work | GMB Blog
There is going to be a low-pressure electric pump in the tank to drive fuel up to the HP pump. At least that’s how the system works on this car, which is by no means exotic or technologically unique.
I’m guessing the square cam pushes on the spring at the bottom of the pump. If so, probably the part to which the pump attaches isn’t installed in the photo…
