# Fill-up and Fuel Pump Failure **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** buick\ **Created:** [October 21, 2020, 1:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fill-up-and-fuel-pump-failure/171429 "2020-10-21T13:31:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jmcarc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/278dde/32.png) [@jmcarc](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jmcarc)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 1:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fill-up-and-fuel-pump-failure/171429/1 "2020-10-21T13:31:03Z")
I stopped for gas with my 2005 Buick Century and after I filled it up, the engine stalled and shut off after a few seconds. I tried to restart it a few times and had the same symptoms. Luckily, my mechanic was right next door to the gas station and I caught him before he left. He immediately diagnosed the problem. He said GM fuel pump failures is a common problem right after a fill up. Could the problem be caused by a station attendant trying to force more gasoline into the tank for an even dollar amount? (self serve is not legal in my state). ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 1:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fill-up-and-fuel-pump-failure/171429/2 "2020-10-21T13:48:11Z")
No, overfilling doesn’t fail pumps. It is 15 years old, the pump is due for replacement. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 2:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fill-up-and-fuel-pump-failure/171429/3 "2020-10-21T14:00:02Z")
> [@jmcarc](#): > > He said GM fuel pump failures is a common problem right after a fill up Seriously ? Then why don’t I see a lot of GM vehicles setting at the fuel pumps waiting on a tow truck ? ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fill-up-and-fuel-pump-failure/171429/4 "2020-10-21T14:03:07Z")
I’d suspect water contamination first but if he diagnosed the pump is not pumping, then that is definitive. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 3:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fill-up-and-fuel-pump-failure/171429/5 "2020-10-21T15:04:28Z")
It is a clear example of Murphy’s Law… internal tank pumps always fail when the tank is full, never when empty. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 3:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fill-up-and-fuel-pump-failure/171429/6 "2020-10-21T15:06:25Z")
I think the fuel pump is off more then it runs. ---
**Author:** ![jmcarc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/278dde/32.png) [@jmcarc](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jmcarc)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 3:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fill-up-and-fuel-pump-failure/171429/7 "2020-10-21T15:34:53Z")
Maybe the oil companies had a hand in designing the fuel pumps. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 3:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fill-up-and-fuel-pump-failure/171429/8 "2020-10-21T15:41:26Z")
> [@jmcarc](#): > > Maybe the oil companies had a hand in designing the fuel pumps I can assure you they didn’t. I used to work for the company that designed and built your fuel pump. Oil companies couldn’t screw it up that badly! A government could… but not an oil company… ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fill-up-and-fuel-pump-failure/171429/9 "2020-10-21T16:09:43Z")
Filling your tank could have stirred up some sediment. Pumping that through the filter could have been the last straw for a pump that was on the edge of dying. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fill-up-and-fuel-pump-failure/171429/10 "2020-10-21T17:15:40Z")
> [@lion9car](#): > > Filling your tank could have stirred up some sediment. Pumping that through the filter could have been the last straw for a pump that was on the edge of dying. A gas tank in a car doesn’t sit there at rest. As the car drives sediment is being stirred up constantly. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 6:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fill-up-and-fuel-pump-failure/171429/11 "2020-10-21T18:24:11Z")
> [@MikeInNH](#): > > As the car drives sediment is being stirred up constantly. You’re probably right. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 7:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fill-up-and-fuel-pump-failure/171429/12 "2020-10-21T19:23:09Z")
In the event the pump is good and remains inoperative it could be a fuel pump control circuit malfunction. Federal regulations state that the pump be wired so it will not continue to run in the event of a collision. Granted, I’m not familiar with details on this car but there should be a fuel pump test plug; somewhere near the passenger side and under the hood. A small red wire with a female plug. Running 12 volts to that plug should energize the pump and tell you definitively whether or not it’s the pump itself or a control circuit problem. If it’s the pump then it’s had a good life at 15 years so it’s due; or past due. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fill-up-and-fuel-pump-failure/171429/13 "2020-10-21T19:59:18Z")
The simplest answer is usually the right one. It’s old, it failed. Time for another one.