# Installed new fuel pump, but car still feels "off"...any thoughts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 25, 2012, 5:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/installed-new-fuel-pump-but-car-still-feels-off-any-thoughts/73213 "2012-06-25T05:30:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RaisinHater64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@RaisinHater64](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RaisinHater64)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 5:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/installed-new-fuel-pump-but-car-still-feels-off-any-thoughts/73213/1 "2012-06-25T05:30:47Z")
Hi, I had a new fuel pump installed on my 1997 Honda Civic (145K miles) last week after it started hesitating and bucking one day and then the Check Engine light came on. I picked the car up last Thursday, and it runs and starts, but I still feel “something off”…it seems to have small surges of power/lack of power while I drive. Again, always starts and runs but it just doesn’t feel right. I am not super car savvy and would like to return to the mechanic tomorrow with a little bit more knowledge about what may be going on. I spent quite a lot of money on the repair and wonder if they know what they’re doing; any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you ---
**Author:** ![RemcoW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/remcow/32/2471_2.png) [@RemcoW](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RemcoW)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 5:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/installed-new-fuel-pump-but-car-still-feels-off-any-thoughts/73213/2 "2012-06-25T05:51:39Z")
It could be many things but here’s a start: That vintage honda has been known to have issues with the main relay. It basically provides power to the fuel pump and the part has a tendency to have intermittent problems. It often affects starting but can also affect driving. Here’s a link on the part. [http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/startproblems.html#mainrelay](http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/startproblems.html#mainrelay) The part can often actually be fixed inexpensively by resoldering connections. Has your mechanic checked the fuel pressure? That could also be a cause for what you are describing. No doubt he’s changed the fuel filter. A clogged filter could definitely do what you describe. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 5:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/installed-new-fuel-pump-but-car-still-feels-off-any-thoughts/73213/3 "2012-06-25T05:52:27Z")
The fuel pump provides a constant fuel pressure to the fuel injectors. It’s the job of the fuel pressure regulator to control the fuel pressure to the fuel injectors. Have them check for a leaking/malfunctioning fuel pressure regulator. Tester ---
**Author:** ![RaisinHater64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@RaisinHater64](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RaisinHater64)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 5:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/installed-new-fuel-pump-but-car-still-feels-off-any-thoughts/73213/4 "2012-06-25T05:56:21Z")
thank you-so the fuel pressure regulator is a different matter than the actual fuel pump? wouldn’t they have made sure “everything” was working in sync? Or did putting in a new fuel pump just address part of the issue? ---
**Author:** ![RemcoW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/remcow/32/2471_2.png) [@RemcoW](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RemcoW)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 5:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/installed-new-fuel-pump-but-car-still-feels-off-any-thoughts/73213/5 "2012-06-25T05:58:18Z")
Usually when one replaces a fuel pump, you check to make sure the pressure is correct because those things vary in pressure. That’s inherent of the part but there’s a fuel pressure regulator in the FI system that makes sure that the injectors get the right pressure - that’s the part he may may need to look at. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 6:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/installed-new-fuel-pump-but-car-still-feels-off-any-thoughts/73213/6 "2012-06-25T06:00:23Z")
Yep! The fuel pump is mounted in the gas tank. The fuel pressure regulator is mounted on the fuel rail on the engine. Tester ---
**Author:** ![RaisinHater64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@RaisinHater64](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RaisinHater64)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 6:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/installed-new-fuel-pump-but-car-still-feels-off-any-thoughts/73213/7 "2012-06-25T06:24:40Z")
thank you for your advice-much appreciated