# What is the problem if you don"t hear that sound from your fuel pump when you turn the key?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-the-problem-if-you-don-t-hear-that-sound-from-your-fuel-pump-when-you-turn-the-key/40780>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** ford, taurus\
**Created:** [December 15, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-the-problem-if-you-don-t-hear-that-sound-from-your-fuel-pump-when-you-turn-the-key/40780 "2009-12-15T02:04:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![russharv63](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@russharv63](https://community.cartalk.com/u/russharv63)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-the-problem-if-you-don-t-hear-that-sound-from-your-fuel-pump-when-you-turn-the-key/40780/1 "2009-12-15T02:04:29Z")

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I have a 1993 ford taurus 3.8L V6 automatic GL.When you turn the key but don’t crank the engine you hear the fuel pump turn on. If you don’t hear that sound anymore and the engine won’t start when you crank it then what is the problem. I replaced the fuel pump about one year ago. Could it be the “constant control relay module” or something else?

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**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-the-problem-if-you-don-t-hear-that-sound-from-your-fuel-pump-when-you-turn-the-key/40780/2 "2009-12-15T02:15:55Z")

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Unless you got a weak pump to start with I doubt it is toast.

A bad relay or possible voltage shortage could be suspects.

Why the double post?

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**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-the-problem-if-you-don-t-hear-that-sound-from-your-fuel-pump-when-you-turn-the-key/40780/3 "2009-12-15T02:17:14Z")

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It could be the fuel pump relay. It could be the inertial fuel pump cut-off. It could be wiring to the fuel pump. It could be the powertrain control module. Does this vehicle have a theft control system? If so, it could be that.

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**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-the-problem-if-you-don-t-hear-that-sound-from-your-fuel-pump-when-you-turn-the-key/40780/4 "2009-12-15T05:09:02Z")

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A Haynes manual has a procedure for that very problem.

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**Author:** ![hd72mm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9fc29f/32.png) [@hd72mm](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hd72mm)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-the-problem-if-you-don-t-hear-that-sound-from-your-fuel-pump-when-you-turn-the-key/40780/5 "2009-12-15T18:05:42Z")

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On some cars the defroster or other relays are the same and can be swapped out to test before buying one.  
I would check wiring and connections before trying to swapping out.