How to Wire a New Fuel Pump

Installing any auto part can seem like a simple job until you have your whole car torn apart and realize everything is not right. Many a shad-tree-mechanic get the shock of their week when they pull out a fuel pump only to find the wiring to the fuel pump assembly is different than theirs. The first reaction is of course …rage, those sons of $^&*#^’s but this may not be needed. Most modern cars use similar set ups for fuel pumps or updated wiring harnesses that are a simple 5 min wiring job.

Now before you start any job it is essential for you to know that the job is not out of your knowledge range. Just keep in mind this is a machine that will be hurling you down the road at enormous speed. It is not a great idea to be guessing at how it works. So it must be said, if you don’t know how…let someone who does. Oh and don’t ever smoke while installing a fuel pump. When starting the wiring job, determine what colors your factory wires are from the factory harness.  Once you have them you can find a wiring diagram usually supplied by the fuel pump supplier or on their webpage under the help section.

Most new aftermarket and even OEM fuel pumps use a GT280 style electrical piggy back. This unit is a more efficient connection than the older units and has less heat that it creates. The connector was redesigned to reduce the risk of fire and will be easily wired in. Once the wire colors are matched up, attach the wires and use screw on covers to be sure there are no exposed wires. Exposed wires means the chance of spark, spark can mean fire and in the eternal words of Phil Hartman “Fire BAD”.

With the whole new pigtail wired in the installation process is as simple as clicking the new clip into place and lowering the assembly into the tank. Now turn the retaining ring on the pump to secure it and you are good to go. 

Why is the Radiator Fan So Important

There are millions of people on the roads today and most of them understand the basic working of a car. The word “most” is the important part of that phrase. Most people know that a car is cooled by the radiator fan or the cooling fan but it may be shocking to know there are a good number of people out there that don’t. Knowing how a system works is the best way to avoid future issues with the car. It is also a great way to protect against failures that could have been prevented.

The cooling system in a car is very important to the operation of the car not just on hot days. The Cooling fan sits on the radiator at the front of the car and draws air across the unit to cool it down. The radiator works by spreading the coolant pumped from the engine across a large surface area where the heat can be dissipated. On a hot day the cooling ability of the radiator is compromised and the cooling fan is essential. When the cooling fan fails the amount of air traveling across the radiator is significantly decreased and the vehicle will overheat.

Internal combustion engines work by creating controlled explosions inside the cylinders which force the piston downward. Each of these explosions creates a lot of heat in the system and most of it travels out the exhaust of the vehicle. The metal in a motor will absorb heat and overheat unless the temperature is controlled in some way. Coolant is pumped into the motor through small passage ways in order to absorb the heat and cool the engine. This coolant is then pushed to the radiator where it is cooled and then pushed back into the motor. The process is very simple but can cause detrimental failure if stopped. When the cooling fluid cannot release the heat, it builds up to the point where the motor will no longer work. In some cases the heat can cause fires or internally damage the engine beyond repair.

A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing but in this case it is not. The more you know about your car, the more you can save yourself from a huge headache in the future.