The fuel pump that is situated near the fuel tank of your vehicle serves the valuable purpose of continuously delivering fuel to the engine. Therefore, when the fuel pump is not working properly, the engine will not get the amount of fuel it needs to stay running. While most people assume they know what would happen if the fuel pump started to go bad in their vehicle, in all actuality, this one component can have a lot of issues before it fails completely that can leave you scratching your head. Here are a few telltale indications that your fuel pump is failing that you should know. 

Your engine develops an odd miss. 

Fuel pumps don't always fail completely all at once, but rather start to decline in function a little at a time. This often means that while your engine is running and demanding consistent fuel delivery, the fuel pump occasionally hiccups and will not provide fuel as it should. You may notice a miss in how the engine runs during acceleration or even when your car is sitting at an idle. This kind of miss is often wrongly associated with things like bad spark plugs or even bad gas, but could definitely indicate an issue with the fuel pump. 

Your engine takes a while to start. 

You turn the key in the ignition, fully expecting the engine to rev up so you can be on your way, but all you get is the telltale whir-whir-whir sound of an engine that is turning but refuses to actually start. This is definitely a symptom that could mean your fuel pump is not properly functioning—even if this only happens on occasion. When this problem occurs, it is best to have your car checked out by an auto repair shop. 

You don't hear the fuel pump kick in when you turn your key.

Most people don't pay a lot of attention to noises outside of their car when they first get in, but the fuel pump does actually make a noise when you first turn your key into the on position, even before you actually start the engine. The noise you hear will be a slight hum, which is the sound of the fuel pump delivering a burst of fuel to the engine so it can start. If you are not hearing this noise, it is a good sign that your fuel pump is not functioning as it should. 

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