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Reliable vehicles such as Toyota are well-oiled machines that use a variety of complicated parts simultaneously to bring about a trustworthy performance that you love. Some of those parts have greater importance than others even though they all are important to a vehicle’s overall function.
The fuel pump is one of those components that if damaged, it would stop the car from functioning. There are a few warning signs that your fuel pump has gone bad, but to understand why you need to replace the fuel pump, you need to understand what exactly it does.
Should a problem with your fuel pump arise, do not try to fix it yourself. Always take your vehicle in to be professionally serviced when it needs repairs.
Toyota uses a fuel system that incorporates many parts. Should any of those parts malfunction or become worn, then the entire system may be compromised.
Under the hood, your car pumps gas along from the tank to a place where it is mixed with air by a component known as the carburetor. This mixture is then sucked in and used by the engine.
As you may have guessed, the fuel pump is responsible for sucking the fuel out of the gas tank so that it can be sent to the engine. This pump is driven by the camshaft and a lever system creates a suction that draws fuel along the fuel pipe through a valve.
Once the correct amount has been suctioned, the lever is returned to its original location and the pull stops. In newer cars, however, this process is even more motorized and acts as a constant cycle.
As you can imagine, a faulty fuel pump poses major issues to the integrity and functionality of your vehicle. Due to this, any of the below warning signs should be taken seriously and reason to take your vehicle in.
When you turn on your vehicle, the fuel pump is automatically turned on as well. However, if the fuel pump is not functioning properly or at all, the car may have trouble starting as no gas can enter the combustion chamber within the engine.
Another common symptom of a bad fuel pump is a sputtering engine. This is easiest to spot when you have been driving a certain speed for a large amount of time. If the engine suddenly starts to sputter and you’ve made no changes driving, then you may have a problem with the fuel pump.
It is always disheartening to hear odd noises under the hood of your car. However, a whining sound when driving the vehicle is an indication that the engine may be under stress from an improper amount of fuel. This may result in a strain on the engine that takes the form of a whining noise.
A car surge is easiest described as what feels like you suddenly pressed the gas hard even though you did not. You may be driving a constant speed when all of a sudden your car surges forward then slows. This may be a malfunction with the fuel pump that is causing the lurch. This can be extremely dangerous, especially if this happens as a pedestrian is crossing in front of you and you aren’t prepared for the surge.
Your fuel pump regulates the flow of fuel within your vehicle, 
and the engine cannot work properly without any fuel. It should go without saying that a problem with the fuel pump could be detrimental to your Toyota’s performance and should be replaced when necessary.
At Euro Plus Automotive, we strive to be your solution to issues that arise with your Toyota. We understand how much you care for your vehicle and can bring that same level of care to repairing it. We have been serving auto needs in the areas of Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles County, CA for years.
Please feel free to give us a call anytime or even come on down and visit us at our location to see why we are the best name in the auto repair business.
Volkswagens have been known for years to have some of the most advanced electronics systems when it comes to onboard engine computer control. A DME, or Digital Motor Electronics, is your engine’s control center and task giver to make sure your Volkswagen runs as efficiently as possible.
The DME sends electronic messages to the engine on how to carry out these tasks. It also uses the most efficient methods with the least possible emissions. As simple as this sounds, your DME is sending and receiving thousands of signals a second to perform its function. You may think of it as the brain or nerve center of your VW.
When the DME begins to have problems, there are some tell-tale symptoms that can alert you to an impending worsening issue. If you notice any of these, it may be prudent to take your VW to an expert mechanic for diagnostic testing.
Your Volkswagen’s DME may be malfunctioning if your car stalls. When the unit receives information and does not calculate the engine’s needs correctly, it may send the wrong instructions. The engine can actually shut down if this occurs.
Just as with stalling, a faulty DME could send the wrong information, causing your engine to misfire. Misfiring can be felt inside your vehicle via heavy vibrations during idle or when trying to drive. An RPM gauge will usually be the first place you will see misfires happening, as the needle will bounce when the engine attempts to adjust for the misfires.
Your car may lunge forward or backfire, possibly related to misfiring or incorrect gas and oxygen mixtures delivered by a bad DME. These are obvious signs your vehicle needs attention. Do not operate it. Instead, have it towed to a trusted shop.
A weak DME module should activate a check engine light or other code if it is not functioning correctly. Some owners will try and save money by taking their VW to a car parts house that offers free computer diagnostics, but this may not be the best answer.
Although Volkswagens are highly reliable, they are sophisticated machines. If misdiagnosed, you could damage your system or, at the least, lose money by replacing good parts when the problem is something else.
As with symptoms, there are some common causes for a faulty DME. Make note of the below reasons so you can discuss them with your technician:
As your Volkswagen or any other car ages, the protection the manufacturers put into components to resist moisture will wear out. Over time, this moisture will find its way into a vehicle’s electronic parts, including a DME, and cause corrosion, especially if you live in an environment where salt is prevalent.
Years ago and before high-tech electronics were installed, most cars with dead batteries were jump-started by placing the positive cable on the positive side of the battery and the negative cable onto the negative post of the battery. This old habit can fry your car’s computer system and is not advised. Always place the cable’s negative side on your car’s metal structure and not the battery post when jump-starting.
Some people want their cars to go faster. One way to do this is to install computer chips into the system that may give your vehicle better performance. The only problem is, many do it themselves and install cheap knockoffs by accident. These poorly designed chips can cause irreversible damage to your DME.
Electronics do not mix with vibrations very well. If your DME is loose or something in your Volkswagen is causing strong vibrations, your DME will probably fail after a time.
The DME in your Volkswagen has a specific voltage it needs to operate correctly. Bad wiring in your harness or even a weak battery can dramatically change the voltage supplied to your unit. If this occurs, your DME will not work properly and cause issues with your car’s performance.
A DME failure, as mentioned, can 
cause a headache to owners of Volkswagens. Our expert technicians at Euro Plus Automotive know how to troubleshoot and repair any issues with your Volkswagen and many other European vehicle models.
Serving Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles County, CA with over 30 years in the business, we are truly dedicated to our clients and our work quality. Contact us today to set up your servicing and repair needs.
Euro Plus Automotive specializes in maintenance, services, & repairs with certified technicians and cutting-edge tools & equipment for European vehicles including Audi, BMW, Mercedes, & more as well as Japanese cars like Honda, Nissan, Toyota, & more.
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