240 fuel pumps
240 fuel pumps
I have a 1985 240 wagon. The in-tank fuel pump went bad about 5 months ago. It was replaced. Recently the in-line pump went bad. I put a new pump in. It went bad in less than 100 miles. The fuel filter was not replaced and I wonder if a clogged filter can burn up a new fuel pump?
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Kmaniac in California USA
- Posts: 301
- Joined: 15 January 2005
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- Location: Concord, California USA
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I think I know what your problem is. But first I want to make sure you fully understand the pump and filter configuration on your car.
In case you didn't already know, your car has TWO fuel pumps and TWO fuel filters. The first filter that gasoline passes through is the filter sock on the suction end of the in-tank fuel pump, which is in the fuel tank. Fuel then passes through the in-tank pump, then the main fuel pump under the car below the drivers seat. After that, it passes through the main fuel filter, which is next to the main fuel pump.
Now, the main fuel filter (under the car) is routinely changed at service intervals. The function of the main fuel filter is to protect the fuel system components under the hood from fine dirt and the shedding of material from failing or failed fuel pumps. The in-tank filter is never looked at and will degrade over time. The function of the in-tank filter is to protect the fuel pumps (both of them) from dirt contamination in the fuel. When (not if) the in-tank filter sock deteriorates, unfiltered fuel will enter both the in-tank pump and main fuel pumps. This first leads to the in-tank pump eventually jamming on the dirt and blowing the in-tank pump fuse, the only indication you will get that the pump has failed. The car will, however, appear to run just fine with a disfunctional in-tank fuel pump. Then the main fuel pump will start to degrade as more unfiltered fuel passes through it. This will cause the pump to inconsistently fail to operate, usually when the car is hot or has been shut off hot. Unfortunately, by the time the main fuel pump eventually fails from dirt intrusion, the owner has either sold or junked the car in frustration from the inconsistent starting.
One thing I must stress to all Volvo owners is to never replace the main fuel pump without inspecting and/or replacing the in-tank fuel pump and filter sock at the same time. I have read at least one post in this forum about someone who had his main fuel pump replaced three times, at 30-day intervals by an independent (non-Volvo trained) mechanic and couldn't figure out why the new pumps were always defective. The answer: His in-tank filter sock was deteriorated and kept passing dirt to the new main fuel pumps, causing them to fail. I am sure that many a Volvo has been sold or scrapped because of this oversite.
The failure of your in-tank pump most likely occured because the in-tank filter sock deteriorated, causing dirt contamination of both fuel pumps. And, as you can see, the main fuel pump eventually failed, which would happen as a result, if it wasn't changed at the same time as the in-tank pump. Given that a new main fuel pump has again failed within 100 miles tells me that whoever changed your in-tank pump, either reused the old, deteriorated filter sock, or simply forgot or intentionally omitted it. I suggest you take your car back to whoever replaced your in-tank pump and make them install a new filter sock and two new fuel pumps free of charge.
Now, your probably asking how I know all this. I learned this the hard way when I bought a used Volvo real cheap from someone who was frustrated. It took me three weeks of my own frustration to figure this out on my own. Since I replaced both fuel pumps and in-tank filter sock, my Volvo has run trouble free for over a year.
If you read through the posts in this forum, you will see that I harp on this subject quite a bit. I do this because I think this is more common a problem with Volvo's than most people, including experience Volvo mechanics realize. You see, if the basic parts on the back end of the fuel system don't work right, the complicated parts on the front end won't work well either. And most people assume any fuel problem is under the hood and ignore what is in the fuel tank. In fact, most people and mechanics don't realize there is a second fuel pump and filter in the tank.
Keep us posted with what you find out about your car. I always like to hear about success stories.
In case you didn't already know, your car has TWO fuel pumps and TWO fuel filters. The first filter that gasoline passes through is the filter sock on the suction end of the in-tank fuel pump, which is in the fuel tank. Fuel then passes through the in-tank pump, then the main fuel pump under the car below the drivers seat. After that, it passes through the main fuel filter, which is next to the main fuel pump.
Now, the main fuel filter (under the car) is routinely changed at service intervals. The function of the main fuel filter is to protect the fuel system components under the hood from fine dirt and the shedding of material from failing or failed fuel pumps. The in-tank filter is never looked at and will degrade over time. The function of the in-tank filter is to protect the fuel pumps (both of them) from dirt contamination in the fuel. When (not if) the in-tank filter sock deteriorates, unfiltered fuel will enter both the in-tank pump and main fuel pumps. This first leads to the in-tank pump eventually jamming on the dirt and blowing the in-tank pump fuse, the only indication you will get that the pump has failed. The car will, however, appear to run just fine with a disfunctional in-tank fuel pump. Then the main fuel pump will start to degrade as more unfiltered fuel passes through it. This will cause the pump to inconsistently fail to operate, usually when the car is hot or has been shut off hot. Unfortunately, by the time the main fuel pump eventually fails from dirt intrusion, the owner has either sold or junked the car in frustration from the inconsistent starting.
One thing I must stress to all Volvo owners is to never replace the main fuel pump without inspecting and/or replacing the in-tank fuel pump and filter sock at the same time. I have read at least one post in this forum about someone who had his main fuel pump replaced three times, at 30-day intervals by an independent (non-Volvo trained) mechanic and couldn't figure out why the new pumps were always defective. The answer: His in-tank filter sock was deteriorated and kept passing dirt to the new main fuel pumps, causing them to fail. I am sure that many a Volvo has been sold or scrapped because of this oversite.
The failure of your in-tank pump most likely occured because the in-tank filter sock deteriorated, causing dirt contamination of both fuel pumps. And, as you can see, the main fuel pump eventually failed, which would happen as a result, if it wasn't changed at the same time as the in-tank pump. Given that a new main fuel pump has again failed within 100 miles tells me that whoever changed your in-tank pump, either reused the old, deteriorated filter sock, or simply forgot or intentionally omitted it. I suggest you take your car back to whoever replaced your in-tank pump and make them install a new filter sock and two new fuel pumps free of charge.
Now, your probably asking how I know all this. I learned this the hard way when I bought a used Volvo real cheap from someone who was frustrated. It took me three weeks of my own frustration to figure this out on my own. Since I replaced both fuel pumps and in-tank filter sock, my Volvo has run trouble free for over a year.
If you read through the posts in this forum, you will see that I harp on this subject quite a bit. I do this because I think this is more common a problem with Volvo's than most people, including experience Volvo mechanics realize. You see, if the basic parts on the back end of the fuel system don't work right, the complicated parts on the front end won't work well either. And most people assume any fuel problem is under the hood and ignore what is in the fuel tank. In fact, most people and mechanics don't realize there is a second fuel pump and filter in the tank.
Keep us posted with what you find out about your car. I always like to hear about success stories.
Chris the "K MANIAC"
1986 740 GLE
(5) 1964 Chrysler 300-K's
1986 740 GLE
(5) 1964 Chrysler 300-K's
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