Repairs

[Craig234]

Year, make, model, and location?

Maybe someone can suggest you a good mechanic.

Well, what I'm looking for at the moment is simply, does the symptom of sometimes not starting - for 20-30 minutes, or this last time about an hour until I put it in neutral and backed up to level ground to get towed - after being driven and parked and after the repairs listed above, fit a fuel pump, a fuel pressure regulator, both or something else?

 

[HarryLui]

Year, make, and model?
What are we working with here?

 

[PottedMeat]

Year, make, and model?
What are we working with here?

this honestly has me more curious than anything at this point

why not just say what it is

 

[Craig234]

Year, make, and model?
What are we working with here?

Do fuel pumps and fuel pressure regulators change what they do based on the year?

Need to let him know which repair(s) to do today, if anyone wants to weigh in.

 

[snoopy7548]

Definitely go for the repair. $1000 for a fuel pump replacement on a 2017 Ferrari 288 Spyder sounds about right.

 

[Craig234]

Definitely go for the repair. $1000 for a fuel pump replacement on a 2017 Ferrari 288 Spyder sounds about right.

Which - fuel pump or fuel pressure regulator? Your facetiousness falls a little flat when this has been said to be for an older American sedan.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Which - fuel pump or fuel pressure regulator? Your facetiousness falls a little flat when this has been said to be for an older American sedan.

Which has variances dependent upon the car. You've been asked multiple times, which you've chosen not to answer, and then immediately ask for more recommendations.

The questions have been asked by the community. Either answer, or don't, but don't be surprised that you're not getting the advice you want. People aren't interested in solving the problems of other people who don't want to help themselves.

 

[snoopy7548]

Which - fuel pump or fuel pressure regulator? Your facetiousness falls a little flat when this has been said to be for an older American sedan.

Just a quick Google search...

The average cost for a Fuel Pump Replacement is between $424 and $1013.

The computer operated regulator will be more expensive, usually in the range of $150 to $300.

So you're looking at a total range of $574 to $1313 to replace the fuel pump and pressure regulator. You're either getting shafted or a good deal. I'd say you're getting totally shafted and should find a more honest mechanic.

 

[Craig234]

Just a quick Google search...

The average cost for a Fuel Pump Replacement is between $424 and $1013.

The computer operated regulator will be more expensive, usually in the range of $150 to $300.

So you're looking at a total range of $574 to $1313 to replace the fuel pump and pressure regulator. You're either getting shafted or a good deal. I'd say you're getting totally shafted and should find a more honest mechanic.

Wait, he only wants $300 for the fuel pump and $70 for the regulator (parts and labor) so that seems like a great deal. The question is which to do.

 

[bruceb]

If his car is carburetor, then the fuel pump is mechanical and very cheap. If it is fuel injected, the pump is usually electric and mounted in the fuel tank. On some cars, you can get to the in tank pump from an access panel in the trunk, in which case, it is easy to replace. An electric in tank pump can run about $150

 

[Yuriman]

Fuel pump for my Honda is $66. it's mounted in the fuel tank but can be accessed from the hatch, though you have to pull some crap out to get to it. Probably an hour and a half job start to finish if you're familiar with it.

Admittedly a Honda of unspecified year or model is not an older American sedan of unspecified year, make or model.

 

[HarryLui]

I said it once, I'll say it again.

Pay someone to properly DIAGNOSIS it.

99% chance fuel pump or fuel regulator is not going to solve random no start.

 

[Craig234]

I said it once, I'll say it again.

Pay someone to properly DIAGNOSIS it.

99% chance fuel pump or fuel regulator is not going to solve random no start.

Not a bad idea, but as I said and will say again, that's what I tried to do - been through two shops and two other mechanics so far trying. Pretty much seems to only leave the dealer as an option.

Maybe that? Though they want at least $170 to look at it. So now we have 99% chance regulator will fix it, mechanic thinks fuel pump, and 99% chance neither will fix it.

 

[Craig234]

Well here's the part description, cost $73 - so I guess he's charging $225 labor...

"When you need outstanding fuel delivery, easy installation and proper fit, you need GM Original Equipment Fuel Pumps, the ideal replacement for virtually any GM vehicle on the road today. Manufactured in ISO-9001 and QS-9000 registered facilities, quality is assured. When you need a high-quality Fuel Pump, a Modular Reservoir Assembly or Fuel Pump Components, such as Fuel-Level Sending Units, Sensor Kits, Connectors, Strainers, Seals or Retainers, rely on ACDelco – and keep your GM vehicle all GM."

 

[HarryLui]

they want at least $170 to look at it.

That's what PAYING for DIAGNOSIS means. None of this "I think", "maybe", "we should try" bullshit. How much money have you spent and not fixing the issue?

Well, since I still don't know what car this is, I can't even looking up parts prices. This is stupid.

 

[snoopy7548]

That's what PAYING for DIAGNOSIS means. None of this "I think", "maybe", "we should try" bullshit. How much money have you spent and not fixing the issue?

Well, since I still don't know what car this is, I can't even looking up parts prices. This is stupid.

He already told us... it's an older American sedan. They're all the same.

 

[NutBucket]

Can we just lock this useless thread? Stupid is as stupid does.

 

[Craig234]

That's what PAYING for DIAGNOSIS means. None of this "I think", "maybe", "we should try" bullshit. How much money have you spent and not fixing the issue?

Well, since I still don't know what car this is, I can't even looking up parts prices. This is stupid.

How many times would I need to say I contacted shop #1 for diagnosis and they refused unless they could reproduce the problem, I took it to shop #2 for diagnosis and they claimed they did it over some hours and listed three repairs needed (which I posted here and got no argument) though mysteriously they did not charge for it, and then asked two more mechanics for diagnosis, before you stop saying "you need to get it diagnosed"? My guess is 47 times, since several has seemed to have no effect. How many times should I mention that the problem is intermittent so that even if I took it to the dealer, there's no guarantee they'd fine the answer? How many parts match this symptom?

You ask how much I've spent - the work has been done by more affordable mechanics, but the two initial repairs *identified by the shop diagnosis* were $300, then the upper and lower manifold *identified by diagnosis* with visible leaking and one other part were $450, and the fuel pump is going to run $300 - $80-$100 parts and the rest labor. I didn't ask you to search for part prices.

 

[Rifter]

He already told us... it's an older American sedan. They're all the same.

Yeah i stopped responding because it became apparent to me that this is a troll thread. If there really was a car why not disclose the make/model to aid in diagnosis, it makes no sense, unless we are all being trolled.

Can we just lock this useless thread? Stupid is as stupid does.

Agreed

 

[Craig234]

Yeah i stopped responding because it became apparent to me that this is a troll thread.

Anyone who thinks this is a 'troll thread' is not someone I want any advice from on a car repair. I'd end up with no wheels or brakes.

 

[Craig234]

Thanks to people who tried to help, like bruceb and mindless1. Bruce, I see your suggestion about the fuel pressure regulator rather than the fuel pump - but got other opinions that that wouldn't cause the intermittent not starting problem but the fuel pump would. So conflicting opinions there. I had been all ready to go with your suggestion until that - I'll try the fuel pump first for now.

I'll also revisit whether there's any way to test/isolate/diagnosis the items before deciding.

Adding a minimum $170 dealer visit to diagnose that might well not find anything after four others have tried to a $300 repair doesn't seem like a good idea yet.

 

[Yuriman]

Maybe we can find out what car he has via Google maps? Anyone ever traded with him in the classifieds?

 

[LevelSea]

You'd have to be really embarrassed about your car if you won't even tell a bunch of strangers what it is.

 

[snoopy7548]

A Chrysler LeBaron. The one John Voight drove. It even has a pencil with his teeth marks in the glove compartment!

 

[Craig234]

Update: fuel pump replaced. The mechanic gave a technical bit of info on the issue: he said when he shook the old fuel pump something in it rattled and when he shook the new fuel pump nothing rattled.