Could it be? and.... How much?

ok... so ive narrowed down the problems with my car to not being the ignition system, anthing with the engine or trannny. I think it might be a fuel pump failure. Is this a common problem with miles>120k? because i think i had the same problem with my last maro. The fuel pump itself is about $150ish. How much SHOULD labor be to put it in?

Do it yourself and it wont be much more than that..

i would, but i lack the necessary things: you know the usual... a ramp, tools, time....skill

the fuel pump is a very common problem for chevrolets. I must have changed twenty of them.

Chevrolet for some strange reason also likes to put the electric fuel pump inside a box of a highly volitile explosive liquid.

aside from that being a crazy idea... it also is a pain in the ass because the exhaust which is under the tank will have to be dropped. Also the fuel filter neck is somehow bent into place after its in the car so its going to be hard to get out.

Changing fuel pumps is a rediculous experience. Also on the newer camaros the stupid fuel pump has a yellow peice of plastic around it... and they charge twice as much for it.

cut a whole in the back.

that sucks!!!!

i would, but i lack the necessary things: you know the usual... a ramp, tools, time....skill

Funny because I borrowed a ramp from my neighbor.. tools, I had, and skill? I just dove in.. and yes it is a bitch like KPot said.. in retrospect it is way easier to cut a hole in the back..

Funny because I borrowed a ramp from my neighbor.. tools, I had, and skill? I just dove in.. and yes it is a bitch like KPot said.. in retrospect it is way easier to cut a hole in the back..
how much time?

Total time? like 5-8 hours, but that was only because I worked on it a bit, then went inside and continued on it about an hour later.. actual working time around 3-4 hours, the actual hard part is taking the pump out of the tank, its a real pain.

Have you verifed the system pressure yet? That'd really be a kick in the nuts to spend a good day drop'n a fuel tank for nothing.

Oh, and it' the vapor that's volitle, not the gasoline it'self.

Have you verifed the system pressure yet? That'd really be a kick in the nuts to spend a good day drop'n a fuel tank for nothing.

Oh, and it' the vapor that's volitle, not the gasoline it'self.

No, but ive done massive research on the problem, symptoms, and narrowed down the possibilities to this... the fuel pump. theres no way it could be anything else. everything else has just been finely tuned.

Total time? like 5-8 hours, but that was only because I worked on it a bit, then went inside and continued on it about an hour later.. actual working time around 3-4 hours, the actual hard part is taking the pump out of the tank, its a real pain.

I have to disagree. Getting the pump out is the easiest part because you actually have room to work considering the tank is now removed from the car. The hardest part is probably getting the tank to drop out of the car. I've done it twice and both times the fuel filler neck had to literally be bent to get the tank out of the car.

EDIT: Also why did they put the pump inside the tank? Seems like it would make more sense to have a remote pump.

Stepho, good point. It is a real pain to drop it, and since I didnt bend my fuel filler neck, thats why I said getting the pump out is the bigger pain. But yeah it changes depending on which way you go at it.

oh man....i wish you luck. it was much easier when they mounted the pump on the side of the engine block....in my car i have my fuel pump under neath the rear seat....several months ago the fuel pump in my moms van went out..besides it being in the tank...you dont just change the pump...you change everything sender, pump etc. they want an arm and a leg for it....changed it in the mcdonalds parking lot, in a Illinois winter while it was raining.........

You don't need ramps to change a pump cause you need to have the vehicles weight supported by the chasis and the wheels need to be lowered which is not possible with ramps. I did mine but with suspension components that were not touched from the look of it since the vehicle was built. They gave me a bitch of a time coming out and had to cut and hammer a few nuts and bolts out. I would say its not too bad of a job if you don't run into any snags though. Also I agree. gasoline in liquid form is not that dangerous, its the vapor that will cause a issue. Also don't get a stock replacement pump. Get a aftermarket one. They will probably last longer and allow more room for modifaction.

To answer the ? why is the pump in the tank: cooling and longevity. A pump that is in the tank and not run dry constantly can last a long, long time.

Not to mention a dash of job security for the GM techs who have to replace them. BUT, GM later found it to be a hassle when consumers were not following directions and running the tank dry often and causing premature failures and it would then be replaced under warrenty. Most models s of 98 and up now have factory access panel in the trunk area.