In this year/model, does the fuel sending unit effect the fuel pump and fuel pressure through the lines?

J.MOSLEY1024

MEMBER
1997 BUICK LESABRE
110,000 MILES

After being told it was "probably the pump", mechanic is telling me the sending unit is bad and not directing proper charge to pump, therefore not getting enough pressure to the lines. Car stalls after warms up, then wont start again till its cool? Please help?

2 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,741 POSTS

Did anyone actually do tests to diagnose the problem? That's what mechanics are paid to do, not to guess. Sending units do not "direct proper charge to the pump", whatever that means. Sending units respond to the level of fuel in the tank for the gas gauge on the dash.

Crankshaft position sensors and camshaft position sensors commonly fail intermittently when they get hot. A loose or stretched terminal in a connector or a corroded splice can cause the same symptoms. There most likely will be a diagnostic fault code stored in the Engine Computer. Having those codes read is the place to start. There are differences in systems depending on which engine you have so it's common sense to list the engine size when discussing engine running problems. Many auto parts stores will read the fault codes for you for free. Forget the sending unit. If the gas gauge works, the sending unit is working.