Repairing a Nissan Sentra Fuel Pump

If you own a Nissan Sentra and love driving it, you will need to be aware of how to fix any problems that pop up that affect its functionality. For instance, if you have problems with your fuel pump, the following step-by-step process can help you to fix it without the need to pay a costly mechanic bill. With just a little know-how, and some new parts, you can have your Sentra in working order again.

Directions

1

Find a Replacement Fuel Pump

The first step in fixing your Nissan Sentra’s fuel pump is finding a new fuel pump to replace the malfunctioning one. Not all fuel pumps are the same, so be sure you find or order one that matches the exact year and model of your Nissan Sentra. If you can find it as a full fuel pump kit, that is your best option.

2

Gather the Right Tools

It is not possible to repair your Nissan Sentra’s fuel pump without the proper tools, and for this process, you are going to need a full socket wrench set and a torque wrench, along with your new fuel pump. After gathering those, you will be ready to dive in and repair your fuel pump.

3

Prepare Your Car

When you have gathered your tools and replacement pump, you will need to give yourself enough room to work. The process is best completed by parking your Nissan Sentra (which should be turned off) in an open space that gives you plenty of room to get to the areas of the car that you will need to gain access to in order to replace the fuel pump.

4

Depressurize the Fuel System

Your Nissan Sentra needs to have pressure in the fuel system in order to operate, and you can relieve this pressure by disconnecting the fuse or relay in your car that manages the fuel pressure while your car is running. After you have located this fuse or relay, start your car and then disconnect it. At this point, the car will shut off because the pressure is gone.

5

Disconnect the Battery

The next step in replacing your Nissan Sentra’s fuel pump is disconnecting the car’s battery. Power flows from the negative side of the car battery, so use your socket wrench to disconnect the black cord from the battery so that you can prevent any unintentional electrical shock from damaging you or your car.

6

Find the Inspection Cover

You should be able to find a cover that allows you to gain access to part of the drive components somewhere in your car, usually underneath the back seat. If it is not located there, you may need to consult your Nissan Sentra’s owner’s manual in order to find out how to get to it. When you locate it, you will need to open that cover.

7

Disconnect the Fuel Lines

After you open the inspection cover, you should see a series of what are called send and return lines. Disconnect all of these fuel lines before going further in replacing the fuel pump.

8

Disconnect the Electrical Lines

You can never be too safe in this process, which is why all of this disconnecting needs to occur. To that end, disconnecting the car’s two electrical lines can act as another safeguard, so you will need to unplug both the fuel pump and gauge’s connections.

9

Remove the Bolts

After you have disconnected all of the lines, you will be able to move on to the fuel pump itself. When you do, you should see a number of bolts that are holding the fuel pump in place. Remove all of these bolts in order to remove the pump, and then remove the pump itself by lifting it up out of the tank. You can also feel free to throw away the O-ring seal.

10

Bolt the New Pump into Place

At this point, you are finally ready to bolt the new pump into place. After that has been done, you can begin to reverse the entire above process in order to complete this repair. As part of the process, make sure that you reattach all of the wires that you disconnected, and after you do, your new fuel pump will have been successfully installed.

Once you have all of the above steps in replacing your Nissan Sentra’s fuel pump completed, you should review them again from bottom to top to be sure that you have put all the connections back into their proper spots, as both the electrical and the fuel lines need to be reconnected before you can replace the inspection cover. Be sure that the fuse is reconnected and that the battery is wired back up. When everything is back in order, you can start your Nissan Sentra up again and begin to allow the new pump go to work, enjoying both the functionality of the new fuel pump and the satisfaction of knowing that you were able to repair it yourself, saving yourself some money instead of having to go to a mechanic in the process.