So my 4runners been having some starting issues, and I brought it in to a mechanic to take a look at it and he diagnosed it as needing a new fuel pump. Is this something I could do on my own? I really got the impression the mechanic was trying to rip me off because he quoted me around $350, and even being a very novice mechanic that didn't sit right with me. If this is something I could do on my own, how do I do it? Thanks!

 

Sure, lift up the rear seat bottom, access panel right there, pump is under that. Use flare wrenches on the fuel lines to get them loose.

 

is it really that easy? even I might be able to do that....

 

My guess is the dillhole of a mechanic did'nt realize there is an access in the floorboard and quoted you the price with a fuel tank drop. The fuel pump should not take maybe all of about 15-20 minutes to replace. Half hour 45 minutes if you don't label the hoses. SO a reasonable rate per hour would be $40-60 plus the cost of the fuel pump.

 

I should be able to pick up a fuel pump from NAPA or something like that for less than $100 I'm hoping? Anything special I need to know when buying one?

 

Yeah, with the money you are saving on Labor, get an OEM pump. Not sure how much those would be, though. *cringe*

Oh yeah, when you go to take that panel off, you got one shot at them screws. Don't strip em, or you will go crawling back to that mechanic to drop the tank.

 

You can buy an OEM Denso fuel pump here www.densoproducts.com they have good prices, ive bought from them before and have never had any problems.

 

I might be showing how novice I really am right now, but I removed the panel under the rear seat, and found a 4" round cover I'm assuming on the gas tank. It has 3 tubes and 2 wires coming out of it. To actually get to the fuel pump would I remove this?

myyota, thanks for the link! Much cheaper OEM pumps than I had found.

 

Yep, that is the fuel tank and the round cover is what the pump is attached to. Take care getting those screws out, they can be stubborn and you don't want to strip out the heads. Same on the hard line hose fittings. Disconnect the hoses and wires, remove the screws and lift out that flange. Pump and inlet screen at attached to the bottom side of it.

And before removing it, you may want to test the pump at the connector, apply power and see if it runs, or try the fuel pump test jumper:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...shtml#FuelPump

 

When talking to the mechanic, he said they tested the pump at the connector and it took 30 seconds or so for the pump to start running after the 4runner started. He said there was instantaneous power at the pump from the ignition, but the pump wouldn't fire up right away, which was how he came to the conclusion it was the pump. They even used an external power source (not my ignition) and the pump did the same thing. I ordered a pump last night from Denso, and I'm hoping it will be here by the weekend.

So I need the remove the 3 hard line hose fittings and the wires from the tank cover? any special tricks or tools for this? You had said flare wrenches are the best way to remove the hoses.

 

I found I needed to disconnect the hoses in order to get the pump out. Flare wrenches avoid stripping the hard line fittings and some good penetrating oil helps.

 

Don;'t do what I did with my fuel pump, label those 3 hoses. still not sure if I got my supply and return correct lol.

 

After you get the new pump in, start the 4runner before you put the panel back on. Keep a close eye on the metal fuel lines coming out the top of the sending unit. They are notorious for having pinhole leaks. I have had 3 first gen 4runners and 2 of them had leaks in this area.

 

Nice find on that site, myyota. $130 is pretty darn good for a denso fuel pump. I bookmarked that site!

 

My 22re also seems to have a small miss at lower RPM's. I notice it the most when I'm in 2nd or 3rd and cruising at about 25mph to 35mph (no tach) when I give it some gas it's goes away. It's got new plugs/wires/cap/and fuel filter. What do you think this could be? The starting issue has been diagnosed as fuel pump, will replacing the fuel pump fix both of my problems?

 

Hey Tiger, just to let you know we have genuine Denso pumps with new filter for around the same price. But I bet you don't have a killer discount code to use with densoproducts, use YTECH10 at checkout for 10% off
http://www.sparkplugs.com/results_app.asp

 

Thanks big time guys. Bringing this back, for i got a fuel pump issue tOO
Gonna have too change mines out as well. Had too toll it home was looking up on "how to" on this and found it. And thanks for the denso site fuel pump kit. Way better then auto zonE...

 

Usually what kills a pump is running on empty all of the time or a dirty fuel system.