Of course in order to be able to replace your fuel pump by going to an auto parts store you will first need to recognize the problem.

Electric fuel pumps and mechanical fuel pumps work in slightly different ways so you need to know what kind your car uses. If you have an electric fuel pump then this will pump the fuel tank to the injectors and this will require a high amount of pressure so that the injectors can spray into the engine. Normally electric fuel pumps are inside the gas tank, and some will have two.

The first thing to listen for to identify problems with an electric fuel pump is engine 'hesitations' while the engine is running and misfires. At the same time you might notice that when you try and put your foot down on the gas you don't get quite the acceleration you normally get. These are all symptoms you might expect of a car that isn't getting all of its fuel in a steady flow as it should because it isn't being pumped through in such a manner.

At the same time you might find that the vehicle stalls and restarts when the engine cools, or that it might crank and not start at all. These are all signs that you have a problem with your fuel pump.

If you have a mechanical fuel pump however then there are a few other things to look out for. A mechanical fuel pump pumps the gas from the gas tank into the carburetor when you start the engine. The common signs of a damaged mechanical fuel pump are the engine not starting or low power. You can also try by checking the oil as there is a diaphragm in the pump which can rupture over time and this way cause gas to link into the crank case. When this happens the gas will then cause the oil to become thinner and raise the amount. Another sign then is that you have oil that smells faintly of gas. If you have a mechanical fuel pump then and you find the car won't start or you have low power, then you should check the oil for these signs to identify the problem.

In either scenario (whether you have an electric fuel pump or mechanical) you might also notice that you have dry spark plugs. After you have run the engine you should then check the spark plugs to see if there is fuel on them. If they have no fuel on them, then this might mean that the fuel pump is not pumping the gas to the engine. This however is only the case in a completely inoperable fuel pump as opposed to just a partially damaged one.

If you have a damaged fuel pump then you will need to replace it with a new one. You can do this by visiting a auto parts store or by looking for auto parts online. If you are looking for auto parts on our site then at be sure that you check the fitment notes to ensure that you are getting the right part for your vehicle.

The mistake many people make is to leave the gas for as long as possible and this then means that if they then miss the exit on the motorway or don't find their petrol station where they think there's one, they are then left driving around looking for petrol and unable to find any – all the while damaging their fuel pump and risking getting stranded.

One reason we often damage our fuel pump is that we think that we're saving money by putting off filling up with fuel. The reality however is that you are saving money if you're just delaying spending it and this means that these people end up doing unnecessary fuel pump damage.

It is also important to ensure that you always use the right type of gas – so if you have an engine that uses unleaded petrol do not try and fill it with diesel and vice versa. At the same time you should avoid trying to save money by using replacement fuels rather than real gas.

Bear in mind that you might be saving money in the short term by avoiding filling up with gas or using other substances, but when you damage your fuel pump you'll find yourself spending a lot more money to buy replacement car parts.

You should also make sure that you regularly change the fuel filter whenever you need to. There will be advice on how often to choose your fuel filter in the owners' manual that came with your vehicle. You should be able to buy new fuel filters from most auto parts stores. Generally knowing good local auto parts stores is a good way to be able to quickly repair things that go wrong and make replacements and repairs where necessary for your car parts.

However, much as you try and avoid any damage to your fuel pump occasionally damage will occur outside of your control (and especially if you have bought a second hand vehicle in which case you need to be ready to replace lots of car parts).

If you can avoid damaging your car through careful driving, then you will this way prevent yourself having to spend the money on replacement car parts – not to mention on wasted gas. At the same time this is also less dangerous if you generally keep your car in better condition as it will mean the various car parts are less likely to fail while you're driving which of course would be highly dangerous. And finally of course by avoiding damaging your car you can also be sure to avoid that point where you have no car to use and you have to get the bus everywhere – not only highly impractical and dangerous but also more expensive. Here we will look at how to avoid damaging your fuel pump, as well as how to diagnose problems when they do occur.

The job of your car's fuel pump is of course to pump fuel. This means that it pumps the petrol out of the tank and into the rest of the car. As such, one way to keep your fuel pump running well for as long as possible is to ensure that you always have adequate gas.

If you do not, then you will find that your fuel pump struggles to try and pump fuel that doesn't exist and this will place unnecessary strain on it and increase chances of other problems. At the same time you should avoid running your fuel pump down as low as it will go, and this means that you need to plan ahead on your journeys.

All cars have a fuel gauge on the dashboard and this is what will help you to avoid running down your petrol and damaging your fuel pumps. Your ambition is not to prevent yourself from running out but to avoid going into the 'red' section at all. If you stop to fill your car with gas every time it goes below half or below a third full, then this leaves you adequate 'buffer' time so that if you can't find a petrol station, or the ones you find are closed or out of order, then you'll have time to go elsewhere and get gas at a later point.

One of the major difficulties with keeping your car in good shape is correctly diagnosing the problem. For instance you don't want to be spending a large amount of money replacing your alternator if the problem is actually with a battery fuel cell. The same very much goes for the fuel pump and problems with a fuel pump can often imitate other unrelated problems with your vehicle. In an ideal situation a fuel pump will last as long as the vehicle meaning that you shouldn't need to know anything about fuel pump assembly. However in many situations your fuel pump can be damaged – by the fuel filter getting plugged in one way or another, or from rust and dirt getting inside the gas tank.

As such, to avoid having to repair your fuel pump it can be a good idea to make sure you use your car in such a way as to prevent it getting damaged in the first place.