2 days ago was one of the worst days of my life. I'll explain what happened and maybe someone can confirm what I was told the issue could be.

My van, a 99 Caravan, 3.0L has always had issues since I got it. I've had it for just under 4 years.

2 days ago, this buzzing noise started and I couldn't isolate where it was coming from. It sounded like it was coming from the back end, but it wasn't. I checked the engine compartment, the noise wasn't coming from there. But it was definitely under the van somewhere.

I was having some difficulty throughout the day getting the engine to turn over. I thought it was the battery, but there was interior power, so that wasn't the problem.

On my way home from work, and this was close to 11pm, this is when all hell broke loose. I mean really broke loose.

I was driving up a mild hill and touching the gas when the van started losing power. I'd touch the gas more, and the power would decrease even further.

I shut off the radio, the heat and my power adapter only to not hear the engine anymore. I was dead in the water.

I managed to pull off the road, thankfully it wasn't a busy street, but I was on a 2 lane road complete with bike lanes. I couldn't just pull into someone's driveway since it was so late at night.

I tried starting the engine, it was cranking, just wouldn't catch. I had topped up my fluid levels a couple of days prior, so I knew that wasn't the issue, and I'd put fuel in the tank that day, so I don't think the tank was empty unless I'd sprung a sudden leak.

I called home and my roommate came down to try to give me a boost. He had his booster cables on as well as the battery charger, but we slowly realized that the battery wasn't the issue.

I called around to try to find someone with roadside assistance, I'd let mine lapse several years ago, so I'd have to pay for a tow home.

No one could help me that late at night, it was almost midnight by then. So I borrowed money and called a tow truck.

When the tow arrived, we tried to start the van, and he took one look and said it sounded like the fuel pump was gone. He said that fuel wasn't getting to the engine anymore.

Now that I think about it, it makes sense. I searched online to find where the fuel pump is located, and found it above the gas tank, and that's pretty much where I was feeling the vibrations earlier that day.

To buy a fuel pump is not going to be cheap, but I found one at a scrap yard a little cheaper.

My roommate is thinking that this is as simple as cleaning out the filter, but I don't think that a dirty filter would cause such a sudden failure as the one I suffered.

Now, if it happens to be the fuel pump, can we do the replacement ourselves? We have some tools, but only 2 jack stands. I would hate to have to tow to a mechanic shop but will do so if I have to.

Please let me know what you think.

 

You can probably do it in you driveway. The fuel pump is on the passenger side of the tank so if you just rock it down you can remove the pump without removing the tank completely from the vehicle. I would also replace the fuel filter at the same time. A plugged filter would not cause immeadiate failure of the pump but could cause eventual failure which possibly started with the squeeling noise from the pump.

 

Great, thank you. I called the mechanic today and they said the same thing, it sounds like the fuel pump is gone.

 

I've decided it's not worth it and will be scrapping the van. I just can't afford to repair it any more.