Posted on 4/28/2025
A car that won’t start can have many possible causes—from dead batteries to faulty starters—but one lesser-known culprit is the fuel pump relay. This small electrical component plays a big role in getting fuel from the tank to the engine. If it fails, your car might crank but never actually fire up, leaving you stuck and wondering what went wrong. Let’s take a closer look at what the fuel pump relay does, how to recognize when it’s failing, and what can be done to fix it. What Is a Fuel Pump Relay The fuel pump relay is an electronic switch that controls power to the fuel pump. When you turn the key or push the start button, the relay sends electricity to the fuel pump, allowing it to pressurize the fuel system and deliver gasoline to the engine. Without this brief surge of power, the pump doesn’t run—and the engine won’t get the fuel it needs to start. This component typically operates silently in the background, but ... read more