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Hard starting and cutting out under load are classic fuel supply symptoms, and a fuel pump is an expensive thing to guess at.
Measuring the pressure takes minutes and tells you whether the pump, the filter, the regulator or something else entirely is at fault.
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- 6 monthsor 6,000 km workmanship warranty
- Red SealQualified artisans, some ex-dealership
- 9 regions1,700+ suburbs, we come to you
R1,035 to R1,225
Labour only, no parts. The price depends on your car.
This one is priced on its own because it takes longer than a standard diagnostic inspection.
A pump is the expensive guess, a filter is the cheap one
Low fuel pressure has several causes and only one of them is a failed pump. Many cars need the tank dropped to reach it, which is why measuring first rather than replacing first matters so much here:
Fuel pump replacementR1,035 to R8,209
Finding out which one it actually isR1,035 to R1,225
When does it misbehave?
Fuel faults have a timing to them, and the timing points at the cause.
Hard to start, especially after standing overnight
Pressure bleeding away while parked. Often a check valve in the pump or a leaking injector, and it is measurable rather than a matter of opinion. More on this.
Fine around town, cuts out or flat spots under load
The pump can supply enough at idle but not at demand. A classic failing pump or a blocked filter. More on this.
It cuts out when hot, then restarts after cooling
A pump failing as it warms up. Frustrating to catch, because the car behaves perfectly by the time anyone looks at it.
A whine from the tank that was not there before
A pump working harder than it should, often because the filter is restricted or the pump itself is on the way out.
Not sure which one yours is?
Tell us what the car is doing, in your own words. A mechanic reads it and calls you back within the hour. You do not need to know what is wrong, that is what we are for.
Tell us what your car is doing
What people say after we have been out
Real jobs, real faults, at homes and offices.
What we measure
✓
Actual pressure against specificationA fuel pressure test kit on the rail, read against the manufacturer’s figure for this engine. Not a guess from how it drives.
✓
Pressure under load, not just at idleMany pumps hold fine at idle and collapse under demand, which is precisely the condition the driver is complaining about.
✓
Hold after shut downPressure should stay up for a time after the engine stops. If it bleeds away, that explains the hard starting directly.
✓
Filter and supply checkedA restricted filter mimics a failing pump exactly, and it costs a fraction as much to put right.
The kit that comes with the mechanic
A mobile mechanic is only as good as what is in the van.
Fuel pressure test kit
Measured on the rail against the manufacturer’s figure for this engine, at idle and under load, rather than inferred from how the car drives.
Autel and Launch scan tools
Live fuel trims and, on direct injection engines, rail pressure as the management sees it, which cross checks the gauge.
Pressure hold test after shut down
Whether the rail keeps its pressure once the engine stops, which explains hard starting after standing.
Compression tester
Used where the fuel figures come back healthy and the symptom points at something mechanical instead.
Fuel under pressure, handled properly
A fuel rail stays pressurised long after the engine is switched off. This is not a driveway job for an owner with a spanner, and it is one of the reasons the test is worth having done rather than attempted.
What you get for the money
A named fault, in writing, and a price to fix it
What has failed, why, and what the repair involves. If the repair is ours you get the quote before anything is touched, and the inspection is not charged twice.
Other inspections we do
Every one of these is a mechanic coming to you. See all 22.
Losing powerR952 to R1,104Limp mode, or it will not pull.Car shakingR952 to R1,104Under braking, at speed, or at idle.Plug-in diagnostic scanR952 to R1,104Every module read, not just the engine.Engine compression testPrice on requestA misfire that new parts did not fix.Speedometer not workingR952 to R1,104Dead, erratic, or reading wrong.Engine light onR952 to R1,104Steady, flashing, or on and off again.Dashboard warning lightsR952 to R1,104A light you do not recognise.EPC warning lightR952 to R1,104VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda.
Where we come out to
Nine regions and more than 1,700 suburbs. Check your suburb.
JohannesburgPretoria and TshwaneCape TownDurban and eThekwiniEkurhuleni and the East RandGqeberhaPolokwaneRustenburgEmalahleni
Questions we get asked
How do I know if it is the fuel pump?
You measure it. Hard starting, cutting out under load and flat spots all point at fuel supply, but so do several cheaper faults. The pressure reading tells you which, and a pump is an expensive thing to replace on a hunch.
Could it just be the filter?
Frequently, yes. A restricted filter produces almost exactly the same symptoms as a failing pump and costs a fraction as much. Measuring the pressure separates them immediately.
Can you test it at my house?
Yes. The fuel pressure test kit comes with the mechanic, and the test is done at your home or office with the engine running and under load where needed.
What does the test cost?
R1,035 to R1,225 depending on the car, labour only, with no parts in that figure. Any repair that follows is quoted separately and you approve it first.
Fuel Pressure Test At Your Door
Tell us what it is doing and where you are. Price and a slot, no phone call.