Fuel Pump Out Again and Again...

Hello. Hoping to get some advice from folks on here who are way more in the know then I am.

I have a 98 Cobra. Drivetrain is bone stock except for IMRC deletes and a CAI ...and Magnaflow cat back for the exhaust. Car has 88k miles on it and has been pretty much babied for all of its life. Has been super reliable weekend fun car until about 18 months ago the fuel pump went out. My local Ford dealer replaced the fuel pump and the car ran as good as new again. Then about a year later the fuel pump went out again. Took it back to same Ford dealer, who replaced the fuel pump again (under parts and labor warranty) and she ran good as new again.

Fast forward to last night, got back from a cruise and you guessed it, the fuel pump went out again! This time after only lasting 6 months. Again I just dropped the car off at my Ford dealer and they still need to confirm but it looks like they will have to replace the fuel pump AGAIN under their 2 year parts and labor warranty (thank god!).

My question is could there be another underlying problem that is causing these fuel pumps, to I assume over heat and fail, after what to me seems like a limited amount and decreasing amount of time?

Just to give a little supporting info...the car gets only driven for fun on the weekends maybe once or twice a month at most. I don't think sitting around in between those times would cause a problem as that is how it has been used its whole life and never had a recurring issue like this since it started 18 months ago. I'm not much of a mechanic but could the failing fuel pump be the symptom and dealership is only addressing the symptom and not the underlying problem?

Other issue the dealership is having is finding OEM fuel pumps for Cobra's this old (I was told they don't make them anymore). Last time the fuel pump went out they said they were lucky to find one, this time they may have to request from Ford they replace it with an aftermarket fuel pump. Could be a longer process to get it covered under warranty repair. We'll see.

Any suggestions or ideas are appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help given.

I’m sure they changed the fuel filter. I would hope so.

Main things are excessive heat and pumping hard all the time.

I suppose a weak connection could cause heat at the pump but any tech would see that right away.


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Thanks. I'll ask and make sure the filter is changed as well. Still waiting to hear back it is the fuel pump again but I am 99.9% certain it is.

Sounds like it may be a different issue frying the pump. I do have a used svt focus pump with 23k miles on it if you'd want to give it a try. It's direct drop in and is a very common upgrade for these cars when people start modding them.

Fuel filter should be replaced for sure.
I have feeling that the dealer is just sourcing cheap FPs, especially since they have said that they are having trouble finding them.

I'd get a good one from AM or the one from blownstang4.6 maybe and have them put that one in instead.

Are they replacing just the pump?
There also may be something wrong (as previously mentioned), and you should replace the whole shebang, after checking the wiring upstream. These shop Mechanics lose money when they take the time to troubleshoot.

This is yet another reason I don't let anyone work on my cars anymore.

You may have to take matters into your own hands.

I have had some good luck with www.yourmechanic.com as well. They are a mobile mechanic company.

post #6...they may need to replace with this pump and drill holes in the basket!!
https://www.svtperformance.com/threads/fuel-pump-for-98-cobra-please-educate-me.515050/

drilling holes in the basket!
https://forums.corral.net/forums/svt-dohc/414194-1998-cobra-fuel-pump.html


Ford Mustang 255 LPH Fuel Pump 1998-2010 GT Cobra Mach 1 4.6L - TREperformance.com

I doubt letting the car sit for a while has anything to do with your problems. My car sits for months during the winter and I don't even start it up, just put a battery maintainer on it. Still have factory pump. I'm really with "shurur" and wondering what pump they have been installing.

Ask to see the removed pump when they put the next one in. Track the part number.

You should also be able to find the part numbers listed on your service receipts from the dealer. Match those to the removed part.

Just an update....got the car back from Ford. It was the fuel pump yet again. Tech said they smelled something strange in the tank like maybe I got some bad fuel? In any event, they replaced the pump under warranty (had to go aftermarket this time as they couldn't source an OEM fuel pump so I was told) so we will see if this one works any better. As is the same with the last three times this has happened...left the dealership and she is driving great again. (Well see how long it lasts).

Thanks for all the input.