how do you know if your fuel pump is bad

2001 MERCURY SABLE
141,000 MILES
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KMHESS
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car idles rough when in gear ... died and wouldnt start with no preasure at the schrader valve ... replaced fuel filter after letting car sit for 24 hours ... car ran better then stopped at light 300 miles and 5 days later and car died same symptons ... let car sit 2 hours and car started and ran again ... still rough running but is running was told it was fuel pump going out .. what should we do to check this problem out
Oct 7, 2011 at 3:53 AM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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You need to check fuel pump pressure when it dies. There are directions on our homepage under the DIY section. Please note: when the car won't restart, check to see if there is spark to the plugs. If there isn't, check the EEC relay in the relay block under the hood. Switch it with another relay that has the same part number to see if the car will then start.

Back to the fuel pump. If there is no fuel pressure, you may also want to check the fuel pump relay and if there is power to the pump itself. It sounds like a relay problem if the car will restart after sitting.
Oct 7, 2011 at 3:59 AM