* Sluggish Performance: A weak or failing fuel pump can't deliver enough fuel to the engine under demand. This results in reduced power, hesitation, and sluggish acceleration.
* Service Engine Light: The car's computer (PCM) monitors various engine parameters. If it detects a problem with fuel delivery (like low fuel pressure), it will often illuminate the service engine light as a warning. The code stored might directly relate to fuel system issues, or it could be a secondary code triggered by the lack of fuel.
* Other Symptoms: Besides the sluggishness and engine light, you might also experience stalling, especially when accelerating or idling. The car might also run rough or have difficulty starting.
While other issues can also cause these symptoms (e.g., clogged fuel filter, faulty mass air flow sensor, ignition problems), a failing fuel pump is a highly probable culprit in a vehicle of that age. You should have the car diagnosed with an OBD-I scanner to retrieve any stored diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). This will help pinpoint the exact cause of the problem.
