High Walbro pump failure rate

AleroB888 · 12-06-2008, 09:57 AM

My second Walbro pump within a year is starting to fail........

Notice from a pump supplier:

Quote:

September 2008
We have been hearing of a greater than normal number of pump failures in the F20000169 pumps. They aren't all failing. We normally hear of 1 in every 1000 or so pumps with an issue; we're now seeing 1 in every 100 or so F20000169 pumps with a problem.
Since the GSS340, GSS341, GSS342, and F0000169 pumps all have the same internals, Walbro has been focusing its research on the white, plastic inlet piece on the bottom of the pump.
So... until this problem is resolved, APE will not be selling the F20000169 fuel pumps.

October 2008
Walbro engineering has discovered the problem with the F20000169 fuel pumps. They are getting the parts to fix the problem. The warehouse should have the pumps by the middle of November. Then, they'll have to ship them to the distributors. We should get more of those pumps by the end of November.
All F20000169 pumps that are returned will be tested. In the past, Walbro has had over 98 percent of returned pumps run on the test bench as OKAY. Not all pumps will have the problem. Any pumps that are tested to be OKAY will be returned to you. This is NOT an across-the-board recall as far as I know.
Walbro engineering is trying to identify a timeframe when the problem parts got into production pumps. As far as they can tell, any pump manufactured before the 2nd quarter 2008 should be okay. If your manufacture date is before that, they currently don't have a clear reason to swap it out.

http://apeusa.com/

kwhauck · 12-06-2008, 10:43 AM

so you aren't the only one with failures, very interesting indeed.......

[ion] C2 · 12-06-2008, 10:44 AM

On JBO there's SO many failures of Walbro pumps.

jabartram · 12-06-2008, 11:37 AM

i just installed a walbro pump, i dont remember the part number though.

AftermathAlero · 12-08-2008, 01:06 AM

my walbro been on since april. No problems here. *knock on wood*

AleroB888 · 12-08-2008, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AftermathAlero

my walbro been on since april. No problems here. *knock on wood*

Best thing to do, of course, is keep a close eye on your fuel pressure gauge, so you know how it acts under all conditions of use. The symptom mine have had is the pump seems to generate its own heat, the fuel lines (steel lines under the car) get warm to the touch. Since this second Walbro pump was installed, I never let the tank fall below 3/4 full. Then several weeks ago I was in line at the track entrance gate and it was idling for a long time, then as the engine heated up the fuel pressure dropped to zero and the car shut off.

Since the weather is colder now, I can run it even though the pump is not 100%. I have the Racetronix version about ready to install, but I'm waiting to sort out other possible problems first. Recently I routed the fuel lines away from the engine, with the return line and regulator remotely mounted. This was the first mock-up:

This helped the situation as far as shutting off after long periods of idling, but my O2's are not scanning well, running lean at WOT.

AleroB888 · 04-09-2009, 11:33 PM

Fail now, bitch, I dare ya.

cherrington17 · 04-09-2009, 11:36 PM

well thats.. nothing shy of awesome.

how did you mod that?!

[ion] C2 · 04-09-2009, 11:41 PM

NICE.

Weird that your Walbro's fail. It's all that my local performance shop uses. Never had an issue with any they've used.

04-09-2009, 11:45 PM

That's just awesome.

jayson_waltz · 04-09-2009, 11:46 PM

ok i know nothing about Walbro pumps cause i don't have one, but that access cover is a damn good idea.

doubleN0alero · 04-09-2009, 11:48 PM

That's a great idea...when my pump failed (or so I thought), I was pleasantly surprised to find that my pump was located in my trunk so it made easy work or the changing.