Fuel Pump Manufacturers Council July 27,2006. © 2005 Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association Agenda Welcome/IntroductionsAll Anti-Trust GuidelinesTheresa

Fuel Pump Manufacturers Council

July 27,2006

© 2005 Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association

Agenda

• Welcome/Introductions All

• Anti-Trust Guidelines Theresa Spera

• Jobber Groups Brian Tarnacki /

AllDiscussion / Wrap-Up

• Review /Discussion of Theresa Spera Technician Groups

• Future of Council Theresa Spera Chairperson New Companies Next Steps


Jobber Group Discussion

• Moderator Summary

• Thoughts

• Feedback


Technician Focus Group Highlights

Diagnosis• Groups overall acknowledged the wasted time,

effort and expense in mis-diagnosis• Diagnosis was a challenge• Climate is a challenge in replacement and

diagnosis• Some fuel pump failure is the direct result of filter

not being changed properly • Time spending on fuel pump repair: about 3 hours

in average, some with problems can be more than 10 hours Labor rates do not acknowledge diagnosis time Groups felt that time allotment for diagnosis would be

helpful



Diagnosis• There is some mis-diagnosis happening

but groups felt it's not them- it's the "other guys." – DIYers and low end shops. The good shops

get business fixing the mistakes of the bad installers.

• 30-40% of pump failures are not because of pump

• Reasons given for pump failure are-ManufacturingRunning on low fuel (more common now with

the high gas prices) Not changing the filter



Purchase• The preferred brand of choice is often OE,

either from the dealer or the OE brand available through the aftermarket (e.g. AC Delco, Motorcraft, Delphi)

• 10-15% of pumps are purchased from dealers Some dealers actually have lower price than

aftermarket version



Purchase• It is important to make sure they are getting the

right part from their source. Units often look different due to consolidation.

• When ordering from the dealer you give VIN # and assured of the right part. If a part looks different, it helps to put something in the

box that explains why (e.g. improvement made to the part)

• Counter guy is very important to help identify the right part.

• Suppliers (WDs, normally) do not make recommendations for brand

• Murray's mentioned as a bad source for fuel pumps.



Installation• All seem to follow the proper installation

procedures.• Manufacturers recommend flushing the tank.

Installers from both groups do not tend to flush the tank.

Most will drain fuel but only to make it easier to drop the tank. They all agree that it's easy to tell if a tank needs flushing or replacement by putting some of the fuel in a clear glass bottle and looking at it.

• If “needed” they clean the tank. Some said they clean “one in a thousand”

• Problems with EPA regulations with fuel disposal



Installation• Installers saw value in the instructions in box.

They scan them quickly before installing.

• Strainers are replaced most times since they are cheap and easy to do

• Would like to see “new lock ring in package” An added value concept to aid installation would be to

include lock rings with every pump. The old ones get rusted and need to go to the dealer to get a new one.

• All agreed that training of installers is highly valuable



Returns• Groups acknowledged that fuel pumps should

have similar return policies as other electrical products like ECMs and A/C compressors. However, this "no returns" policy is not intended for

them, it is for the DIYer or problem installer.

• All were shocked to hear that fuel pump returns are higher than most other product categories. They do not return pumps at any greater frequency than

anything else.

• They do no have many fuel-related comebacks.


Fuel Pump Manufacturers Council Future

• Chairperson

• New Companies

• Next Steps

Documents

Fuel Pump Manufacturers Council July 27,2006. © 2005 Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association Agenda Welcome/IntroductionsAll Anti-Trust GuidelinesTheresa