How Do I Jump the Fuel Pump Relay on My Chevy Truck?

You rely on your Chevy truck to get work done. Whether you’re hauling a trailer full of equipment for work or you’re towing your camper on your next big adventure, you’re counting on your Chevy truck to make it all happen. Unfortunately, things don’t always go as smoothly as you may hope. A bad fuel pump relay can prevent your Chevy truck from starting up properly. If that happens, you may need to jump it. So how do you jump the fuel pump relay on a Chevy truck?

Gather Your Tools

The first thing you need to do is to gather your tools. It’s always best to have what you need on hand whenever working on your truck in any capacity. You’ll need a ratchet set, an open-ended wrench, and jumper cables to jump the fuel pump relay on a Chevy truck. If you don’t have jumper cables, add a 5-inch copper wire with a bit of insulation removed from each end to your list of tools and supplies. Once you have your tools and supplies, choose from one of two methods to get around a faulty Chevy truck fuel pump relay.

Jump the Fuel Pump Relay

Your first option is to jump your fuel pump relay using jumper cables. Start by finding the relay; it’s probably located by your fuse box or battery terminals (double check your owner’s manual to make sure). Then, carefully disconnect the battery terminals and remove the black negative cable. Next, carefully connect your jumper cables. Connect the red end of the jumper cable to the red battery terminal before connecting the black end to the black (or blue) terminal. Don’t touch the terminals while in contact with any metal. Next, start your engine and let it run for about 15 seconds before turning off the ignition switch. Lastly, check your fuel gauge light to see if it turns green (this may take a little time, so be patient).

No Jumper Cables Method

Don’t want to use jumper cables or don’t have any on hand? You can still bypass your fuel pump relay. Start by disconnecting the 4-pin pump from the relay’s center. Next, using a 5-inch copper wire with about a ½ inch of insulation removed from each end, connect one end to the pin slot on the upper left corner of the pump relay center and the other end to the lower right corner of the pump relay center.

What to Do Next

If you find yourself regularly needing to jump or bypass your Chevy truck’s fuel pump relay, it’s time to start thinking about the next steps. Think of your fuel pump relay as a safety feature that prevents your engine from stalling due to a burned-out fuel pump and helps the fuel pump turn off if you get in an accident. If it’s not working properly, you need to do more than just slap a proverbial bandaid on it. You have a few options here. The first option is to replace the fuel pump relay. Sure, you could try to fix it, but it will be a lot easier to simply take your Chevy truck to a mechanic and have them replace it. A fuel pump relay failure could also signify that it’s time to replace your Chevy truck. Even the best-maintained trucks will need replacing eventually. If it’s time for a new truck, come over to Riverton Chevrolet. We have a great selection of trucks that will have you back on the road in no time!

Your Chevy truck’s fuel pump relay is supposed to supply electricity to your fuel pump and the rest of your truck’s electrical system. If the fuel pump relay senses trouble, it could slow or even stop the flow of electricity to your truck. While knowing how to jump or bypass your Chevy truck’s fuel pump relay is useful, don’t consider it a long-term solution. Regular truck troubles are a good sign that you should start looking for a new truck sooner rather than later.

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