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Fuel Pump shut off after accident?

52K views 15 replies 13 participants last post by  hwystar 
#1 ·
Do the 06 Caravans have a fuel shut off that activates when the car is in an accident?

Moe
 
#3 ·
Not 100% sure on the Caravans, but a LOT of American made cars have this safety feature. It's not typically advertised. My sisters '87 Ford Escort had this, with a manual switch in the hatch area to re-engage the fuel pump after an accident. My '04 Cavalier also killed fuel flow after being hit with SRS deployment.

I would assume something as new as an '06 it would be standard feature, to keep fuel from igniting in the engine bay of a crushed engine...

Of course a minor fender bender should not trip this... so like shippo said, the degree of accident would be a factor here. Both cars the pump was shut down, the damage required towing from the scene
 
#4 ·
Sone clown wasn't paying attention and pulled out in front of her. She hit him at about 35 mph and took out her whole nose section. Both the wheel air bag and knee bag deployed and when she hit him the van shut right down. No restart was tried as radiator got toasted. Most likely the van will be totalled.
:(
 
#5 ·
From a NHTSA site:
II. Existing Standard

Standard No. 301 sets performance requirements for the fuel systems of light vehicles, i.e., vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,536 kg (10,000 pounds) or less. The standard, which was issued in the 1970s, limits the amount of fuel spillage from fuel systems of vehicles during and after being subjected to a frontal, rear, or lateral impact test.

In the frontal impact test, a vehicle is driven forward into a fixed barrier at 48 km/h (30 mph), while in the side impact test, a 1,814 kg (4,000 lb) barrier moving at 32 km/h (20 mph) is guided into the side of a stationary vehicle, and in the rear impact test, a 1,814 kg (4,000 lb) barrier moving at 48 km/h (30 mph) is guided into the rear of a stationary vehicle. The standard limits fuel spillage from crash-tested vehicles to 28 grams (1 ounce) by weight during the time period beginning with the start of the impact and ending with the cessation of vehicle motion and to a total of 142 grams (5 ounces) by weight during the 5-minute period beginning with the cessation of motion. During the 25-minute period beginning with the end of the 5-minute period, fuel spillage during any 1-minute interval is limited to 28 grams (1 ounce) by weight.
A. Component Performance (Phase 1)

We explained that our focus in Phase 1 was on developing component performance criteria aimed at shutting down the fuel supply and potential fire ignition sources in a crash to help reduce the occurrence and effects of a fire should a breach in the fuel system occur. Quickly shutting off the fuel flow during or immediately after a crash would eliminate a major fire and fuel source and should, therefore, both reduce fires and limit the spread of fire, if one were to start. Phase 1 would also focus on minimizing the possibility of an electrical spark of sufficient intensity to act as an ignition source. Finally, it would explore other means for reducing fires (e.g., engine fire extinguishers). While these criteria would primarily address fires that originate in the engine compartment due to frontal impacts, they would also help to shut off the fuel flow for all crash modes, including a rollover crash.

In the ANPRM, we sought comment about component test requirements for fuel tanks, fuel pumps, the vehicle's electrical system, and engine fire extinguishers. We requested information on the performance, cost, and practicability aspects of various systems for shutting off the fuel flow and the electric power. We also requested comments on ways to develop practicable test procedures and to define specific criteria with sufficient objectivity that test variability would be minimal.

We also explained that we believed that the technology already existed for detecting and identifying conditions when the fuel flow should be shut off. Most new vehicles sold in the United States were already equipped with devices that shut off the fuel pump in any collision that causes the engine to stop. Other vehicles were equipped with inertia switches that shut off the fuel flow and/or the electric current.
 
#6 ·
As I understand it most modern cars only run the fuel pump when needed (for example when coasting in gear and no fuel is needed the fuel pump turns off). So in an accident when the engine would be damaged and/or the lines are cut cutting off the engine the fuel pump would stop pumping. Certainly there is some sort of logic for the car to identify if an accident has occurred but also regular operation of the engine computer should prevent major fuel loss.
 
#7 ·
Mostly true but a little clarification. The fuel pump does run while coasting or else the engine would die out unless the torque converter stayed locked which it does not in chrysler products. It is true that the PCM will turn off the fuel pump when the cam/crank sensors are telling it that the engine rpm is 0.
 
#8 ·
There is a rollover valve on the tank to keep fuel from running out the vent lines in the event the van rolls over but, I'm not aware of a cutoff valve other than the check valve in the fuel filler tube.

Yup, as long as the PCM sees rpms, the pump runs. Fuel pressure will always be there, engine running or not.
 
#11 ·
My '89 Probe GT had what I believe was an inertia switch in the rear hatch which cut off electricity to the fuel pump. Several times, moisture got into the area, and corroded the contacts loose. The first time, my dad and I thought the pump had gone bad. This vehicle was fortunate enough to provide access to change the in-tank pump by removing the rear seat cushion. But when we put power to the pump (just to check it), it was fine. Checking the owners manual tipped me off to the cutoff switch.

After the 3rd time of trimming, stripping and reconnecting that wire, I decided to bypass the switch and shrink wrap the connection permanently.
 
#12 ·
When I was in an accident with both my 94 and 95 vans the engine continued to run and I had to shut them down with the key. Despite severe damage to the front ends. The 95 had the engine pushed back into the firewall. My 93 was hit hard from the rear and also continued to run. The old 84 Ford Ltd that I owned used to shut down after runiing to fast over railroad tracks, and had to be reset.
Hank
 
#13 ·
Those Vans back then would have had a shut for roll over only. Same for your Ford. You must have be rockin for it to think it was rolling over - bad shocks? :lol:

From Post #5:
Most new vehicles sold in the United States were already equipped with devices that shut off the fuel pump in any collision that causes the engine to stop. Other vehicles were equipped with inertia switches that shut off the fuel flow and/or the electric current.
I would guess a look at the wiring diagram for a vehicle will pick up electrical sensors for this. This site will give the wiring diagrams. Click on the link provided.
 
#14 ·
The fords had a reset switch in the trunk near the taillght. All I had to do was press in a button to reset it.
Hank
 
#15 ·
Did the 92 gv awd 3.3 have a fuel pump cut off also? My fuel pump is grounded with a separate wire to body at relay and runs full time whenever key is on. I tried replacing relay but made no difference. It runs great like this but I'd rather have it corrected. Thanks and sorry about the hijack
 
#16 ·
the fuel pump is NOT supposed to be grounded to the body, if you replaced the relay try it without the ground wire.
 
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