fuel pump ring removal

[igor334]

I have a 2001 grand prix GT. I am trying to remove fuel pump. I found a video on the interenet that shows a guy removing a fuel pump from another GM car. The problem i am having is that the hole in the trunk that i have seems to be alot smaller than what they guy in video had. After he unscrewed the ring using a screwdriver and a hammer, he simply lifted the whole unit. I have a ring, that turns and locks the fuel pump. The problem is, that ring is WAY too big for the hole in the trunk, and after i take it off, from the fuel tank, there is just no way to take it out. I spend at least an hour trying every single possible way i can come up with. I seen similar 7 screw holes in another video, but the ring on that fuel pump was "C" type, alot smaller.

Is it possible that my car uses wrong ring for the hole size in the trunk? I just can't see how it is possible to take it out. ? I have a feeling the pump was put on the fuel tank,and then fuel tank was attached to the car. Or is there a secret to how it is removed?

[Zef_66]

No secret. And I never knew anyone that had any issues with the hole being too small.

Can you post the video you looked at?

This is a picture of the fuel pump under the hole. The ring is more than small enough to come out:

[txslow6]

Go to the members ride section and look at my thread. In there you will find my pictures of when I replaced my fuel pump with a racetronix. It also shows the c clip you are talking about.

[igor334]

Thanks guys, but on this picture, the ring is the "C" type ring. The one i have, is a full circle, "O" type i guess, and it is alot larger. i have to actually unscrew it counter clock wise, and once i do, there is simply no way to take it out.

here is the video. this is the kind of ring i have in my grand prix. the problem is, the hole looks completely different in the video (it has 5 screws instead of 7). and the guy can remove it streight out, after unscrewing it.. i simply cant.

Pontiac Bonneville Fuel Sender Replacement -- PART 2 - YouTube

[BillBoost37]

Igor,
Your car should not be able to have a full ring. And you won't have a turn to unlock ring either.

Blow the dirt off and take a closer look. It should be a snap ring that lays into a groove. I'm very certain of that.

[igor334]

I took it off twice (i thought i will give it a try a second time, a day later), so i know 100% it is a full ring.. i found a picture of exactly what i have. even the two metal vertical things were electrical connection plugs in..

as you can see from this picture, it is way too big for that hole.. so after i unscrew it, i just can't get it out..

PS, obviously i am not the only one with this issue, because someone else took this picture of their own car.

[BillBoost37]

First I've ever heard of it. I'd like a better cleaner picture of your actual car though.

Yeah..I'm a pain and kinda tough to convince. I admit there's some oddities out there, but it's not common.

[igor334]

i found this pic in a different thread, but it was from 2010, so i doubt i would hear from the guy who posted it.

The car is not mine, it is my parents. i wanted to fix their fuel gauge problem (when they took it to mechanic they got quoted almost $1000, 650 for fuel pump, and 4-5 hours labour). . They have way too much stuff in the trunk, so honestly , just trust me, when i say that is exactly what their fuel pump access looks like. I myself wouldn't be able to even take a better picture. i had the ring off, and was able to turn the pump around a bit, so i know that the kind of ring it is. But there is just not enough space to remove it.. even if there was a bit more spece vertically, i probably could have slide out one side, and then another, but it is just so tight in there (as you can see from that picture).

But basically what i am getting here, is that it is not "normal" .. i was wondering about it, because so many people say they remove those themselves, with out any issues. second time even my dad took a look at it.

[Zef_66]

What thread? Can you post a link?

Like bill mentioned, it is very odd to see a different style of fuel pump like you are mentioning. I have never seen it in my years around GPs.

So post a picture of your car and the ring as well as the link to the thread where the above picture came from. That will help a lot!

[igor334]

here is the link

http://www.grandprixforums.net/need-...val-26585.html

last poster also talks about a ring that is removed by using hammer, screwdriver, and turning the ring counter clockwise.

as i mentioned, it is not my car, it is my parents. and they keep their trunk full. This picture that i posted pretty much shows everything there is to it.