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How to Test a Fuel Pump Relay with a Multimeter Download ArticleExplore this Article parts 1 Removing and Cleaning the Relay for Testing 2 Testing the Relay’s Resistance Other Sections Expert Q&A Video Tips and Warnings Things You'll Need Related Articles Expert Interview References Co-authored by Nick Psaros and Hunter Rising
Last Updated: August 27, 2025 Fact Checked
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This article was co-authored by Nick Psaros and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Nick Psaros is an Automotive Expert working to encourage people to become car enthusiasts and share useful automotive content with people around the world. He has spent the past six years building an online following and community dedicated to automotive excellence. He has a follower base of over 10,000 YouTube subscribers and has garnered over 1 million views on his channel. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 148,170 times.
If you notice a problem with your fuel pump, such as no noise coming from it or your engine not starting, there could be a problem with the fuel pump relay, which controls the electric current running through the pump. Luckily, fuel pump relays are easy to test and replace on your own. Start by taking the fuel pump relay out of your vehicle so you can clean and inspect it. After that, you can use a multimeter to check the resistance going through the relay’s circuit to see if it’s faulty or not.[1]X Expert Source Nick PsarosAutomotive ExpertExpert Interview
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 2:
Removing and Cleaning the Relay for Testing
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1 Turn off your vehicle and remove the key from the ignition. Since the fuel pump relay connects to your vehicle’s electrical system, you won’t be able to remove it while your vehicle is turned on. Make sure you turn off the engine and pull the key out so there’s no chance of the vehicle starting while you’re working.[2]X Expert Source Nick PsarosAutomotive ExpertExpert Interview [3]XResearch source
Don’t try to work on your vehicle while it’s turned on since you could get shocked.
2 Find the fuel pump relay in your vehicle’s fuse box. The main fuse box is usually located underneath the hood near the front of your vehicle, but there may be a smaller fuse box under the steering column inside your vehicle as well. Pull the cover off of the fuse box and look at the diagram printed on it to know where the fuel pump relay is located. The fuel pump relay is usually colored green or gray.[4]XResearch source
If you can’t find the fuel pump relay, check your vehicle’s manual to see if it lists the location.
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3 Pull the relay straight out from the fuse box to remove it. Grab the relay firmly on either side and pull it straight up and out from the terminals of the fuse box. If the relay doesn’t pull out right away, try rocking it back and forth to loosen the connection.[5]XResearch source
You won’t be able to start your engine after you remove the relay because the fuel pump won’t work.
Tip: Try putting a new relay in your fuse box and starting your vehicle. If your vehicle starts without a problem, then the old relay is broken. If your vehicle still doesn’t work properly, then you may have a larger underlying problem.
4 Clean the relay prongs with a wire brush. The fuel pump relay may be faulty or have a loose connection if it’s developed any rust or corrosion on the prongs. Hold the relay upside down so the prongs point up and firmly scrape them with a wire brush. Scrape off as much corrosion as you’re able to so the relay has a solid connection when you plug it back in.[6]XResearch source
You can also try cleaning the terminal ports on the fuse box with the wire brush as well.
Wet a cloth with an electrical contact cleaner and rub it into the prongs if you can’t clean all the corrosion off of the prongs.
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Testing the Relay’s Resistance
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1 Read the circuit diagram on the relay to know what prongs to connect power and the multimeter to. Look on the main body of your relay for a printed diagram of the circuit it controls. Look for the 2 points on the diagram that have a box in between them to know which prongs control the power. The 2 points that have a break in the line connecting them are the prongs that you’ll need to test. Look at the numbers printed next to the prongs to determine which point corresponds with them.[7]XResearch source
The “power” prongs are usually labeled 85 and 86, while the prongs that you need to test are labeled 87 and 30.
2 Set your multimeter to the ohm setting. Look for the setting on your multimeter that has the ohm symbol (Ω) to use for testing your relay. If your multimeter only has 1 ohm setting, then turn the dial so the arrow points at that setting. If the multimeter has multiple ranges within the ohm setting, choose the lowest range possible to get the most accurate reading.[8]XResearch source
You can buy a multimeter from your local hardware store.
The ohm setting on your multimeter measures the resistance between the terminals on the relay to check if they’re working properly.
3 Attach jumper wires to the terminals on your vehicle’s battery. Jumper wires are smaller cables with alligator clips on both ends so you can easily transfer a current. Clip one of the jumper wires to the positive terminal on your vehicle’s battery. Attach another jumper wire to the negative terminal on the battery so it can carry the current.[9]XResearch source
You can buy jumper wires from an automotive or hardware store.
It doesn’t matter which wire you connect to each terminal.
Warning: Don’t touch the ends of the jumper wires together while they’re attached to the battery since you could create a spark.
4 Connect the jumper wires to the positive and negative relay terminals. Flip the relay over so the prongs point straight up so you can connect the jumper wires. Clip the wire leading from the negative terminal on your battery to the terminal labeled with an 85. Attach the wire connected to the positive battery terminal to the pin labeled with an 86.[10]XResearch source
5 Listen for a clicking sound when you attach power to know if the relay still works. As soon as you attach both of the jumper wires to the relay, a switch on the internal circuit will close and make an audible noise. If you didn’t notice the clicking sound when you first attached the second wire, unclip it from the prong. Touch the end of the jumper wire to the prong repeatedly so you can hear the clicking noise before clipping it back on.[11]XResearch source
If you don’t hear a clicking noise when you attach both of the jumper wires, then the circuit inside the relay isn’t working properly.
6 Hold the multimeter probes against the other 2 prongs on the relay. Plug the multimeter probes into the ports on the bottom of the machine so you can use them for testing. Hold either of the probes against one of the prongs labeled with 30 or 87. Then press the second probe against the last prong on the relay. The multimeter will measure the resistance of the internal circuit between the prongs.[12]XResearch source
You can also get multimeter probes that have alligator clips on the end so you don’t have to hold them against the prongs the entire time.
7 Check the multimeter for a 0 reading to know the relay still functions. When the circuit inside the relay has power, the prongs should not have any resistance between them.[13]X Expert Source Nick PsarosAutomotive ExpertExpert Interview Look at the readout on the multimeter’s screen to see if it reads 0, meaning the circuit has no resistance between the points. If the reading is greater than 0, then the circuit inside the relay is faulty.[14]XResearch source
Depending on the ohm range of the multimeter, the reading may also be a small decimal, such as 0.001 or 0.005.
If your relay functions and has correct readings, then you may have a different problem with your fuel pump or electrical system.
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Expert Q&A
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Question What other tools can I use to check my car's fuel pump? Nick Psaros Automotive Expert Nick Psaros is an Automotive Expert working to encourage people to become car enthusiasts and share useful automotive content with people around the world. He has spent the past six years building an online following and community dedicated to automotive excellence. He has a follower base of over 10,000 YouTube subscribers and has garnered over 1 million views on his channel. Nick Psaros Automotive Expert Expert Answer Checking your fuel pump can be efficiently performed using an OBD-II scanner, providing a more technical and comprehensive analysis. An OBD-II scanner allows for the retrieval of diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) related to the fuel system, offering valuable insights into potential issues affecting the fuel pump. If you don't own an OBD-II scanner, some automotive stores provide the option to rent these scanners for a small fee without a significant investment in purchasing an expensive scanner outright. Alternatively, certain automotive repair shops may offer to perform OBD-II scans for free. This can be a cost-effective option for those seeking professional insights into their vehicle's fuel pump health without incurring a direct expense for the scan itself. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 6
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Video
Tips
Try putting a new fuel pump relay in your vehicle to see if it fixes your problem. If it does, then there’s a problem with the relay. Otherwise, there’s a problem with the fuel pump or electrical system.[15]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Hire a mechanic to look at your vehicle if you don’t feel comfortable working on it yourself. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 2
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
Warnings
Only remove and test the relay while your vehicle is turned off, or else you could suffer from an electric shock. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 1
Don’t touch the ends of the jumper wires together while they’re connected to your car battery since you could create a spark or cause electrical discharge. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 2
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Things You’ll Need
Wire brush
Digital multimeter
Car battery
Jumper wires
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about car maintenance and repair, check out our in-depth interview with Nick Psaros.
References
↑ Nick Psaros. Automotive Expert. Expert Interview
↑ Nick Psaros. Automotive Expert. Expert Interview
Co-authored by: Nick Psaros Automotive Expert This article was co-authored by Nick Psaros and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Nick Psaros is an Automotive Expert working to encourage people to become car enthusiasts and share useful automotive content with people around the world. He has spent the past six years building an online following and community dedicated to automotive excellence. He has a follower base of over 10,000 YouTube subscribers and has garnered over 1 million views on his channel. This article has been viewed 148,170 times. 13 votes - 100% Co-authors: 5Updated: August 27, 2025 Views: 148,170 Categories: Car Engines In other languagesJapanese
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Download Article Explore this Article parts 1 Removing and Cleaning the Relay for Testing 2 Testing the Relay’s Resistance Other Sections Expert Q&A Video Tips and Warnings Things You'll Need Related Articles Expert Interview References Co-authored by Nick Psaros and Hunter Rising 
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Co-authored by: Nick Psaros Automotive Expert This article was co-authored by Nick Psaros and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Nick Psaros is an Automotive Expert working to encourage people to become car enthusiasts and share useful automotive content with people around the world. He has spent the past six years building an online following and community dedicated to automotive excellence. He has a follower base of over 10,000 YouTube subscribers and has garnered over 1 million views on his channel. This article has been viewed 148,170 times. 13 votes - 100% Co-authors: 5 Updated: August 27, 2025 Views: 148,170 Categories: Car Engines In other languagesJapanese 
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1 Turn off your vehicle and remove the key from the ignition. Since the fuel pump relay connects to your vehicle’s electrical system, you won’t be able to remove it while your vehicle is turned on. Make sure you turn off the engine and pull the key out so there’s no chance of the vehicle starting while you’re working.[2] [3] 
2 Find the fuel pump relay in your vehicle’s fuse box. The main fuse box is usually located underneath the hood near the front of your vehicle, but there may be a smaller fuse box under the steering column inside your vehicle as well. Pull the cover off of the fuse box and look at the diagram printed on it to know where the fuel pump relay is located. The fuel pump relay is usually colored green or gray.[4] 
3 Pull the relay straight out from the fuse box to remove it. Grab the relay firmly on either side and pull it straight up and out from the terminals of the fuse box. If the relay doesn’t pull out right away, try rocking it back and forth to loosen the connection.[5] 
4 Clean the relay prongs with a wire brush. The fuel pump relay may be faulty or have a loose connection if it’s developed any rust or corrosion on the prongs. Hold the relay upside down so the prongs point up and firmly scrape them with a wire brush. Scrape off as much corrosion as you’re able to so the relay has a solid connection when you plug it back in.[6] 
1 Read the circuit diagram on the relay to know what prongs to connect power and the multimeter to. Look on the main body of your relay for a printed diagram of the circuit it controls. Look for the 2 points on the diagram that have a box in between them to know which prongs control the power. The 2 points that have a break in the line connecting them are the prongs that you’ll need to test. Look at the numbers printed next to the prongs to determine which point corresponds with them.[7] 
2 Set your multimeter to the ohm setting. Look for the setting on your multimeter that has the ohm symbol (Ω) to use for testing your relay. If your multimeter only has 1 ohm setting, then turn the dial so the arrow points at that setting. If the multimeter has multiple ranges within the ohm setting, choose the lowest range possible to get the most accurate reading.[8] 
3 Attach jumper wires to the terminals on your vehicle’s battery. Jumper wires are smaller cables with alligator clips on both ends so you can easily transfer a current. Clip one of the jumper wires to the positive terminal on your vehicle’s battery. Attach another jumper wire to the negative terminal on the battery so it can carry the current.[9] 
4 Connect the jumper wires to the positive and negative relay terminals. Flip the relay over so the prongs point straight up so you can connect the jumper wires. Clip the wire leading from the negative terminal on your battery to the terminal labeled with an 85. Attach the wire connected to the positive battery terminal to the pin labeled with an 86.[10] 
5 Listen for a clicking sound when you attach power to know if the relay still works. As soon as you attach both of the jumper wires to the relay, a switch on the internal circuit will close and make an audible noise. If you didn’t notice the clicking sound when you first attached the second wire, unclip it from the prong. Touch the end of the jumper wire to the prong repeatedly so you can hear the clicking noise before clipping it back on.[11] 
6 Hold the multimeter probes against the other 2 prongs on the relay. Plug the multimeter probes into the ports on the bottom of the machine so you can use them for testing. Hold either of the probes against one of the prongs labeled with 30 or 87. Then press the second probe against the last prong on the relay. The multimeter will measure the resistance of the internal circuit between the prongs.[12] 
7 Check the multimeter for a 0 reading to know the relay still functions. When the circuit inside the relay has power, the prongs should not have any resistance between them.[13] Look at the readout on the multimeter’s screen to see if it reads 0, meaning the circuit has no resistance between the points. If the reading is greater than 0, then the circuit inside the relay is faulty.[14] 
Nick Psaros Automotive Expert Nick Psaros is an Automotive Expert working to encourage people to become car enthusiasts and share useful automotive content with people around the world. He has spent the past six years building an online following and community dedicated to automotive excellence. He has a follower base of over 10,000 YouTube subscribers and has garnered over 1 million views on his channel.