The fuel pump relay, located deep inside the TIPM, is the most common relay to fail since it's powered on 100% of the time while you're driving. You likely found us because your dealer wants to change your fuel pump ($600+) or TIPM ($1000+). The most common vehicles include the 2011-2013 Dodge Caravan, 2011-2013 Chrysler Town & Country, 2011-2012 Dodge Ram, and 2011-2012 VW Routan. Faulty fuel pump relay symptoms include:
Capabilities
Other Information
Written instructions with color photos are included with each order. Buy one here or, if you have the skills, build your own using the instructions available at our website. Extensive information on fuel pump relay problems and other TIPM repair solutions are available at our website. This auction is for the simple version without LED shown below. For the standard cable version with the LED, here is the Ebay link.
Although many have used this cable as a long-term solution for more than 3+ years, we would prefer that you use it to temporarily bypass a faulty fuel pump relay. More information is located on our website.
How To Test Your Fuel Pump (Simple or Standard Cables)
1) How fast do you ship? My vehicle will not start.
Answer: 99% of all orders will ship the same day. Further details are available on our Shipping and Deliveries information page at our website and at the bottom of this Ebay page.
2) How long can I drive with the cable? Is it a permanent solution?
Answer: Many people have used our cables for extended periods of time (3-4 years) without issue. We always suggest you begin with a TIPM test/bypass cable to find the problem and then upgrade to a TIPM Plug-In Relay System or TIPM Repair when convenient as many find they are better long-term options. We'll refund the full cost of any TIPM cable purchase when you upgrade to a TIPM Repair or give you 10% off a TIPM Plug-In Relay System. Simply contact us for details. No matter what fix you decide to use, a TIPM cable is an inexpensive tool to diagnose problems with your vehicle and bypass a fuel relay problem, likely making it one of the most cost-effective fixes to solve fuel relay problems. Thousands of people around the world are currently driving with our TIPM cables and they will last for many years.
3) Will your cable provide 12 VDC to the fuel pump when the vehicle is off?
Answer: No. When using our bypass cable, power is only delivered to the fuel pump when in the run position or while the vehicle is starting/running. Your fuel pump will not be powered on when the vehicle is turned off.
4) What percentage of people have a no start condition with their fuel pump relay compared to those who have their fuel pump stuck on when the vehicle is off?
Answer: Based on the thousands of phone calls we've received since August 2014, we would guess that 65% have a fuel pump relay that won't engage (no start), 20% have a fuel pump relay that is stuck on (draining their battery), and 10% have a combination of both. 5% experience stalling while driving. It's not uncommon for relay failures to switch from one failure mode to another.
5) My battery keeps draining. How can I temporarily fix my fuel pump relay "stuck on" situation without using your TIPM cable?
Answer: Turn the vehicle off, go the rear of the vehicle near the fuel tank, and listen for pumping noises to see if fuel pump is still on. If so, remove fuse M25 (labeled "fuel pump") only when your vehicle is off, which will prevent power being delivered to the fuel pump. You can also install our bypass cable using the M37 to M25 connection method to resolve this problem.
6) Is the TIPM bypass cable still effective if the external fuel pump relay recall has been added by my dealer?
Answer: No. Our TIPM test/bypass cable will not work in this scenario (nor will it normally be needed) because the faulty fuel pump relay and fuel pump fuse (M25) has been permanently removed from the circuit. The new external relay has its own fuse. The recall for 2011-2013 Dodge Durangos and Jeep Grand Cherokees only involves cutting numerous fuel pump wires leading in/out of the TIPM, thereby disconnecting the existing fuel pump relay circuit from the fuel pump. If you continue to have problems with your new external fuel pump relay, read our website. To identify if you have an external relay installed, go to our website.
7) Are any safety mechanisms affected by faulty fuel pump relays or bypass cables?
Answer: No. If using the new M37 to M25 connection method, no safety mechanisms are affected by using a TIPM cable.
8) When using the older M7 left slot to M25 bypass mode connection, my car only starts on the second attempt or won't start in cold weather. Is this normal?
Answer: It's rare, but some TIPMs won't power on the M7 circuit during the starting process. We've performed some testing/research to determine that it's likely attributable to the TIPM cutting off all unnecessary power draw during the starting process in cold weather or with lower battery voltages. Please use the newer configuration that uses the M37 fuse slot in bypass mode, which will resolve this problem.
With no power to M7 left slots, the TIPM cable can't deliver power to the fuel pump via the M25 fuse slot. There are some workarounds: (1) Cycle your key or start button to ACC and RUN mode, then start the vehicle; (2) In extreme cold weather, move the TIPM cable from the left slots of M7 to the right slots. Start the vehicle and then move the cable back to the left slots of M7. Keep in mind that plugging into the right slots of M7 forces the fuel pump to remain on all the time, so you'll need to return it to the left slots while the vehicle is running or after driving. This isn't an issue with our cable, rather it's how the TIPM handles cold weather starting.
Low battery voltages may be due to your faulty relay being "stuck on", which powers your fuel pump when the vehicle is off until it partially or completely drains your battery. It's complicated, but some faulty fuel relays fail in different ways. They may fail early on by simply not allowing power to pass through the M25 fuse and on to the fuel pump. Then they can switch to being "stuck on", which keeps your fuel pump running when the vehicle is off. You'll need to remove the lower yellow 20 amp fuse on the M25 end of our cable to completely disconnect the faulty relay from the fuel pump circuit and prevent battery drainage. The next time you try to start it and it fails, hook up the alligator clip to ground and watch the green light if you have the LED version of our cable. If the green light comes on when you turn the key to ACC, but then goes out only during the starter cranking process, your battery voltage is likely low. Charge your battery and/or make sure the lower fuse on the M25 end of our cable is removed. If your fuel pump is receiving power during the starting process but still fails to start, you might: (1) Have a faulty fuel pump (please use our cable to test your fuel pump), (2) Have no gas in the vehicle, or (3) Have a faulty crankshaft sensor or other problem that is outside of our knowledge base. Keep in mind that our TIPM cables have always been advertised as temporary solutions. Permanent solutions are available through us and we offer great discounts to those who've purchased our TIPM cables.
9) With the cable using power from the M37 fuse slot, will this affect other items in my vehicle?
Answer: No. Contact us for details.
10) Why won't your cable work on my 2007-2010 Ram truck? What does the typical fuel pump circuit look like that permits the bypass/test cable to work?
Answer: Most vehicles will allow our TIPM bypass/test cable to work, but we have not been able to test every vehicle. For the cable to work properly, the order of components must be: +12 VDC ---> Fuel Pump Relay ---> Fuse Slot ---> Fuel Pump. If the fuel pump relay is not located before the fuse slot, as is the case with many 2010 and older Dodge Ram trucks, our TIPM bypass/test cable won't work. If your test light or multimeter can detect 12 VDC on the fuel pump fuse slot when the vehicle is off, chances are our TIPM bypass/test cables won't work as your fuel relay comes after the fuse slot (the only exception being a "stuck on" fuel relay that is often remedied with a swift smack to the side of the TIPM). Since a fuel pump relay failure often means no power at the fuse or pump when the vehicle is starting or running, the arrangement of the circuit shown below benefits us since we can inject +12 VDC power via a TIPM test/bypass cable into the 20 amp fuse slot to power the fuel pump. For details, see our wiring diagrams section of our website.
If you own a 2007-2010 Ram truck, we can only recommend a used TIPM at this time since none of our products will work and a TIPM repair is very difficult due to surface mount relays that are very close to each other.
Fuel pump relay working properly - vehicle on
11) Will my remote start still work after installing the TIPM cable?
Answer: Yes. If using the new M37 to M25 connection method, your remote start will function normally.
12) My 2012 Caravan is having problems starting, sometimes a grinding sound and sometimes it starts fine. Would the fuel pump relay cause this issue?
Answer: Yes, it's possible. Fuel pump relays often fail by clicking on and off very fast. Sometimes they click on fast enough to stay running and sometimes not. When your vehicle detects that is has "started", it disengages the starter solenoid. If the fuel relay is still clicking on/off just enough to keep it running, but not fast enough for to detect the vehicle is running, the solenoid can stay engaged in the flywheel, creating the grinding sound. It sounds like this because it is indeed slowly grinding the teeth off your flywheel and solenoid.
13) My car still won't start with the TIPM test/bypass cable installed. What might cause this?
Answer: The following are possible causes for this situation while using our cable:
14) My vehicle is experiencing problems since installing the cable. Is the cable at fault?
Answer: No. With thousands of cables in use worldwide, we know exactly how our cables interact with TIPMs. Our TIPM bypass/test cables are nothing more than jumper cables that permit electricity to move between two points. Instead of using the electricity flowing through a faulty fuel pump relay to power your fuel pump, we use electricity from another source (the M37 run/start fuse slot). Your faulty fuel pump relay and the run/start fuse slot both use the same 12 VDC source inside the TIPM. When using the cable, your run/start fuse slot doesn't know or care that it's actually powering the fuel pump. Our TIPM bypass/test cables won't cause any warning lights, check engine lights, alternator, starter, or air conditioning problems. Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep/VW vehicles and their TIPMs are well known for electrical problems in each of these items.
If you do get a "check engine" warning light, we always suggest you obtain an OBDII scanner and plug into your OBDII port to identify the particular code. This will tell you what the problem is. Or you can often take your vehicle to a local auto parts store where many of them will read the code for free.
15) Why couldn't my dealer or mechanic figure out that the fuel pump relay was faulty?
Answer: It's VERY common for dealers or mechanics to improperly diagnose fuel pump relay problems. The most common misdiagnosis is a faulty fuel pump, which will cost you around $600. Reasons for improperly diagnosing fuel pump relay problems include: Relay failures are often intermittent, selling you a TIPM at $1200 is more profitable, faulty relays won't normally result in vehicle faults/codes, and many people don't understand vehicle electrical systems, TIPMs are not a user or dealer serviceable part (i.e. they're not allowed to work on the parts inside), and they don't know how to test fuel pump relays. Fortunately, fuel pump relays are our specialty and we can often diagnose problems over the phone or via email.
16) Nothing happens when I turn the key. Is the cable at fault?
Answer: If you're turning the key and nothing happens, then you likely have a starter issue, dead battery, bad alternator, or wiring problem. This type of problem is not related to the fuel pump relay, nor does it have anything to with our cable. Our cable simply delivers power to the fuel pump. If your vehicle is unable to power the starter to rotate the flywheel, then you'll want to focus on the solutions listed below.
Corroded battery terminals can cause the inability for the battery to deliver 12 VDC to the starter. A faulty alternator can prevent the battery from being charged properly, resulting in a dead battery. Note that many 2011 vehicles were recalled for bad alternators. You may want to check to see if yours was on the recall list. Check your starter plug-in relay that is locate next to your fuses on top of the TIPM. Also, modern TIPMs control the ability of the alternator to deliver current to charge the battery when driving. Some of our customers had to replace their TIPM with a used TIPM.
17) Will the TIPM cable still work if my vehicle doesn't have a rear cigarette lighter?
Answer: Yes. Regardless of the presence of a rear cigarette lighter (power adapter) for the M7 circuit used by the cable, the infrastructure in the TIPM-7 fuse box is still there to accommodate fuel pump testing with our cable. This situation mainly applies to 2011-2012 Dodge Ram owners. The cable still works perfectly on these vehicles with the M7 slot providing either full-time or key-on power, as desired, depending on the cable configuration you desire.
18) When is power provided to the fuel pump when using the TIPM cable?
Answer: TIPM cables will provide power to your fuel pump in a nearly identical manner as the original fuel pump relay. Your fuel pump will only be powered on in the run position and during staring/running of the vehicle. Once you turn off the key, the fuel pump will shut off. The only difference is the original fuel pump relay will temporarily turn on the fuel pump (prime for 2 seconds) while a TIPM cable will continuously power the pump if you cycle your start button or key to the run position.
19) Can I use a fuse slot other than M7 with the cable to power the fuel pump, enable remote start, and resolve cold weather starting issues?
Answer: Yes. The hard copy color instructions included with each TIPM cable will provide details.
Shipping
Our goal is to ship your parts as fast as possible. We normally ship the same day if we receive your order in a reasonable amount of time before our FedEx pickup or USPS drop off. If your order arrives late in the day, we'll ship it the next business day. We understand and will accommodate those who need these parts as fast as possible. We have a contract with FedEx for discounted 2-day shipping, so that's likely going to be your best domestic shipping option.
Our shipment schedule is: FedEx - Monday through Friday (pickups at 5pm) and Saturday (pickups at 11am for 2-Day packages only). If using FedEx and you require a package to be shipped or delivered on Saturday, you MUST choose 2-Day Special One Rate (note that FedEx will not deliver to some addresses on Saturday). USPS - Monday through Friday (dropoffs at 4pm) and Saturday (dropoffs at 1pm)
Normal shipment durations: FedEx Priority Overnight: 1 day, FedEx Standard Overnight: 1 day, FedEx 2-Day: 2 days, FedEx Express: 3 days, FedEx Ground: 1-5 days, FedEx International Priority: 1-3 days, FedEx International Economy: 2-5 days, USPS Priority Mail: 2-3 days, USPS Priority Express Mail: 1-2 days, USPS Priority International: 6-10 days, USPS Priority Express International: 3-5 days, USPS First Class International: 1-2 weeks
The shipping duration estimates shown below begin at the time and day the package is shipped by us. Orders received before 12pm weekdays and 11am Saturday ET will normally be shipped the same day. Orders received after these time periods will likely still ship the same day, but this is not guaranteed.
Packages are delivered: FedEx - Monday through Friday (Saturday deliveries for most 2-Day Special One Rate shipments only), USPS - Monday through Saturday
Order confirmation emails are sent minutes after each order is placed. Tracking emails are sent when the order ships. FedEx can't ship to a PO Box or deliver 2-day packages to Puerto Rico, so we'll use USPS Priority Mail in these situations.
Lost Packages
Although rare, USPS and FedEx occasionally delays or loses packages. If your shipment is delayed or lost, please contact us and we'll try to locate your package or ship another part. If you file an Ebay claim due to a lost/delayed package, please be aware that Ebay immediately removes the funds from our account and we won't risk sending you a second part. Communication is key, so contact us through Ebay or call us at [phone removed by eBay] with any questions or concerns you may have. Ebay will not be able to help you as much as we can, so contact us if you have any problems.
Filing a Claim
Many Ebayers game the system by using our parts for testing purposes, then filing a claim that the part doesn't work. In this situation, Ebay requires us to pay for return shipping and issue a full refund. We obviously don't like this. If our part is indeed faulty, simply contact us and we'll send another one to you. If you have another issue with your vehicle outside the TIPM that our part isn't intended to fix (ie. your starter won't turn the flywheel), then please do not claim that our part is faulty. We will require additional details from every faulty part claim before complying with a return request.
Telephone/Email Support
We're a small business (Vertical Visions LLC) located in Bridgeport, WV since 2001. Feel free to call us with any questions you may have. We're open from 10am-6pm ET weekdays. The owner (Jason Bell) is a mechanical engineer with 25 years of engineering experience and three patents. Email is another great option if our phone lines are busy.
Refunds
As with most electrical items, we CANNOT and WILL NOT offer refunds for this product unless it's faulty. If it's faulty, which is extremely rare, contact us and we'll send you another one immediately.
Lost Packages
Although rare, USPS and FedEx occasionally delays or loses packages. If your shipment is delayed or lost, please contact us and we'll send another cable. If you file an Ebay claim due to a lost/delayed package, please be aware that Ebay immediately removes the funds from our account and we won't risk sending you a second cable. Communication is key, so contact us through Ebay or call us with any questions or concerns you may have. Ebay will not be able to help you as much as we can, so contact us if you have any problems.