A fuel pump has two jobs to do. First, it must suck or lift the fuel from the gas tank. Second, it must hold and then deliver this fuel to meet the needs of the carburetor.

Knowing how your car's fuel pump operates is always helpful, but here are very convenient ways to check if it is broken or has stopped working.

Nine reasons why your car’s fuel pump can fail, how to spot them, and what you can do about it—before you call a tow truck.