In-tank fuel pump replacement may be considered for extended cranking, stalling or poor acceleration on selected 2018–2023 Chevrolet Malibu models without the XFE package. The related product catalog also lists 2018–2019 Buick LaCrosse and 2018–2020 Buick Regal Sportback, front-wheel drive only. No diagnostic trouble code alone establishes that this replacement pump is needed: fuel delivery, electrical supply, pressure feedback and any gauge complaint require their own tests. A year-and-model match does not establish the correct engine, fuel-system configuration or package contents.
This guide concerns selection and service planning for the in-tank assembly. Do not confuse it with an electronic pump-control module or an engine-mounted high-pressure pump. The Malibu package restriction and the Buick drivetrain restriction are separate checks. An all-wheel-drive Buick must not be treated as compatible merely because its engine appears in a broad product title.
Advanced: fuel-system diagnosis, safe access and configuration-specific installation.
Reserve a full workday after diagnosis. Actual access and recovery requirements determine the job time.
$120–$300 before seals, additional components or tools. This is not a current selling price.
Use a cool vehicle in a well-ventilated service area without flames, cigarettes, heaters or sparking equipment. Wear chemical-splash goggles and fuel-compatible gloves. Arrange approved gasoline collection, spill control and fire protection before opening a connection. Relieve the relevant fuel circuit’s pressure using the exact service procedure; opening the filler cap does not relieve injection pressure. Isolate power in the prescribed sequence. Do not open high-pressure injection pipes as a shortcut to testing the in-tank pump. Hybrid and electrified powertrains require their own isolation procedures; disconnecting a 12-volt cable is not a universal high-voltage safety procedure.
Do not work beneath a vehicle held only by a jack, and do not balance a fuel tank on a narrow saddle. Stop for damaged fuel fittings, a fuel-soaked interior, an unstable support arrangement, an unresolved powertrain configuration or an active leak.
Featured replacement and package check
A-Premium APFP1313, ASIN B0D4Z4JN7B, is the selected electric pump assembly. The manufacturer identifies a quantity of one, a 12-volt supply and reference numbers 42828713 and 85510206. Its specifications list no pressure sensor and no float.
Do not assume a level sender is included. The manufacturer’s page contains conflicting sender information: its specification field says yes, but its application note says the item comes without a sending unit. Have the supplier confirm the contents of the exact offered package before buying for a gauge-related repair. Do not discard a serviceable original component or plan a sender transfer without the applicable installation instructions.
View the Malibu and FWD Buick Fuel Pump Assembly
Vehicle coverage and purchase restrictions
| Vehicle | Catalog years | Configuration restriction | Engine and original-part check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2018–2023 | Selected offer excludes the XFE package | Confirm the engine, fuel type, package and original module reference by VIN before purchase. |
| Buick LaCrosse | 2018–2019 | FWD only; manufacturer excludes AWD | Match the exact engine and tank configuration; do not extend this row to 2020. |
| Buick Regal Sportback | 2018–2020 | FWD only; manufacturer excludes AWD | Match the engine and original assembly; Sportback coverage does not establish TourX coverage. |
The table identifies catalog families, not every trim or powertrain inside those families. Keep the old module reference available and compare the electrical keying, outlet layout, flange, height and any retained sender connections. Ask the supplier to resolve a discrepancy before opening the fuel system. Similar-looking outlets, a matching engine displacement or one shared cross-reference are not permission to modify connectors to make an uncertain part fit.
Diagnosis: pump, controller, sender or another fault?
Record the complaint and operating conditions before ordering: hot restart, cold start, acceleration, low fuel level or an inaccurate gauge are different diagnostic starting points. Save stored and pending codes with available freeze-frame information. Use the definitions and test sequence for the actual model and engine rather than treating a generic scanner description as a replacement instruction.
For hard starting or power loss, confirm actual fuel level and basic cranking condition, then distinguish inadequate fuel delivery from ignition, air-metering and injector faults. A pump that can be heard does not necessarily deliver the required fuel, while a silent pump may have a supply or control problem. Inspect the electrical feed, grounds and connector condition under the appropriate test conditions before condemning the motor.
Pressure diagnosis requires the correct measurement location and approved equipment. Where an engine has separate low- and high-pressure circuits, readings from one circuit do not automatically establish the condition of the other. Do not attach a low-pressure gauge to a high-pressure circuit, loosen a line to judge the spray or use an unapproved jumper to keep the pump running.
A gauge complaint needs sender and circuit diagnosis. Because the package’s sender information conflicts, purchasing this assembly is not an established solution for every fuel-level fault. Likewise, a pressure-sensor or controller fault must be traced to its actual component; neither part should be assumed to arrive in the pump box. Treat wetness or persistent fuel odour as a leak complaint and stop operating the vehicle until it is resolved.
Tools, parts and supplies
Choose tools for the actual access route. The following products cover ordinary preparation and diagnostic work; they are not a complete vehicle-specific tank-removal kit. Conditional equipment should be purchased only after checking the service procedure and working clearances.
| Tool or Supply | Exact Product | Product Link | Purpose and Selection Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand sockets and ratchet | TEKTON SKT15301, 3/8-inch-drive 46-piece set; metric 8–19 mm | View socket and ratchet set | Match accessible fasteners. Obtain any separately required small sockets, specialty bits or extensions. |
| Wheel chocks | Fasmov solid-rubber wheel chocks, two-pack with handles | View wheel chocks | Use on appropriate grounded wheels and a firm level surface, with the parking brake applied. |
| Lifting jack — conditional | ARCAN A20003, 3-ton low-profile steel floor jack | View vehicle lifting jack | Lifting only; verify load, clearance and approved lifting points. It is not a restrained fuel-tank cradle. |
| Support stands — conditional | BIG RED T46002A double-locking 6-ton stand pair | View vehicle support stands | Check the manufacturer’s pair rating, minimum height and vehicle support points. A larger rating does not guarantee suitable clearance. |
| Small-fastener torque tool — conditional | LEXIVON LX-181, 1/4-inch drive, 20–200 in-lb | View inch-pound torque wrench | Only for verified fastener settings inside its range, with the correct drive sockets. Not a module lock-ring specification. |
| Medium-range torque tool — conditional | TEKTON TRQ51402, 3/8-inch drive, 10–100 ft-lb | View 10–100 ft-lb torque wrench | Use only where the vehicle’s specified torque falls inside this range. Do not substitute foot-pounds for inch-pounds. |
| Engine-code reader — optional | ANCEL AD310, black corded OBD-II reader | View engine-code reader | Records available engine diagnostic information. Does not establish GM bidirectional pump commands or all enhanced data. |
| Electrical meter — optional | Klein Tools MM400 auto-ranging digital multimeter | View diagnostic multimeter | For competent circuit tests before opening the tank. Avoid damaging sealed terminals and never measure resistance on an energized circuit. |
| Splash eye protection | 3M 91252H1-DC-10 chemical-splash goggles | View chemical-splash goggles | Check face fit and wear while handling residual fuel; eye protection does not make vapour exposure safe. |
| Fire protection | First Alert standard-home-use extinguisher, 1-A:10-B:C rating | View Class B-rated extinguisher | Keep charged and accessible beside an exit. Remove ignition sources rather than relying on an extinguisher. |
| Module-retaining tool and release equipment | Tools matched to the actual GM tank ring and fuel connections | Match the prescribed tool and fitting geometry | Do not force a generic ring wrench or use a hammer and steel chisel. |
| Fuel handling, gloves and cleanup | Gasoline-approved recovery equipment and containers; compatible gloves and absorbent | Select a complete fuel-rated arrangement | Match required capacity and exposure limits. Do not use a shop vacuum, ordinary electric transfer pump or oil drain pan as fuel storage. |
| New seal, sender-related components and retainers | VIN-matched sealing ring and required package-specific parts | Confirm contents and installation requirements with the supplier | Resolve sender inclusion before purchase. Replace damaged locks and use no unapproved sealant. |
| Tank support — conditional | Restrained tank-service cradle with a compatible rated jack | Rent or select the complete matched assembly | Needed when the service route lowers the tank. The vehicle must remain on independent supports. |
DIY versus professional cost planning
An illustrative budget is $120–$300 for the pump assembly and $25–$100 for a seal, routine supplies or minor retainers, giving $145–$400 before tools. A separate sender, sensor, damaged tank or wiring repair is not included. With an assumed $150–$400 in new general tools, the example becomes $295–$800, plus any specialist equipment rental. These figures are assumptions for planning, not live product prices.
For a shop scenario, $200–$500 for parts, $25–$100 for routine materials and three to five hours at an assumed $120–$180 per hour gives $585–$1,500 before tax, diagnosis or additional repairs. The hours are not a GM labor-time specification. Ask the shop to state the exact configuration, whether the sender is reused or replaced, which seals are included and how the completed repair will be leak-tested.
Replacement planning sequence
Obtain the service procedure for the actual engine, drivetrain and tank before disassembly, including pressure relief, access, retention and any component-transfer instructions. Do not treat the three catalog model families as one universal bolt-by-bolt repair.
- Confirm the failed component. Finish delivery and electrical diagnosis. Resolve the original module reference and all package restrictions before ordering.
- Inspect the delivered assembly. Check the supplied seals and sender-related parts against the job requirements. Stop for a missing required component or mismatched connector.
- Prepare and isolate safely. Arrange ventilation, containment and approved support. Relieve the relevant pressure circuits and isolate electrical power in the prescribed sequence; electrified powertrains need their own trained-service precautions.
- Establish the correct access route. Remove only components identified by the model-specific procedure. Do not cut a new opening through the body. If the tank must be lowered, support and restrain it before releasing mounts or connected lines.
- Clean, disconnect and remove. Keep dirt outside the tank. Release each actual connector style without pulling on wiring or plastic pipes. Use the proper retainer tool and lift the assembly without damaging attached level components.
- Inspect and install. Examine the tank, sealing surface and electrical connections. Follow the approved procedure for any retained component; do not improvise a sender transfer. Install the correct seal, orientation and retention arrangement with the required specifications.
- Restore and test. Reconnect and positively lock all lines and wiring, restoring protective routing and mounting hardware. Re-energize only a closed system after spills are resolved. Prime by the vehicle procedure, inspect the flange and disturbed connections, and stop immediately for leakage.
- Verify the result. Confirm starting, delivery and any level-sender function affected by the work. Road-test only after the system is dry and mechanically secure, then recheck the original complaint and diagnostic information.
Common mistakes and practical questions
Does a broad engine list prove fitment?
No. The exact year, engine, drivetrain and package must match. Do not spread engine choices across every model in the table.
Is the sending unit definitely included?
No reliable assumption can be made from the conflicting catalog fields. Confirm the exact package with the supplier, especially when the gauge is the reason for the repair.
Will this fit an AWD Buick?
The manufacturer explicitly excludes AWD LaCrosse and Regal Sportback applications. Do not modify this assembly to substitute for an AWD part.
Can the same instructions cover a hybrid?
Not without the correct vehicle-specific service and electrical-isolation procedure. An in-tank component listing is not authorization to perform high-voltage work.
What installation mistakes matter most?
Buying the wrong configuration, confusing low-pressure and high-pressure faults, omitting a required sender component, damaging a connector, contaminating the tank, trapping a seal and skipping the leak test can all defeat the repair. Avoid invented tightening values and unapproved sealants.
Sources and further reading
A-Premium Malibu catalog: APFP1313 specifications and application notes · A-Premium Regal Sportback catalog and FWD restriction · Delphi electrical diagnostic training resources · Related reading: a separate Chevrolet Sonic fuel-pump application