Project S2000 AP1: Installing the DeatschWerks DW200 Fuel Pump

Project S2000 AP1: Installing the DeatschWerks DW200 Fuel Pump

by Vince Soto

All was not right with our Project S2000 AP1.  It was making some louder than normal sounds that were coming from the fuel pump. The car would struggle to start as if the car had low gas or no gas at all. After some forum research and some diagnosing with a fuel pressure gauge, we had come to a conclusion that the fuel pump was bad.

Fuel pump failure is common on older S2000’s and after owning the car for 5 years, it was expected for it happen eventually. Since we got the car from the auction for 3200 dollars, there were no records of the fuel pump being changed or of any maintenance at all for that matter. With that being said we started to look at drop-in replacement fuel pumps on the market. In the end we decided the go with DeatschWerks DW200 fuel pump (9-201-1000).

We chose the DW200 pump because of its compatibility with gasoline and ethanol and its higher flow rate. For now, only crappy California 91 gas will be going in this car, but in its modified future, we see the possibility of a stand-alone ECU, a flex fuel system with E85, nitrous or forced induction. This will need more fuel flow than stock.

The DeatschWerks fuel pump comes with everything needed to easily install the pump in our S2000.

The DW200 pump has a motor with a carbon brushed commutator- a fully encapsulated armature for complete compatibility with ethanol-based fuel.  This is really important since E85 is gaining widespread availability and acceptance across the country as a performance fuel of choice.

The DW200 has a high torque motor that maintains flow at higher pressures. The motor is also very efficient with a low amperage draw that runs cooler and places less demand on the stock fuel pump wiring.

The DeatschWerks DW200 has a turbine impeller whose output characteristics are compatible with pulse width modulated pump drivers that are sometimes found in late model returnless fuel systems. This is not an issue in the S2000, but it is something that is nice to know.