Yes, it does-a malfunctioning Fuel Pump can surely light up some warning lights on the dashboard. Most of the time, the check engine light will come on because of the inconsistent fuel pressure falling out of the normal range, typically in the range of 30 to 80 psi, perceived by the ECU as potential problems in the fuel delivery system. Once the Fuel Pump is not able to maintain the pressure at a needed level, the ECU interprets this as a failure and illuminates a warning light to indicate to the driver that something may be malfunctioning.
In addition to the check engine light, it may also be storing an error code with your vehicle onboard diagnostics, such as P0087- Fuel rail/system pressure too low. These can be pulled out with a scan tool and sometimes can help narrow down exactly what is going on. Bad Fuel Pumps can also cause the fuel to not be supplied appropriately, which then causes misfires; these will lead to additional lights or even limp mode to save the engine from further damage.
The worst case of Fuel Pump failure will cause either stalling of the engine or not being able to start the car-a problem that will also trigger lights on. This situation is often joined by poor performance, rough idling, or extended crank times as it struggles for fuel to run efficiently.
The problem with defective Fuel Pumps was highly visible in the 2019 Toyota and Subaru recall, where millions of their models were affected since theirs could not generate sufficient fuel pressure. A check engine light with performance problems was reported by some drivers when the Fuel Pumps started to fail.
This could run anywhere from $400 to $800, depending on the make and model of your vehicle. Such warning lights should be taken care of right away, since the longer you drive with a faulty Fuel Pump, the graver the engine problem will be-and the more costly the repair.
As Henry Ford once said, "Don't find fault, find a remedy." Early detection and cure of Fuel Pump problems are often a sure way of keeping the engine healthy and preventing repairs that could be costly.
For more on Fuel Pump diagnostics and troubleshooting of warning lights, refer to Fuel Pump.