2001 Acura CL Type S fuel pump relay work starts by naming the part correctly: on this car it is the factory PGM-FI main relay—an under-dash dual-relay module that briefly powers the fuel pump at key-ON and while the engine runs—not a random under-hood cube. Below: how to identify it, where DIY and owner reports place it, which hot/no-prime cues often point here, how to approach access without inventing pin maps, how to treat reported OE strings as catalog candidates, which sibling pages own fuse/amp/wiring/voltage jobs, and when to browse a Kangsong electric pump kit only if the pump itself is next.
Identify the PGM-FI Main Relay on a 2001 CL Type S
It is the factory dual-relay PGM-FI main relay that briefly powers the pump at key-ON and while running.
On the 2001 Acura CL Type S, drivers, forums, and counters often say “fuel pump relay,” “main relay,” or “PGM-FI relay” for the same module.
A workshop description for the CL Type S V6-3.2L SOHC explains the factory layout: the PGM-FI main relay contains two separate relays. One energizes with ignition ON and supplies battery voltage to the ECM/PCM, the injectors, and power for the second relay.
The second relay supplies power to the fuel pump for about two seconds when the ignition is switched ON (II), and again while the engine is running. That Fuel pump prime window is why many owners listen for a short buzz at key-ON. If the module drops out after a hot soak, you can crank with a healthy starter and still never build rail pressure.
DIY write-ups on 2nd-gen CL Type-S cars also describe the module as a black multi-pin housing (often discussed as a seven-pin connector form) that plugs into a harness. Treat ISO cube shopping for contact amperage as a different problem than replacing this OE-style main relay.
| What people call it | What it actually is on this car | What it is not |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel pump relay | PGM-FI / main relay dual module | A random under-hood cube with no VIN match |
| Main relay | Same dual-relay package | Only an injector relay with no pump feed |
| PGM-FI relay | Factory programmed-FI main relay | A generic aftermarket ISO amp-selection part by itself |
2001 Acura CL Type S Fuel Pump Relay Location
Independent guides place the 2001 acura cl type s fuel pump relay location under the driver’s dash near the steering column—not a random under-hood cube.
Second-gen Acura CL Type-S DIY guides consistently put the module on the driver’s side below the steering column. Owner threads on AcuraZine and Reddit for ’01 3.2CL Type-S cars use the same language: under the dash, just left of the steering column, often near the brake-pedal area once the lower panel is down.
Access usually means moving the seat back, removing a side dash trim piece and the lower kick panel (watch the instrument-dimmer connector), then looking up into the footwell for a Brown connector / grey-black housing.
Important: Some forum replies on adjacent Honda/Acura platforms claim a “fuel pump relay” lives in the driver’s cabin fuse box (The Track Ahead locate write-up). For the 2001 CL Type S PGM-FI main relay job, treat those replies as confusion risk. Stick to the under-dash CL Type-S DIY consensus and confirm on your VIN before you start swapping fuse-box cubes.
Illustrative photos here show the footwell idea; they are not OEM service-manual plates. Your trim clips and harness routing can differ slightly by year and prior repair work.
Hot Soak, No Prime, and Related Failure Cues
Intermittent hot crank/no-start with no fuel-pump buzz often leads owners here—still sanity-check fuses and supply voltage.
From the field: Owner reports describe a pattern that matches many Honda/Acura PGM-FI stories: the car cranks fine, dash electrics look normal, but there is no fuel-pump prime buzz on key-ON—especially after a heat soak—then it may start again after a cool-down (Reddit r/Acura ’01 CL-S thread). DIY authors point to Solder-joint heat failure on the module’s circuit board as a common mode, sometimes so fine it needs magnification.
That pattern is useful triage language. A blown fuel-pump fuse, a weak battery, a failed pump, or a wiring open can mimic the same silence at key-ON. Inspect the PGM-FI module early, then rule adjacent causes with the sibling guides linked below.
After a successful replacement, CL Type-S DIY reports often describe the return of an immediate fuel-pump prime and a clean start—another practical cue that the module was interrupting pump power.
Access Checklist Without Inventing Pin Maps
Use lower-dash access clues—trim, panel, brown connector, and the common bracket fastener—then stop short of homemade terminal charts.
A practical access sequence from independent CL Type-S DIY work looks like this:
- Disconnect the battery negative when you will unplug or remove the module.
- Move the driver’s seat fully rearward.
- Remove the side dash trim and lower panel fasteners (DIY notes often call out a Phillips screw plus clips; mind the dimmer connector).
- Look up toward the steering column for the brown connector into the black/grey relay housing.
- Unplug the connector first.
- Remove the bracket fastener (commonly a 10 mm bolt/nut in DIY write-ups) and bring the bracket plus module down as a unit when possible.
DIY authors warn that molded numbers on the relay body may not match the numbering used in service-manual test charts. If you need continuity tests, follow the OEM service-manual terminal numbering for your VIN.
Aftermarket replacements may look physically larger than the original while still sharing the connector and bracket pattern. Side-by-side pin alignment matters more than shell cosmetics. If the connector will not seat without force, stop and re-check the part selection.
Buy Path: Verify OE Candidates Before You Order
Treat reported 39400-family strings as candidates and confirm connector form plus a VIN-linked catalog before paying.
Community and DIY sources commonly list Honda/Acura candidate numbers 39400-S82-A01 superseded by OEM candidate 39400-S84-003 for this main-relay family. Use those strings as starting candidates. Confirm the number in a VIN-linked parts catalog, match the connector form and bracket style, and prefer suppliers that show the supersession path when the older string is obsolete.
Tip: Forum comments sometimes cite aftermarket multi-purpose relays (for example a Wells-class listing on a locate thread). Those are shopping examples from other owners—not Kangsong SKUs and not a guarantee for your VIN (The Track Ahead replace write-up). Match connector, mounting, and catalog supersession first.
| Buy-path check | Pass signal | Fail / stop signal |
|---|---|---|
| VIN-linked catalog | Candidate OE matches your year/model/engine | Only a marketplace title with no catalog tie |
| Connector form | Pin count and latch match the brown harness plug | Force-fit or missing latch features |
| Mount / bracket | Module seats on the original bracket path | Bracket cut or adapter required without documentation |
| Supersession | Catalog shows 39400-S82-A01 → 39400-S84-003 (or current) | Seller asserts “universal Honda relay” with no form match |
| Adjacent sanity | Fuse and battery voltage already ruled in | Silent pump with an open fuse still ignored |
Kangsong does not publish an Acura CL Type S PGM-FI relay SKU in the product evidence for this article. Skip inventing an OE interchange on the pump catalog.
When to Use Fuse, Amp, Wiring, or Voltage Guides Instead
Soft-link amp sizing, Ron Francis wiring kits, fuse tests, electrical problems, and low-voltage causes.
This page owns identification, location, and OE-module buy discipline for the 2001 CL Type S. Hand adjacent jobs to the matching guides:
- Need contact amp class or ISO mini vs micro for an aftermarket cube? Use What Size Relay for Fuel Pump.
- Building a relayed aftermarket pump feed with ISO pins and failsafe triggers? Use Ron Francis Wiring Electric Fuel Pump Relay Kit.
- Checking fuse identity or blown-fuse patterns? Start with Fuel Pump Fuses and How to Test a Fuel Pump Fuse.
- Broader no-pump / wiring opens / ground issues? See Fuel Pump Electrical Problems.
- Low supply voltage to the pump as a root-cause map is a separate article in the same cluster (publish in parallel when live).
Keeping those fences prevents one thin page from trying to be a full electrical textbook.
Choose a Kangsong Electric Pump Kit After Relay Diagnosis
If the pump—not the OE relay—is next, browse products-root and match WP 2551–2554 OE lists; never as Acura PGM-FI substitutes.
Once the PGM-FI module, fuses, and supply path are sorted, some cars still need a pump or install kit.
Kangsong’s commercial path here is the products-root catalog plus Electric fuel pump with installation kit products such as the electric gasoline fuel pump with installation kit (product ID 2551) and related listings 2552–2554.
Those pages document pump/install hardware inside their on-page OE/year lists. They are not Acura CL Type S PGM-FI relay replacements, and this site package does not forge an Acura OE interchange onto them.
Use the catalog match lists the same way you would at a careful counter: year, engine, and OE cross-reference on the product page first; then order. If no CL Type S pump SKU appears, stay on products-root search rather than forcing a wrong vehicle family.
FAQ
Is the PGM-FI relay the same as the fuel pump relay on a 2001 CL Type S?
Yes in ordinary service language: the factory PGM-FI main relay is the dual-relay module that powers the fuel pump at key-ON and while running, so owners and counters often call it the fuel pump relay.
Where is the 2001 Acura CL Type S fuel pump relay located?
Independent CL Type-S DIY guides and ’01 owner reports place it under the driver’s dash near the steering column (footwell / left-of-column area), not as a default under-hood cube.
Why is there no fuel pump buzz when I turn the key on?
The factory description gives the pump a short prime at ignition ON (II). Missing buzz with crank/no-start—especially after heat—often points owners at the PGM-FI module, but also check fuses, battery voltage, and the pump itself.
What OEM part numbers are commonly listed for this relay?
DIY and forum sources commonly discuss 39400-S82-A01 superseded by 39400-S84-003. Treat those as candidates and confirm in a VIN-linked catalog with connector/mount match before purchase.
Should I look in the under-hood fuse box first?
For this CL Type S PGM-FI main relay job, under-dash DIY consensus is the primary place. Under-hood “fuel pump relay” replies on other platforms are a known confusion risk—skip stopping at a random cube because a title matched.
Can I use a generic high-amp cube relay instead of the PGM-FI module?
Not as a drop-in for this OE dual-relay package. Amp-class ISO cube selection is a different aftermarket wiring problem—see the what size relay for fuel pump guide.
Does Kangsong sell a replacement Acura PGM-FI relay for the CL Type S?
No verified Acura CL Type S PGM-FI relay SKU is in the product evidence used here. Kangsong’s related path is electric pump / install kits matched by on-page OE lists after the relay diagnosis.
What should I check before condemning the relay?
Confirm battery state, listen for prime, inspect related fuel-pump fuses, and only then commit to module access. Use the fuse-test and electrical-problems siblings for meter work outside this locate/buy scope.
