Fuel Pump Noise?

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caine0

Member

Jul 13, 2003

121

0

17

Mar 14, 2004

#1

• Mar 14, 2004

• #1

I think something might be wrong with my fuel pump. When I turn my ignition forward, before the car is started, the fuel pump comes on fine and dandy as usual. Car starts up no problem and everything. But here is my problem; while I'm driving my car I can hear what sounds like the fuel pump coming on noise, only it's a bit quieter and it doesn't repeat itself... it's like white noise coming from the back of my car in the hatch area, instead of a repeating noise if you were to turn the ignition on and off several times.

I've only been driving it for about a week and a half now, since it was parked for the past 5 months for winter. I was guessing a couple of things weren't going to last the winter, since it gets pretty cold here, so I'm just trying to figure out what didn't last and if it needs to be replaced or whatnot. To tell you the truth the sound doesn't bother me, and I can't even hear it over my stereo when it's turned up a bit, but everybody who drives in my car asks about it and it's starting to get annoying lol.

Any suggestions on what it might be, or how I can fix it? I know there's a reset button for the fuel pump, but it's only function is if the fuel lines get cut off in an accident or something right? Thanks for your help guys (and gals)

 

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TheUser

Active Member

Jul 25, 2003

1,859

1

36

Springfield, MO

Mar 14, 2004

#2

• Mar 14, 2004

• #2

caine0 said:

I think something might be wrong with my fuel pump. When I turn my ignition forward, before the car is started, the fuel pump comes on fine and dandy as usual. Car starts up no problem and everything. But here is my problem; while I'm driving my car I can hear what sounds like the fuel pump coming on noise, only it's a bit quieter and it doesn't repeat itself... it's like white noise coming from the back of my car in the hatch area, instead of a repeating noise if you were to turn the ignition on and off several times.

I've only been driving it for about a week and a half now, since it was parked for the past 5 months for winter. I was guessing a couple of things weren't going to last the winter, since it gets pretty cold here, so I'm just trying to figure out what didn't last and if it needs to be replaced or whatnot. To tell you the truth the sound doesn't bother me, and I can't even hear it over my stereo when it's turned up a bit, but everybody who drives in my car asks about it and it's starting to get annoying lol.

Any suggestions on what it might be, or how I can fix it? I know there's a reset button for the fuel pump, but it's only function is if the fuel lines get cut off in an accident or something right? Thanks for your help guys (and gals)

Click to expand...

the fuel pump whine you're describing sounds like the fuel pump is on it's last leg. The intertia (cut off switch) is in the hatch and basically cuts power to the fuel pump if you get hit so your fuel pump isn't running pumping fuel to a possible fire. If your pump were running after you turned the car off, then it would be probably a bad relay (that happened to me), but since it's just whining when you're driving, it sounds like a dying fuel pump...someone confirm this. You might consider purchasing a new pump to be prepared. Depending on mods 155, 190 lph pump would prob. be good.

 

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caine0

Member

Jul 13, 2003

121

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Mar 14, 2004

#3

• Mar 14, 2004

• #3

Thanks TheUser. Yah it only makes the sound when the car is turned on. Anybody else ever had this problem before, or are there any other possibilities? I don't want to replace something that isn't broken, like I did last week. I replaced my alternator when my problem was a bad ground

 

LT1Killa

New Member

Oct 16, 2003

192

0

0

Mar 14, 2004

#4

• Mar 14, 2004

• #4

I have the same whining fuel pump sound as caineo and was wondering the same thing as you were! I really started noticing it about a week after I installed a new fuel filter, but that could be coincidence. Well, unless I installed the filter backwards or something stupid like that.

How much is a 155 or 190lph pump and where do I find one?

 

Bone Racing

New Member

Sep 7, 2003

1,075

0

0

Long Island, NY

Mar 14, 2004

#5

• Mar 14, 2004

• #5

fuel pumps whine when they are dying
wish everything gave u a warning like that

 

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TheUser

Active Member

Jul 25, 2003

1,859

1

36

Springfield, MO

Mar 14, 2004

#6

• Mar 14, 2004

• #6

you can pick up a walbro 155 or 190 lph pump on ebay for around 100 bucks or summit might even have them. I know the BBK ones are basically walbro pumps in a BBK package...I know first hand because I paid like $125 for a 255 lph BBK pump and got a pump that said "Walbro" on the side! I'd say check www.ebay.com or summit probably has them (www.summitracing.com).

 

88stangmangt

Active Member

Nov 25, 2003

2,332

1

48

Stafford,VA

Mar 14, 2004

#7

• Mar 14, 2004

• #7

the only time they should whine is when it prime's it self when you turn the ignition.

 

ponycar17

Founding Member

Nov 17, 2001

1,367

4

38

Upstate South Carolina

Mar 14, 2004

#8

• Mar 14, 2004

• #8

My 255's been whining since I installed it, and the car still runs rich at WOT just like it should... If it's a stocker though, it might be on it's way out. My 2.3 pump started whining like crazy before it died. Strangely, the 255 in the 5.0 has whined since I installed it.

 

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caine0

Member

Jul 13, 2003

121

0

17

Mar 29, 2004

#9

• Mar 29, 2004

• #9

Damn... does anybody else's 255lph pump whine all the time since it was installed? That would be annoying, but since I always have the stereo on I guess it wouldn't be a big deal. I am probably gonna get the Walbro 255lph pump, so anybody have experience with this one? Does it whine all the time?

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

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Mar 30, 2004

#10

• Mar 30, 2004

• #10

i have also read that some pumps whine always. you could set up a gauge to watch pressure, so you can see if it is delivering properly.
also, they tend to die out when they get real hot, so be prepared.
and running them out of gas really depletes the lifespan...they are liquid cooled (gas). i doubt you have done that, but in case it was done before being garaged for winter...........
good luck.

 

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goldbomb79

Member

Jun 4, 2003

374

0

16

Indiana

Mar 30, 2004

#11

• Mar 30, 2004

• #11

well lt1 killa I would consider replacing the pump. my friend who works at ford told me that if a high miler car starts wining after a filter change it's gonna go soon. alot of time the motor is used to being bogged down from the dirty filter, and when you change it the pump starts pumping better and usually it takes a crap soon. that's what he told me anyways. my cars pump started wining so i upgraded to a 255lph because I needed a bigger one anyways. replace the filter when you change pump also. just a suggestion. I also noticed my car had to turn over a few times more to start about a week before I noticed the wining sound.

 

LT1Killa

New Member

Oct 16, 2003

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Mar 30, 2004

#12

• Mar 30, 2004

• #12

I don't quite know if my car qualifies as a high miler with only 75,000miles on the clock. lol
Thanks for everyones' input!

 

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garage91

New Member

Mar 19, 2004

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GA

Mar 30, 2004

#13

• Mar 30, 2004

• #13

Does this make sense?

Hello, I was wondering if I should install a higher performance fuel pump on a basically stock engine? Mods are coming but would it hurt anything to install a new pump before the mods? Will it run richer or what? Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

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129

Mar 30, 2004

#14

• Mar 30, 2004

• #14

naw, people do it all the time. with an AFPR, you can dial it in pretty well for whatever you are gonna do (stock, or modded). just dont go crazy on too large a pump and you should be fine.
good luck.

 

8

89lxsport50

10 Year Member

Feb 25, 2003

550

5

39

Franklin Tennessee

Mar 31, 2004

#15

• Mar 31, 2004

• #15

They all whine. At least the Ford ones do. They whine when they are brand new and get louder with age.

 

ironheart1

New Member

Mar 13, 2004

131

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0

Connecticut

Mar 31, 2004

#16

• Mar 31, 2004

• #16

On that note about "going crazy", how does one define that? Is a 255lph too much for a basically stock engine setup? I'm a total moron when it comes to EFI.

Mine has been whining since I bought the car, about 6 months/6000 miles ago. It had a lot of trouble starting for a while, but that ended up being the starter. It starts up right away and gives me no issues, so it seems to me like that whine is normal. It's not loud or anything, but I have no stereo at the moment so all I can listen to is the fuel pump whine and, currently, the sound of my open headers

Mike