fuel pump noise ?

don911 · don911's Garage

When I pulled into the parking lot today, the car seemed to vibrate a little more than normal while at idle. When I turned the motor off (key still on), I heard what sounded like a fan running in the front. (I don't have an A/C cond. fan btw.) I think it was the fuel pump. It sounded like a fan with something hitting the blade. I don't think it could have been the oil cooler fan because the car wasn't warm enough for the oil cooler fan to turn on. Plus, the oil cooler fan runs even when the ignition is off. When the key was in the "on" position, the noise was there.
After work, I couldn't recreate the noise and the car ran fine on the way home.
Wondering if this is pending fuel pump failure. I did a search and it sounded like the pump either works or doesn't. Has anyone had any experience with a ticking fuel pump?

don911 · don911's Garage

Anyone?

Paulporsche · 07:25 PM

Do you have a fresh air blower in front of the dash?

Do you have a blower in the smuggler's box?

I think I would also try the oil cooler fan and any others you have by turning them by hand to see if I could get that blade hitting sound.

The fuel pumps do sometimes make noises, but I've only heard a buzzing sound from them. And that often (but not necessarilly) means they are on their way out.

How loud was the noise? Was it regular or irregular in frequency?
Could it have been a relay or something electrical arcing?

If I heard a ticking type noise in the rear I might be thinking pulled stud or exhaust leak or valves.

Jeff Alton · 07-20-2004, 07:25 PM

Fuel pumps can tend to make a buzzing sound for a while before they fail. It also may have had something blocking the pick-up.

Jeff

RoninLB · 07-20-2004, 07:30 PM

he's gotta confirm from where the noise is coming from.

don911 · don911's Garage

No smuggler box blower any more. I think it had to have been the fuel pump. It was up front and only came on when I had the ignition on. My oil cooler fan has only been on one time at the track. It was from wheel/brake temperature and not oil. It stayed on even when the ignition was off.
Looks like I get to spend another $190 tomorrow. At least it didn't just give it up on the freeway during rush hour traffic.

don911 · don911's Garage

Yes, I should clarify "up front". I could hear the noise inside the car but it was for sure coming from the very front of the car when standing next to the RF tire.

Paulporsche · 07-20-2004, 08:00 PM

Isn't the RF fender where your oil cooler/fan are located?

RoninLB · 07-20-2004, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by don911

I think it had to have been the fuel pump.

ok.. then the bearings wear gradually.. a little noise slowly gets louder.. you may have 5k-10k mi left till kaput.. but No guarantee it'll work tomorrow. I didn't see a model so I figure you should also get new mount bushing and a double order of copper seal rings, clean elec contacts and use dielectric.. if you need a quick motor heads up do a current drain test. . may want to replace fuel tank strainer if over 100k mi and replace tank to pump line.

don911 · don911's Garage

Paul,
Yes on the RF cooler fan. The oil temp wasn't high enough to kick on the fan. I thought that's what it was at first but I think the fan stays on even when the ignition is off. At least that's what I thought it did the one time it's been on.

Can anyone verify that the oil cooler fan will stay on even when the ignition is off? until the temp fall of coarse.

Car is an 87 btw.

mr.bch · 07-21-2004, 06:32 PM

My SC fuel pump started whining (or buzzing) louder and louder before I replaced it. Not familiar with the 87 wiring to answer your above question. Seems like the speed of which a fuel pump would spin would create a very fast ticking, ig it did. That is my $0.02.

moosthuizen · moosthuizen's Garage

I had a lot of "grinding" type noise coming from my fuel pump. I replaced the old pump with a very expensive new one.

Upon investigating the old pump I discovered that it was because of dirt inside that it was noisy. Took the car for a test drive, and found that the new pump was making the exact same noise, I was swearing a lot at that stage.

Checked the tank and it was OK, I gues I filled the car with dirty fuel at some stage. Drained the tank, cleaned the old pump put it back, and no noise. So I spent a lot of money for nothing!

Might be worth checking it out.

Marius
80 911 sc