Phil Harrison

[STi7 (UK)/PPP/uprated Pump]

All of a sudden the car has started to give a loud three-second buzz from behind me when I switch on, and the (obvious) consensus is "Fuel Pump". So, the almost-new Pump has been whipped out and replaced by a brand-new fuel pump. Which buzzes in exactly the same way.

Given that
a) the car ran happily for 12k miles both with and without PPP without buzzing at all.
b) the appearance of the buzz didn't coincide with the fitting of the uprated fuel pump,
c) it has continued with the replacement pump, and
d) A double-failure in an almost new component followed by a brand-new component is statistically unlikely,
does anyone have a view as to an alternative possible cause??

Cheers

Phil
PS - is there any possibility that a rear window servo is running futilely, do you think??

mutant_matt

Weird!!! You don't have much luck do you Phil??

Abbylad

iTrader: (4)

could be vibration on something when the fuel pump fires itself up

jongould-work

If its only for the first few seconds then i would have thought it was the fuel pump priming up the fuel lines. It would buzz a bit louder to start with if the lines were empty due to there being no pressure against the pump...

maybe check for a possible fuel/air leak in the pipwork somewhere. possibly a purge control solonoid failure??

Phil Harrison

Thanks Jon Gould.... tends to reinforce my intuitive feeling, I not being a motor engineer, as to what might be going on. I'll put it to my Dealer's Head Honcho!!

Cheers

Phil

submannz

Your old pump noise was probably the pump on it's way out, uprated pumps are usually noiser, my new one is actually very loud.

MARK MORRIS

my buzz coincided with the uprated ppp fuel pump being fitted, i was wondering wether or not the dealer had fitted it as there was no smell of petrol, nothing out of place in the boot, but you could hear the different noise as soon as you turn the key for the pump to prime
mark

Phil Harrison

That's the difference, Mark....I ran on the uprated pump for some weeks before the noise became apparent. Is yours as loud as an old-fashion electric radio aerial being raised?? Mine sounds exactly like my old Cavalier GSI aerial motor..... and it's not just a background hum that you can just about hear if you listen for it, but a really intrusive buzz - albeit relatively brief!

If "they all do that, sir" - well so be it, grumble grumble, should balance the rattle nicely But if it's a symptom of something being wrong elsewhere in the fuel supply system then, of course, I'm worried. There are a couple of posts, of which yours is one' saying "mine does it".....but not the flood I might have expected if they all did!!

Cheers

Phil

urban

iTrader: (1)

Phil

"Balance the rattle"?

I take it you've had no joy yet then?

Shaun

Phil Harrison

Such improvement as there was, wore off!! 7th set of components is on the high seas from Japan. Interesting to see there's a couple of '8's with the rattle, one of which (Deer Hunter's) seems a bit resistant to cure!! Take it yours has stayed away???

Regards

Phil

MARK MORRIS

hi phil
mines far noisier when priming, you can just hear it the rest of the time, i notice the difference, the wifes never commented though
mark

Phil Harrison

Ye gods!! Has anyone ever had any other marque of car for which the fuel pump is audible at all times??? Don't get me listening out..... it'll merely increase the rattle-induced paranoia

Phil