Noisy Fuel Pump?

[BB]

For the past week or 10 days I've noticed that the fuel pump seems to be making some noise that I never heard before. About every 3rd start/drive is without the noise. The other 2 out of 3 starts/drives has the noise. Even with my poor hearing, the noise is loud enough to be annoying.

Anyone else have a noisy fuel pump? Am I about to have a failure?
Thanks!!
BB

[Mean Green]

The fuel pump is in the gas tank. Is that where the noise is coming from? Gasoline is what lubricates the fuel pump. If you constantly run your gas down to empty you will mess up your fuel pump. You should get gas at 1/4 tank and the fuel pump will be continually lubricated.

[CREWZIN]

Have someone stand outside your PT when you hear the sound so you can definately pinpoint the noise as coming from the gas tank.

[zzzhuh]

As soon as I took out the rear seats, the fuel pump noise was a lot more noticeable. With them in, they kind of deafen the sound a little.

I complained to the dealer, and he drove up in another GT with the seats removed and I heard the exact same sound. So I let it go as normal for this car.

[BB]

Yes, the sound is coming from the gas tank area...that's why I'm pretty sure it's the fuel pump. On a couple of occasions, I've let the fuel level get pretty low but never anything really close to running out, which I could see doing damage to the pump if it ran dry. The back seats are currently out of the car but were out for at least 2 weeks before I started to hear the noise. Guess I'll drive it until it fails or until I can't stand the noise any more. [:I]
BB

[crazie.eddie]

Anything else in the area that could be culprit? Loose fuel door, right side of a dual exhaust system, etc?

[BB]

quote:Originally posted by crazie.eddie

Anything else in the area that could be culprit? Loose fuel door, right side of a dual exhaust system, etc?

Nope. Definitely a motor noise. A whine when the PT is started. Doesn't change pitch with throttle changes but I think the fuel pump is a constant speed motor that just pressurizes the system. Am I right about that?
BB

[purplept]

My fuel pump is very noisy on my GT without the rear seats but much quieter with the rear seats installed. Maybe it's normal?

[CREWZIN]

Not to get off the PT, but I have that kind of noise when I first start my Corvette. It's normal and it's the ABS system controller doing it's thing. It's right behind the drivers seat and the first time I heard it, it scared the heck out of me.

[quicksilverdon]

quote:Originally posted by BB


Nope. Definitely a motor noise. A whine when the PT is started. Doesn't change pitch with throttle changes but I think the fuel pump is a constant speed motor that just pressurizes the system. Am I right about that?
BB

Quite sure you're correct. It's electric, not dependent on engine speed. There's a return line that sends whatever engine doesn't need at the time back to the tank.