was smelly car, now is fuel pump whining, 89 90q

[Mark W. Byrum, Jr.]

I purchased my '89 80Q about a year ago with a "whiny" fuel pump.  Having
experience with a prior fuel pump on a '90 100 which starting singing and then
failed, I immediately purchased and replaced the fuel pump and filter.  The new
pump also "whines" (albeit a little quieter), but at least I have the
satisfaction of knowing it is a new pump and not likely to be on its last legs.
The moral of the story: sometimes new pumps whine too.  However, as has been
said, the sudden beginning of a loud whine and the changing of pitch may signal
impending doom.
HTH,
Mark

Richard Beels wrote:

> Buzzing is normal since it's outside the tank but changing pitch during
> driving is a sign of impending failure.  :-(
>
> You really want to change the filter at the same time.  Since the fuel
> lines are most likely all corroded and nasty, you want to replace them as
> well.  The fittings all copper crush washers so get those too.  I seem to
> recall them all being different sizes.  Your accumulator is most likely fine.
>
> The line from the tank to the pump should be fine.  The line from the pump
> to the accumulator will most likely be shot or will fall apart when you
> take it off.  The same for ht eline between the accumulator and the
> filter.  The painful thing is that the fuel line from the filter to the
> engine bay is one (really long) piece and you really only need the
> fuel-filter end because you can cut it and sleeve/clamp it together.  If
> you can get just this end, all the better.
>
> It's much easier to do if you clamp off the line from the tank and then cut
> the line coming out of the filter.  Then, after disconnecting the pump's
> wiring, you can remove the whole assembly and rebuild it on the
> workbench.  No smoking, disconnect the battery to eliminate any sparking
> possibilities, wrap/cover the joints with a big rag when opening them -
> fuel pressure.  The most amazing thing is that those little things hold
> about 3 gallons of gas.  Just kidding, but you will never get it all out -
> you think you have and then more starts pouring out all over the bench and
> you....  :-)
>
> The bosch filter is $12.  The pumps runs from 180-200 or so.  The lines and
> washers are (supposedly) dealer-only but Rod (TPC) might have them...
>
> At 01:15 12/06/2001,  Nathan Engelbert was inspired to say:
> >This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
> >--
> >[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
> >Last week, I emailed the list regarding my car smelling like gasoline
> >after having driven it and letting it sit.  The fuel pump was buzzing, but
> >I figured that to be "normal."  This evening, while driving around town,
> >the FP began to whine, or something in that general vicinity began to
> >whine.  The whine increased in pitch as I accelerated, and came and
> >disappeared intermittently.
> >
> >A solution I was given for the smell was that an evaporative return hose
> >may have cracked under the car, would that make this noise.
> >
> >Is this my fuel pump?  Could it just be the fuel filter/a return
> >hose/something under $180 needing replacing?  I have to drive 300 miles in
> >a week (Chicago to Dayton), so I need to get whatever this is fixed PRONTO.
> >
> >If so, what's a good source for this part?  Zygmunt has one for $169, and
> >the parts connection seems to have fuel pumps on special right now.
> >
> >TIA,
> >
> >Nathan Engelbert
> >89 90q
> >--
>
> Cheers!