Re: 5k fuel pump longetivity

[Andrew Pawlisz <apawlisz@tufts.edu>]

Matthew,

The fuel pump comes with a built-in wire mesh screen at its intake.
Apparently, in some pre-90's audis the fuel tank lining would peel and this
crud will clog the screen.  Less gasoline flow means that the pump is not
cooled adequately and this presumably ruins the pump over time.

Audi service bulletin requires that the replacement pumps have the filter
screens removed prior to installation.  I guess that the fuel filter will
catch the crud and it is much easier and less costly to replace a fuel filter
than a fuel pump.

Andrew

Matthew Caprio wrote:

> Hi Andrew-
>
> I too have an 88 5ksq... with a noisy fuel pump.  Never changed it before
> though (only had the car about 1.5 years.)
>
> What's ths story about the mesh to remove?  Although you're asking for
> advice, you sound like you already know more than I about the topic... so,
> I'll take what I can get.
>
> TIA
>
> Matt Caprio
> Austin, TX
>
> At 02:04 PM 12/15/99 -0500, you wrote:
> >Hi All,
> >
> >I knew about the fuel pump problem that Audis are prone to.  My old 84
> >4ks had a buzzy pump for a while.  The current 88 5ksq killed its pump
> >one week after I purchased the car used last year.  I had to buy a new
> >fuel pump.
> >Well, the less-than-one-year-old pump is at it, making a loud buzzing
> >sound #@*!
> >
> >I understand that the problem might be with the Eastern European (Czech
> >o' Slovakia) manufacturer of Bosh pumps, the fuel tank lining clogging
> >the pump intake screen, or low fuel level.
> >
> >However, I would like to avoid having the fuel pump being an annual
> >"maintenance" item like flushing brakes, pentosin, or the cooling
> >system.
> >
> >When the pump was installed 10 months ago, the knuckle head who
> >installed it refused to remove the metal mesh as per my request.  He
> >just said to come back to him when I have a problem.  At $300 installed,
> >I was hoping that the pump would last a long time.  I guess that I was a
> >fool.
> >
> >My questions to the collective wisdom out there are:
> >
> >1.) how long till the pump fails to run?
> >2.) can something be done to make it run longer before it fails?
> >3.) whether these pumps have a warranty, if so how long?
> >4.) what is the cheapest source for these pumps?
> >5.) what should be done to maximize the life of a new fuel pump?
> >6.) do we know the name and the address of the person who designed it?
> >
> >Andrew, Boston, MA
> >'88 5ksq
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >