Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2002 10:49:05 -0500
Reply-To: jvol6321 <jvol6321@POSTOFFICE.URI.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: jvol6321 <jvol6321@POSTOFFICE.URI.EDU>
Subject: weirdness x 2: RE: Another weird noise from rear (85 Westy)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"
Thanks alot for the ideas! An earlier respondent (don't have his name
accessible right now) wondered about the fuel pump possibility as well,
so maybe I should be trying some of the diagnostic techniques you and
he suggested. (I didn't realize that the fuel pump goes through those
charging cycles you mentioned, though, like I said, I'm pretty sure the
whirring kicks in after ignbition.) I definitely agree with your sense that
it
sounds like something electronic. If so, it would not--by any means--be
the first electical abnormality plaguing my van (and me).
As of a couple days ago, an older possibly smaller, but potentially much
larger problem has returned and may have something to do with the
coinciding rain we've been getting. Not sure but it seems to be a matter of
the temp guage "crying wolf." After about 15 minutes or so of highway
driving, the temp guage starts going haywire: it will abruptly shoot way up
to the max (red warning light doesn't come on, though I think it's out, since
it's also out at ignition), then moments later will return to normal, then
minutes later shoot up again. If I pull over, turn it off, and then restart,
it
will return to normal.
If the problem's not electrical and the temp guage IS reading accurately,
then these may well be symptoms of a head gasket problem, according to
my mechanic. When this apparent/real overheating happened before,
about a year ago, air was apparently getting into my coolant system (and
disabling it) and since no other leaks were apparent, the thinking was that
the source was the cylinders.
If the problem persists and the overheating seems actual, then I guess I'll
bite the bullet and bring it in, though the last thing I need is a $1,000+
(non)gift to self.
Anybody else been through this saga?
Joe
>===== Original Message From SStones <sstones@idirect.com> =====
>At 02:38 PM 12/14/02 -0500, you wrote:
>>it sounds almost exactly like the sound Bugs Bunny makes just
>>before saying "What's up, doc?": "EHHH . . . what's up, doc?" What the
heck
>>would make that sound?
>
>Fuel pump?
>You said it happens a few seconds after ignition. Is that with the engine
>started or only ignition on?
>My fuel pump is very audible during its two charging cycles before the
>engine starts (If you let it sit in the on position for a moment before
>starting). (Once started, the huge, gaping hole in the exhaust makes it
>hard to hear anything).
>If it's only making the noise with the engine running, try to locate
>it. Press against the fuel pump from beneath and see if the sound
muffles
>or changes... Run the engine with the alternator and waterpump belt off
>(For a moment when it's nice and cool) and see if the sound exists. Your
>description of it as a 'whirring' noise makes me think it's got to be an
>electric motor/generator or some sort of spinning object. I can't think of
>any way in which any of the electronics in there would make a noise,
save
>for a relay being able to buzz like a door buzzer if it's shorting out it's
>own pilot voltage.
>Hope ya find it.
| 
