In a message dated 07/07/2006 9:07:04 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes: The fuel pump seemed kind of noisy when I bought my '85 westfalia. I had the filters replaced first, but the noise (kind of a loud buzzing from the pump vicinity) persisted. As the pump looked like it could be 21 years old I ordered a new Bosch from Bus Depot and had it installed. The noise has remained exactly the same, as near as I can tell. It will sometimes subside at idle and is least likely to happen right upon startup, but is otherwise pretty constant. I don't really mind apparently having replaced the pump prematurely as it was old, but what else should I be looking for? The mechanic who did the work seemed pretty unconcerned about it and said "lots of vanagons sound like that". Do they? Do I need to worry about gunk in the line making the pump work harder, or is there something else that could be making the noise? I've never actaully heard one go bad (and don't have much experience with other vanagons) so I don't really know what's "normal". The van runs great and gets reasonable mpg for an AT. The new pump's been in for about 300 miles or so.
Curt, noisy fuel pumps are an indication of fuel starvation of the pump especially if the pump is mounted as it should be on the two rubber mounts. Either your filter between the tank and pump, if you have this filter, is blocked or the tank itself has a restricted flow. The tanks do have a known problem that is quite prevalent these days as the vans get older. There is a filter screen in the bottom of the tank leading to a rubber hose that leads to the tanks exit port. The screens get blocked with rust and other debris and the hoses disintegrate. Only fix is to install a new tank without the filter screen and hose. Cheers, Frank Condelli Almonte, Ontario, Canada '87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg (Forsale) & Lionel Trains Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley _Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html) _Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm) _BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10, 2007 |
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