This van has had a couple of fuel pumps, no surprise there, and i need to look through my paperwork and find out how many miles the current one has on it, but it has the STRANGEST habit i've ever had on any vehicle. Starts fine, runs fine, no fuel pump noise when van is running, and when you turn it off, the fuel pump creeks on and off for several minutes. I mean a strange creaking noise almost like a shorted electrical device or a vehicle's brakes when you park it on a hill and the breaks creak as it settles into place. I'm probably doing a lousy job of describing this but i don't know how else to describe it! ALSO, if you lay under the van and wait til it stops creaking, you can tap the bottom of the tank and it will creak for a few more seconds. You can tap repeatedly and make it creak more. HUH?????
Is it haunted?
Is it about to explode?
Can i trust it on a road trip?

thx
86scotty

 

Sounds like it may be a pressure leak around the pump housing o-ring on top of the tank?
Next time, try loosening the gas cap after shutdown and see if the noise is still there.

 

Thx Lxman, I'll try that. I'm taking a long trip this summer and I've already been thinking I would just take a new fuel pump with me, but not an easy repair on the road. I really need to figure it out before I leave.

Thx

 

Sounds like a bad fuel vapor return roll over valve in the top of tank to me.
Its hose going to the Fuel Vapor Canister may be plugged or pinched shut also.

 

Subford, thanks, i'll try to check that out too. Unfortunately i just have a Haynes book on this van, so no really great diagrams/locations. Do you know where that canister/hose is? Is it under the hood on a van, you think? Also, if anyone could tell me if it's a big deal if that's the case, please let me know. Meaning, will it cost me fuel mileage or cause me to breakdown eventually? or is it just emissions stuff. I really don't look forward to pulling this 35 gallon tank if i don't really need to!!!

thx

 

Yes the canister is in the engine compartment and the hose runs form it to the rollover valve on top of the tank.
And as Jimmy said above loosen the fuel cap and see if it goes away. If it does not then it is not what I was talking about.
We need to find out what is doing it before we can tell you if it's a big deal.

 

Very good point. I've got to pull it out of the carport this weekend anyway. I'll take it for a drive and see if i can reproduce the symptoms, then i'll try loosening the cap.
Thanks very much for the advice, i'll keep you posted.