Loud Fuel Pump--problem?
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Post Fiend
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Loud Fuel Pump--problem?
There is a loud humming in in the mid section area of my wife's Aerostar ('92 3.0). It is noticable at a stop, but at speed I can't hear it (kids might in back). I suspect it is the fuel pump. Seems it has done this occasionally a couple times before in the past several months. I just changed the fuel filter (was on there 25,000 miles) and was rather restricted (hard to blow through compared to new filter). Just wondering if I maybe fried it by putting too much back pressure on it and now the bearings are going out. More important, should I take it in to be checked out now or wait and see? What happens when an electric fuel pump (presumably in the fuel tank) goes out? Will it get a whole lot more noisy first or just suddenly die? Thanks.
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Most electric fuel pumps make a quiet humming noise, but a person can't usually hear it while the engine is running at all. One way to tell is to lay underneath by the tank and have someone turn the key to the "on" position (not "start"), this should make the fuel pump run for a few seconds and then you could tell if that is the source for the loud humming. If the tank is easy to drop down I would just replace the pump...also depending on cost of a new one.
And yes, a clogged fuel filter is probably the #1 cause of electric fuel pump failure. The filter is a very simple thing to change...but people usually just forget about it.
And yes, a clogged fuel filter is probably the #1 cause of electric fuel pump failure. The filter is a very simple thing to change...but people usually just forget about it.
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Post Fiend
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Thanks, As I figured. Other than the fuel dripping all over the place, the filter is simple to change on the Aerostar, but you should see my F150. The filter is wedged up between the frame rail and the gas tank and instead of the nice simple hairpin clips it has those clips that need the special tool. Anyway, it is in the shop for a fuel filter change right now as I don't have time to fool with it anymore. I will be changing the motorhome E350's filter which is easy like the Aerostar.
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oh....to answer your last question they usually don't get any more noisy, they usually just wont start again once you shut your car off. But they wont just "suddenly" die on you when you are driving down the road, once they start pumping they wont stop until you turn the key off...and then not start again.
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From: State College, PA
What special tools are needed to remove those clips on F-150's?? I have an 87 F-150 but I didnt use any special tools. I just pulled them off with my fingers. And for that fuel filter, the previous owner never replaced the filter so I removed the two bolts that held it onto the frame and put a new filter in. =)
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It's also good to never get below 1/4 tank of fuel. The fuel surrounding the pump is what keeps it cool. If the fuel level gets too low, it will overheat the pump.
Jimmy
Jimmy
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Good reminder lxman. Also, if the pump has a foam sleeve around it, make sure that you put that back on...if it doesn't have one, you should probably put one on. Because this is the pump's only source of cooling if you do run low on gas...providing that the gas is sloshed around in the tank enough.
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Post Fiend
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Originally posted by 1987_f150
What special tools are needed to remove those clips on F-150's?? I have an 87 F-150 but I didnt use any special tools. I just pulled them off with my fingers. And for that fuel filter, the previous owner never replaced the filter so I removed the two bolts that held it onto the frame and put a new filter in. =)
What special tools are needed to remove those clips on F-150's?? I have an 87 F-150 but I didnt use any special tools. I just pulled them off with my fingers. And for that fuel filter, the previous owner never replaced the filter so I removed the two bolts that held it onto the frame and put a new filter in. =)
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