93 Loyale. I've noticed lately (since it got cold, but that may or may not have anything to do with it), that there's kind of a pulsing, humming noise in the car. maybe coming from behind me? Can't hear it when I'm outside the car near the engine. Can't tell if it goes away, gets faster, or is just covered up by engine noise once I accelerate, but I don't hear it once I'm moving. Only at idle.

 

To me, it sounds like I'm in one of those cars with an antenna that extends when you turn on the car, but instead of extending, it's motor just keeps running...or like the windshield wiper fluid motor is running or something.

 

Do fuel pumps make noise when they're going out? Anyways, I don't notice any performace issues associated with the noise..

 

Any ideas?

Yeah,that will be the pump.

 

Increased noise isn`t always a sign of impending doom.

Mine has been noisy forever.

 

I would change the fuel filter regardless as a plugged filter makes the pump work harder.

Ok great, thank you. I replaced the filter against the firewall a few months back, but I remember something about another one...so I'll look that up. Thanks again.

Does it seem strange that the frequency of the humming would change when my foot is on the brake? I can only hear the pump when I'm idling, but I just noticed yesterday that when I took my foot off the brake, the frequency changed...foot back on the brake, frequency changed.

 

Just an interesting thing, or does it mean something?

 

I'm considering buying a pump just in case it decides to go out on me somewhere in the middle of nowhere Montana...

You will find it does the same thing when you use the turn signal. The pump is quite east to get at to replace. Sometimes the mounting screws twist off, and then you have to get creative.

 

I would tell you to take the sound as heed to possibly replacing the fuel pump. But i will also tell you, that it is not entirely bad, since i have seen it in several cars that ran just fine. I would consider this, at least, a common occurrence.

Great, thanks. Yeah, at first I assumed it was in the gas tank, so I was going to be lazy about replacing it, but since it sounds like it's not much harder to get at than a fuel filter, it's pretty easy. No reason to get stranded because of something like that. I figure if I replace it before it goes out, I can keep it in the car as a backup in case of failure down the road.

93 Loyale. I've noticed lately (since it got cold, but that may or may not have anything to do with it), that there's kind of a pulsing, humming noise in the car. maybe coming from behind me? Can't hear it when I'm outside the car near the engine. Can't tell if it goes away, gets faster, or is just covered up by engine noise once I accelerate, but I don't hear it once I'm moving. Only at idle.

 

To me, it sounds like I'm in one of those cars with an antenna that extends when you turn on the car, but instead of extending, it's motor just keeps running...or like the windshield wiper fluid motor is running or something.

 

Do fuel pumps make noise when they're going out? Anyways, I don't notice any performace issues associated with the noise..

 

Any ideas?

 

I have an 86 Brat that makes a humming/whinning noise as I accelerate, as soon as I let off the gas it whinds back down. the noise has always scared the hell out of me and I cannot find the source, it sounds more in front of me then behind(not fuel pump). But for now the car seems to run fine besides the busted CV