• Hi Guest!
    If you appreciate British Car Forum and our 25 years of supporting British car enthusiasts with technical and anicdotal information, collected from our thousands of great members, please support us with a low-cost subscription. You can become a supporting member for less than the dues of most car clubs.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

Fuel pump noise - volume increase

Share this page

R

RobWarren

Jedi Hopeful
Offline
Following a 2 hour drive on badly rutted gravel and dirt track, despite driving extremely slowly, the BJ8 was being shaken and rattled a great deal...to the point where even now it's making squeaking noises in odd places.

I noticed however, that while on this track, the fuel pump had increased dramtically its volume from a 'tic tic tic' to a 'TIC! TIC! TIC!" and sounded as though it was working hard.

There was no issue with fuel delivery, but the noise the pump was making worried me.

After a night's rest the pump seemed to be fine again and the next few days were great but there's an ever-so-slight increase in volume with the ticking now upon start-up that perhaps only a paranoid owner would notice.

Points? Diaphragm? Time for a pump service?

I'm afraid that I don't know what type of pump it is as I haven't inspected it yet - it's on the list of jobs for 2009. Late BJ8 though and I don't recall seeing a new pump on the service history from previous owners.

Rob
 
If the pump runs for 10 seconds or so when you turn on the ignition and then stops until you start the motor, it is running normally and building up fuel pressure. I always notice the pump ticking when I'm driving very slowly, but the sound is not audible at any speed over about 20 miles per hour. If the speed of ticking at idle has not changed, and the motor is running as it should, all is probably OK. All it is is an electromagnet, a diaphragm, and a set of points. If it doesn't leak, builds up pressure, and keeps the float bowls filled, it is doing its job. It is important that it stops when the float bowls fill. If it keeps running for any reason it means you have a leak somewhere. I can't think of any reason why the sound would change, and then revert to normal. On the other hand, I've come to appreciate my sixth sense with regard to any abnormalities detected by my other five senses, when I'm in the Healey. So far, taste is the only useless sense I've noted when it comes to things going wrong with the little darling.
 
Thanks Roscoe.

I might give it a test when I get home to see how long it runs for before stopping - I normally run it for 5 seconds and then start the car so I'll give it a good ten or fifteen seconds and check to see if there's any lack of pressure or a leak.

Taste isn't useless when it comes to Healeys. Afterall, a generous application of good taste was what made you appreciate them in the first place!

Rob
 
My taste comes in handy with the Grey Poupon inna glove box.
 
RobWarren said:
Following a 2 hour drive on badly rutted gravel and <span style="font-weight: bold">dirt</span> track, despite driving extremely slowly, the BJ8 was being shaken and rattled a great deal...to the point where even now it's making squeaking noises in odd places.
Click to expand...
My guess is some fine dust got into the suspension making it squeak.

RobWarren said:
I noticed however, that while on this track, the fuel pump had increased dramtically its volume from a 'tic tic tic' to a 'TIC! TIC! TIC!" and sounded as though it was working hard.
Click to expand...
I wonder if it just seemed louder because you were worried about the car and actively listening for problems?
 
I wish Greg - it was noticeably louder - to the point that I could hear it when driving along on the noisy gravel.

It would be loud and then go back to normal and then go louder again for a couple of minutes and this cycle continued for a further hour until the whole car had cooled and camped out of the night and in the morning - no dramas.
 
OK, scratch that idea. I was thinking the filter might be aerating on the bumpy road, causing the pump to suck air momentarily. But not long enough to cause the engine to stutter.
 
The other threads on noises from the fuel pump seem concerned only with the lack of the ticking noise, rather than it getting louder.

That said, the last 250 miles (3 separate trips) have been problem free - all operating normally.

I'd love to think it's just the wonderful character of the carand that she was just complaining about the road, but if anybody knows the real reason I figured this is the place to find out.
 
Fuel really sloshes around in the wide flat AH tanks, maybe you were getting nothing or bubbles in the fuel pick up, the pump will sound louder with little fuel or pressure in it.

Only other thing I can think of is the mountings, if loose or knocked loose on the bumpy road, maybe it gets looder and quieter depending on wether it is thumping against a body part or not.

Normally a little louder on start up until the pressure builds up.

If all seems to be working well maybe no cause for worry, don't know how hard it is to look on the later cars, but you might give it a quick visual in situ for leaks or anything out of the ordinary to ease your mind.
 
About your new noises,you should check the suspension for loose bolts and nuts.Shock mounts and springs,etc,can and do loosen up,and it is smart to check them at intervals according to mileage.You stated you drove a long way on bumpy roads,I would bet you will find a few loose parts,LBC's are notorious for this.Also check the fasteners in the wings,boot latch,etc.Rubber seals shrink and get loose w/ age.Let us know what you find...Wheelwright
 
Back
Top