2002 T/C Fuel Pump Question

I have a 2002 T&C with 26,000 miles on it - so far no problems. What I've
noted over the last 2 years is if I don't use the car at all for 3 or more
days - when the engine starts I get a whine from the rear of the car for 2
or 3 minutes (standing still, driving) etc. It gradually just dies out and
does not come back. If I use the car everyday - then I never hear the
whine. Since the noise starts when I'm turning the key before the starter
engages I'm assuming its a fuel pump. Is this a common problem or has
anyone else encountered it? If so, what was the resolution? I hate taking
it in for service when I can't duplicate the noise for the service
technicians but I am concerned the fuel pump may just someday seize and
leave me stranded.

 

When you first turn the key on your fuel pump powers up and pressurizes the
system, some noise is normal. If the fuel filter is getting stopped up it
may cause the pump to strain which will cause a louder then normal operation
of the pump.

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

Followed by eventual failure of the pump due to the strain! If you haven't
done it already, 3 years is way too long to have the same fuel filter. Get
it changed. If it's still noisy, then it's just the pump, and it will die
when it dies. The filter is less than $50, the pump is way more expensive +
cost of tearing the tank off the vehicle.

 

really 3 years wow some d.c cars have a 100k service time frame on the
fuel filters like the 300m

 

I think that's because DC has gone to the "fuel filter is part of the fuel
pump" mode in that vehicle like they have on my 2004 T+C. In fact, there is
no filter except for the pick-up strainer. See:
http://n2qew.dyndns.org/DC T&C/2004 t&c Fuel Pump.jpg If it's got an
external fuel filter as the 2002's do, it's not asking too much to replace
the filter occasionally.

 

Untill you get a tank of contaminated fuel on some of these vehicles and
then what>?