T&C Van Noise - Fuel pump whine or ? Please Help!

Need help diagnosing the following:
Over the past 2-3 weeks my 98 TC van has begun making a
whistling/whining noise that seems to come from the middle to rear of
the vehicle and is more noticeable outside the vehcile, yet very
audible inside the vehicle. The van starts and runs flawlessly as
usual. No stalling, warning lights etc. I have a cheap OBD II Creader
and it shows no error codes. The noise usually is not present first
thing in the morning on my 10 minute drive to work. However, once the
vehicle is warm the noise is there and sometimes seems to go away when
the throttle is increased (even slightly), while at other times, it
seems to go away when you let off of the throttle? When parking, the
noise dies down about a second or two after the ignition is turned off
(sort of like pressure bleeding off). According to the local dealer it
may mean I need a new fuel pump (~$500). Before I do that, are there
any other items I should check? Could a fuel filter problem cause
these symptoms? Any other ideas? Thanks for any insights you can
provide.

 

Well you havent said the milage on this vehicle, but if the fuel filter is
getting stopped up it may be putting a strain on the pump, If you are sure
it is coming from the middle of the vehicle, that would be the the pump.
Keep in mind that some noise is normal.

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

The mileage is approx. 120K, and the noise is definitely not the usual
noise and is coming from the center/underside of the vehicle. I've had
the van for several years and this is a new and recent development. I
may try changing the filter first just to see if the situation
improves. Thanks for the feedback.

 

With that kinda mileage on it, I would replace the pump if you plan on
keeping the van, Pumps don't last forever and that noise may be the sign of
it getting ready to crap out

 

Yes, I suppose you're right, and I do plan on keeping the van for at
least a few more years. I'm just old enough to remember the days of
$10 fuel pumps that you could change in 10 minutes, so $500 seems
outrageous. I'm probably wasting time and risking a roadside breakdown
with the filter replacement, so I'll just go ahead and take the van in
for service including replacement of both the filter and the fuel pump
(especially since I just found out that you need to drop the tank to
replace the filter). Thanks for the reality check.

 

You need not drop the entire tank to replace the filter ... who told you
that was required?

 

The tank just needs to be lowered, not removed, with a floor jack this could
be done on the floor with an empty tank of gas, that is if you feel up to
sliding under the van.
Also keep in mind, you are buying a complete fuel pump module, sending unit
and all, I wouldn't recommend using an after market pump, I have seen to
many failures with those.

Good Luck

 

Thanks for the help. Can't find my Haynes manual. Do the filter
connections snap together or as someone on another forum suggested, do
they need to be heat fitted? Can I replace the pump and filter without
completely removing the tank? Any advice appreciated while I hunt for
that darn manual.

 

QUICK DISCONNECTS ON THE FILTER AND PUMP, VERY EASY . >

 

had a t&c do that myself, turned out the exhaust was crimped at the rear and
the whistling was coming from the drain hole on the bottom of the muffler
due to increased backpressure.

 

Thanks for the tip. I'll take a look at the exhaust before I buy the
new pump. In your case, was the crimp at the tip end (outlet) of the
exhaust, or somewhere else?

 

Okay, I went ahead and replaced the fuel pump and filter. Guess what?
Still have the same noise from the rear of the vehicle. Any other
ideas? Could this have something to do with the AWD or ABS? I'm not
aware of any issues with either, but there isn't much else back there
that could make noise only when the engine is running. By the way,
changing the pump and filter was not a lot of fun, but I would do it
again if I had to.

 

Why not have someone turn the key on while you listen to the back, then
disconnect the fuel pump connector and turn the key on to see if it is
gone????? The ABS pump motor is under the battery, the solonoid pack for the
ABS is under the drivers seat, it makes no noise, the only thnig in the
back would be the fuel pump.....are you hearing a normal noise??

 

Already tried listening underneath with the key on, and with the van
running. Since replacing the pump & filter, the sound has not changed.
I really doubt that both pumps would make exactly the same noise. As
I said earlier, the noise is not normal and began about 3 weeks ago.
It is loud enough to be easily heard inside the van with the windows up
and engine running. Perhaps the noise is actually coming from some
other area under the van since it is sort of a low pitched whistling
that is almost impossible to pinpoint. I don't see any fluid leaks,
but perhaps what I'm hearing is really a vacuum or pressure leak? Or
maybe it is coming from near the engine compartment, I just don't know
anymore. I'll do some more checking tomorrow.

 

Well yea, if it is coming from somewhere else that would explain it. Take a
piece of heater hose and place it to your ear and use it as a stethoscope
around the engine compartment to see if you can pinpoint it

There is a vacuum hose going to the LDP (leak detection pump) just under
the transmission, if that hose was off or broken you would hear a leak,
BUT... the check engine lamp should be on setting a fault code for a leak
detection pump failure....is that lamp on?

 

There are no warning lamps on (although all seem to be working when the
key is turned on). There are no fault codes. I will do some more
checking as soon as I can.