Car keeps dying, hard to start. Strange hum/whine noise near back passenger side.

[Serp]

Hello gang,

Recently my rabbit has been sick. I've first started noticing the problem a couple weeks ago, my rabbit would die when I go over train tracks. It has to be the rumbling.

But within the last few days my car will only start if I give it gasoline while I turn the key and it will die if I don't keep giving it gas for a little while. If I just start it and don't touch the gas after it's running the revs just keep dropping within 5 seconds and the car shuts off. I have to keep applying gas until the engine "warms up" or else it will die.

Also my revs have been lower than normal. Normally I rev at 1000, but now I rev at 800 or below when I'm at stops. If I'm stopped too long the revs will start to lower until the car dies.

I'm not sure what the problem is, logic would make me guess maybe a fuel pump or injector not supplying the car with enough gas? Then when I go over tracks it bumps something that cuts off fuel.


Another problem I've noticed is when the car gets warmed up, after about a 15 minute car ride there begins to be a semi-loud whining hum from back by the gas cap or fuel filter area. The back passenger fender. It sounds almost like a speaker whining, but I don't have speakers anywhere back there. Maybe it's gasoline pressure humming through the gas cap? Maybe the fuel filter whining?

I know when I take the gas cap off some pressure is release or sucked in. I'm not sure what that is a sign of, but I give it gas every few days since I drive a lot.

[briano1234]

You didn't mention the year of your car, but from all indications you have either an obstruction in your tank.
Or
A fuel pump that is going out.

If your car is newer than 84.5 then you have 2 pumps one in-tank, one external.
If your car is older than 84.5 as in a 82... Then you have one fuel pump, that is
in front of the rear axle passenger side.

The pressure that you hear is normal on the tanks.
From all indications, you have a bad fuel pump.

[le0n]

vacuum leak? check for hissing hoses while someone keeps the engine idling for you. you may also want to inspect/clean your pcv valve while you're at it.

however, i don't see this causing the car to shut off when getting a jolt or series of vibrations. this would make me suspect a MAF sensor. not sure if your engine has one though. if it does, have someone keep the car idling for you, then lightly/moderately tap on the MAF a few times to see if it makes your idle change.

good luck...

[Serp]

You didn't mention the year of your car, but from all indications you have either an obstruction in your tank.
Or
A fuel pump that is going out.

If your car is newer than 84.5 then you have 2 pumps one in-tank, one external.
If your car is older than 84.5 as in a 82... Then you have one fuel pump, that is
in front of the rear axle passenger side.

The pressure that you hear is normal on the tanks.
From all indications, you have a bad fuel pump.

1981 Convertible. Sorry. But yes, I've seen the fuel pump in the rear. My mechanic lifted the car over my head last week to get at the Tie Rod end and he showed me around the underbelly.

How long do you think my fuel pump has? It's to the point where it likes to die without me pressing the accelerator and I drive a lot for work. (Delivery.)

Anybody know where to find a cheap but new fuel pump?

Edit: I just got off the phone with my mechanic and he said it sounds like it could be my fuel filter. I'm going to try changing that today and see if there's an improvement.

[Serp]

Problem solved. Changed the Fuel Filter and the car runs great now.

[le0n]

hah hah, cool, was it something flapping in the fuel filter that made the vibration noise?

glad you got it working

[Serp]

hah hah, cool, was it something flapping in the fuel filter that made the vibration noise?

glad you got it working

The buzzing came from near the gas cap area. It could have been excess pressure releasing from the gas cap or the fuel pump working too hard. Both are in the same area. I haven't heard the noise since I changed the fuel filter and I drove for 5 hours straight yesterday so it seems like that fixed it.

[Leitmotiv]

You didn't mention the year of your car, but from all indications you have either an obstruction in your tank.
Or
A fuel pump that is going out.

If your car is newer than 84.5 then you have 2 pumps one in-tank, one external.
If your car is older than 84.5 as in a 82... Then you have one fuel pump, that is
in front of the rear axle passenger side.

The pressure that you hear is normal on the tanks.
From all indications, you have a bad fuel pump.

I think my fuel pump in my 1977 rabbit whines too. Is this normal? It doesn't happen all the time, but about once a week it's this subtle whining that goes on for a minute or two. The noise comes from the right rear area by the gas cap, probably by the right rear tire. Thoughts?

[briano1234]

That is usually a sign of an obstruction. I would look for a hose or a filter issue, if replacing the drop hose or the filter don't fix it then the pump replacement is warranted.

[Leitmotiv]

okay, I changed my fuel filter not long ago, so that's not the problem. So you think a hose located near the pump itself?

[briano1234]

That or the pick up tube is sucking air. Pumps don't whine unless they are over worked.