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81 vette moaning noise?

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Old Feb 12, 2007 | 07:43 PM
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Default 81 vette moaning noise?

I am in the middle of restoring my 81. I have a question. When i turn the key before starting the car there is a "moaning" noise under the hood sounds like its on the right side of the engine. It stops after 15-30 seconds. What is it? I am thinking its a fuel pump? What can I do to repair it? any idea?
Thanks guys,
Marc
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Old Feb 12, 2007 | 08:24 PM
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Stock fuel pomp is mechanical
Check blower motor
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Old Feb 12, 2007 | 10:58 PM
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Originally Posted by calwldlife
Check blower motor
Yep (Unless you recently ran over a cat).
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Old Feb 13, 2007 | 12:53 AM
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Default replace the blower?

should I replace the blower? is this normal?
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Old Feb 13, 2007 | 08:30 AM
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Originally Posted by MarcFarthing
should I replace the blower? is this normal?
On a 26 year old car everything is normal
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Old Feb 13, 2007 | 09:35 AM
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Maybe its in heat?
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Old Feb 13, 2007 | 11:11 AM
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Do you have an inflatable doll in the glove box?
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Old Feb 13, 2007 | 12:51 PM
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Have you left your wallet in the glove box? The price of gas these days.....

Does everything work OK? Can you try using a large screwdriver as a stethescope & try to narrow down where it's coming from (do this late at night, the few times I've tried it a mate always visits & wants to know why I'm holding a screwdriver handle in my ear while looking confused ).
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Old Feb 13, 2007 | 12:54 PM
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Mine moans when I don't drive it....
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Old Feb 13, 2007 | 01:18 PM
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Originally Posted by rihwoods
Mine moans when I don't drive it....
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Old Feb 13, 2007 | 01:46 PM
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All you mean senior guys out here
I just posted a similar post with similar question.

I figure it's the blower motor and It just wont turn off.
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Old Feb 13, 2007 | 02:00 PM
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Originally Posted by rajsid
All you mean senior guys out here
I just posted a similar post with similar question.

I figure it's the blower motor and It just wont turn off.
It's not supposed to turn off. It's called "flow-thru ventilation."

We are not mean. We are senile. There is a difference. We are old like our cars.

If it moans, replace it or buy it a diamond ring.
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Old Feb 13, 2007 | 05:02 PM
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Originally Posted by MarcFarthing
...there is a "moaning" noise under the hood sounds like its on the right side of the engine...

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Old Feb 14, 2007 | 08:54 PM
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Default Thanks for the help!

Keep your day jobs.. or maybe one of you guys will be the next Richard Pryor.
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Old Feb 14, 2007 | 10:01 PM
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Originally Posted by MarcFarthing
Keep your day jobs.. or maybe one of you guys will be the next Richard Pryor.
We are not trying to be rude to you but your question is difficult to analyze as there are many things that can make noise under the hood.
First the fan motor does not turn off. It's called "flow-thru ventilation." it runs all the time when the key is turned on. That is the first thing that many of us question. Some times small mice build nests in places like fan housings and they leave all sorts of things in there to make noise. Or the fan motor is just old and needs replacing. It also could be your automatic transmission making noise. UK PAUL gave you some good advise on pin pointing the noise.
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Old Feb 15, 2007 | 07:45 AM
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Mike,
As Dean suggested, it could be the blower fan. Some cooling fans we once used made a high pitched whine for a while after power up. Many would then start making a louder noise, others would start running silently (or just stop altogether). I guess a larger fan, like a blower fan, could make a deeper sound that could be described as a "moan"? Other possibilities could be that somebody has fitted an electric fuel pump & the noise is it running as it builds up pressure? Or it could be the m/c solenoid on the carb being cycled very quickly, making a rapid ticking noise that could possibly be damped by the carb body to sound like a moan. Or it could be another relay somewhere, or any one of a myriad of reasons. So try to find where it's coming from, with or without a screwdriver in your ear, or check if something isn't working that should be. With some more information somebody here might be able to help you with some constructive advice, but your initial question left you wide open! If I had a central heating problem & called a plumber to tell him that there was a moaning noise coming from one of the bedrooms I doubt if his 1st suggestion would be to bleed the radiators

Hi Dean, how's the weather in Bangkok? A couple of mate's are heading there in a week or so.
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Old Feb 15, 2007 | 08:07 AM
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Originally Posted by UKPaul
Mike,
As Dean suggested, it could be the blower fan. Some cooling fans we once used made a high pitched whine for a while after power up. Many would then start making a louder noise, others would start running silently (or just stop altogether). I guess a larger fan, like a blower fan, could make a deeper sound that could be described as a "moan"? Other possibilities could be that somebody has fitted an electric fuel pump & the noise is it running as it builds up pressure? Or it could be the m/c solenoid on the carb being cycled very quickly, making a rapid ticking noise that could possibly be damped by the carb body to sound like a moan. Or it could be another relay somewhere, or any one of a myriad of reasons. So try to find where it's coming from, with or without a screwdriver in your ear, or check if something isn't working that should be. With some more information somebody here might be able to help you with some constructive advice, but your initial question left you wide open! If I had a central heating problem & called a plumber to tell him that there was a moaning noise coming from one of the bedrooms I doubt if his 1st suggestion would be to bleed the radiators

Hi Dean, how's the weather in Bangkok? A couple of mate's are heading there in a week or so.
Hi Paul
Good advise given as always.
Weather is starting to warm up again(32+ days) But no rain and great night temps.
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To 81 vette moaning noise?

Old Feb 15, 2007 | 08:36 PM
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Originally Posted by MarcFarthing
I am in the middle of restoring my 81. I have a question. When i turn the key before starting the car there is a "moaning" noise under the hood sounds like its on the right side of the engine. It stops after 15-30 seconds. What is it? I am thinking its a fuel pump? What can I do to repair it? any idea?
Thanks guys,
Marc
You say the noise starts when you turn the key and quits after 15-30 seconds. Do you start it during that time or wait for the sound to stop first? Does it quit when engine fires or continue? How cold is it where you are? Does cold seem to be a factor? I am new to owning a Corvette but have owned many GM vehicles. I currently own an '02 silverado, and '92 and '95 Sierra's. 2 of them have blower motors that make a moaning noise at start-up. They are quiet when it's warm and very loud when it's cold out. The blower motor in the '92 Sierra has been replaced, but prior to replacement the moaning kept getting worse until it became constant. The new one started moaning in cold weather again after a couple of years. Obviously these are very different vehicles from a 'vette, but I can say I have seen blower motors make a moaning sound at start up that does quit after a brief time.

Hope it helps.
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Old Feb 15, 2007 | 08:49 PM
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The first time I heard a moaning Chevy blower motor was in my Dad's '68 Impala............a long time ago
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Old Feb 15, 2007 | 09:10 PM
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Guys..
I was joking about you being mean.
You guys are extremely helpful and I have found so much valuable information about C3's on this forum than what I have learned from Chilton or Hanes.

Originally Posted by Bangkok Dean
We are not trying to be rude to you but your question is difficult to analyze as there are many things that can make noise under the hood.
First the fan motor does not turn off. It's called "flow-thru ventilation." it runs all the time when the key is turned on. That is the first thing that many of us question. Some times small mice build nests in places like fan housings and they leave all sorts of things in there to make noise. Or the fan motor is just old and needs replacing. It also could be your automatic transmission making noise. UK PAUL gave you some good advise on pin pointing the noise.
Reply



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