Is fuel pump whine normal?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,826
Likes: 1
From: Plymouth Wisconsin
St. Jude Donor '11-'12
Is fuel pump whine normal?
I havent had my car for very long (2 months or so)
but the pump does whine. I dont know if it was ever swapped out as there are quite a few mods done to it.
Just wasnt sure if this is common in vettes
but the pump does whine. I dont know if it was ever swapped out as there are quite a few mods done to it.
Just wasnt sure if this is common in vettes
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,376
Likes: 404
From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
No, it was a problem for the first year, and the fix was a technical service bulletin by GM...if your car is a 97 it would have a sticker from the dealership showing the free 
repair was completed...
repair was completed...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 4
From: Concord California
From what I've heard, yes, there is some whining that can be heard from the drivers seat. You can add a layer of insulation to the back of the seat wall under the carpet, that should help cut down it a little. The fuel pump is directly behind your lower back and I hear mine from day one.. If you get a new muffler system, like I did (FlowMaster) then open the window and you will only hear music... Enjoy the ride.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 738
Likes: 0
From: Tuscaloosa AL
Do you hear it when you turn the iginition switch to the 'on' position?
Does it happen every time you drive your vette?
Does it get worse as you drive long distances?
Does it go away after driving for a while?
Does it get louder as the fuel level drops in the tank?
Do you hear any variences in the sound when you press the gas, turn on your blinker or turn on the radio?
Have you put your ear to the car and listened for where it is the loudest?
Check this link out. This is what has been happening to mine:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...side-area.html
Also, if you do a search for "fuel pump" in the tech section you will find a TON of other threads about the noisy fuel pump. It is a common issue.
From what I have read it is common among the 97-98 years. GM redesigned it in 99 and should be quieter but it still happens in the 99-04 year models. It doesnt mean the pump is going out. Mine just started making the noise about 2 weeks ago. I'm having it checked just to be safe.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 4
From: Concord California
Yes, all of the below, again it's not a very loud whine, but you can hear it if you are at a stop sign and kinda focus on it. Yes it goes up in noise with acceleration, and when signaling, it goes up and down with the voltage drop. It's livable in my vette, yours may be very loud. Could be a worn fuel pump. Try insulating the pump itself if you can.
Do you hear it when you turn the iginition switch to the 'on' position? .. a little
Does it happen every time you drive your vette?....Yes
Does it get worse as you drive long distances?.... No, same constant
Does it go away after driving for a while?.....No
Does it get louder as the fuel level drops in the tank?.... No
Do you hear any variences in the sound when you press the gas, turn on your blinker or turn on the radio?.. Yes on blinker, no because the radio over rides the noise.
Have you put your ear to the car and listened for where it is the loudest?... Yes, behind the driver seat lower left hip area against the back wall under the carpet.
Hope that helps.. You have what most of us have.. maybe louder than most. See a dealer if you can't stand that noise... Good luck and enjoy the ride (with the radio on).
Do you hear it when you turn the iginition switch to the 'on' position? .. a little
Does it happen every time you drive your vette?....Yes
Does it get worse as you drive long distances?.... No, same constant
Does it go away after driving for a while?.....No
Does it get louder as the fuel level drops in the tank?.... No
Do you hear any variences in the sound when you press the gas, turn on your blinker or turn on the radio?.. Yes on blinker, no because the radio over rides the noise.
Have you put your ear to the car and listened for where it is the loudest?... Yes, behind the driver seat lower left hip area against the back wall under the carpet.
Hope that helps.. You have what most of us have.. maybe louder than most. See a dealer if you can't stand that noise... Good luck and enjoy the ride (with the radio on).
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,221
Likes: 118
From: Matthews NC
I have a '98 and mine whines after driving it for on the highway for a while. In town driving doesn't seem make it change pitch. Hopefully it's just a nuisance and won't leave me stranded!
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,826
Likes: 1
From: Plymouth Wisconsin
St. Jude Donor '11-'12
Mine is a 98
i dont drive it a lot. maybe every other weekend or so. but from what i recall, its constant.
it never changes pitch even with blinker or radio. It doesnt bother me. Just wondering if its something I should be careful for. I've only filled it up twice and both times I have added techron.
i dont drive it a lot. maybe every other weekend or so. but from what i recall, its constant.
it never changes pitch even with blinker or radio. It doesnt bother me. Just wondering if its something I should be careful for. I've only filled it up twice and both times I have added techron.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 738
Likes: 0
From: Tuscaloosa AL
Yes it goes up in noise with acceleration, and when signaling, it goes up and down with the voltage drop.
Does it get worse as you drive long distances?.... No, same constant
Does it go away after driving for a while?.....No
Does it get louder as the fuel level drops in the tank?.... No
Does it get worse as you drive long distances?.... No, same constant
Does it go away after driving for a while?.....No
Does it get louder as the fuel level drops in the tank?.... No
Everything I listed in your quote should be the opposite of your answers. I would like to hear from more seasoned Vette owners though.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,376
Likes: 404
From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
did you pop the hood yet and look for the recall stickers? if that car was ever in for service the dealer would have automatically switched out the bad pump for the improved design....ALL early C5s have qualified for the free replacement....LOOK FOR THE STICKER...USUALLY NEAR THE RADIATOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,826
Likes: 1
From: Plymouth Wisconsin
St. Jude Donor '11-'12
just looked. the only sticker I saw was for the serpentine belt orientation
is there a database for all recalls that should have been done so I know if theres something else I can have swapped out? or to check if mine was done already?
is there a database for all recalls that should have been done so I know if theres something else I can have swapped out? or to check if mine was done already?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,376
Likes: 404
From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Noblesville Indiana
This just happened to me on my trip to Bowling Green... Pulled off the interstate after driving from Indianapolis and there was a whine. Did a search on here about fuel pump whine as soon as I got in the hotel and found that on hot days or long drives this isn't uncommon. However, mine goes away when not driving long distances in hot weather.
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
So what did you end up doing?
Yes, all of the below, again it's not a very loud whine, but you can hear it if you are at a stop sign and kinda focus on it. Yes it goes up in noise with acceleration, and when signaling, it goes up and down with the voltage drop. It's livable in my vette, yours may be very loud. Could be a worn fuel pump. Try insulating the pump itself if you can.
Do you hear it when you turn the iginition switch to the 'on' position? .. a little
Does it happen every time you drive your vette?....Yes
Does it get worse as you drive long distances?.... No, same constant
Does it go away after driving for a while?.....No
Does it get louder as the fuel level drops in the tank?.... No
Do you hear any variences in the sound when you press the gas, turn on your blinker or turn on the radio?.. Yes on blinker, no because the radio over rides the noise.
Have you put your ear to the car and listened for where it is the loudest?... Yes, behind the driver seat lower left hip area against the back wall under the carpet.
Hope that helps.. You have what most of us have.. maybe louder than most. See a dealer if you can't stand that noise... Good luck and enjoy the ride (with the radio on).
Do you hear it when you turn the iginition switch to the 'on' position? .. a little
Does it happen every time you drive your vette?....Yes
Does it get worse as you drive long distances?.... No, same constant
Does it go away after driving for a while?.....No
Does it get louder as the fuel level drops in the tank?.... No
Do you hear any variences in the sound when you press the gas, turn on your blinker or turn on the radio?.. Yes on blinker, no because the radio over rides the noise.
Have you put your ear to the car and listened for where it is the loudest?... Yes, behind the driver seat lower left hip area against the back wall under the carpet.
Hope that helps.. You have what most of us have.. maybe louder than most. See a dealer if you can't stand that noise... Good luck and enjoy the ride (with the radio on).
