Fuel Pumps Issues

[MBEARDEN]

I noticed a whirring sound the other day driving my 03 Zetec Birkin...the sound seemed to be coming from the engine area but is the fuel pump. This has happened twice, both times in very hot weather...over 100 degrees. Most of the time when I start it the fuel pump runs for 5-8 seconds and then is silent. Now it is running non-stop. If I turn the car off it and restart it...it runs for5-8 seconds and them stops...drive a while and then whirring starts. Someone has bonded the trunk interior to the car...If I have to remove it to change the fuel pump it will have to be cut out and replaced.

 

The car runs fine...no problems.

 

 

Any thoughts?

[slomove]

Might be cavitation. There have been Birkins of a certain vintage that had a sintered filter in the suction tube. At higher temperatures, the vacuum on the suction side of the pump caused the fuel to bubble. But mostly that led to loss of fuel pressure and eventual stall, too.

 

The only way to solve this was cutting out the filter inside the tank, which must be difficult.

[Automoda]

Yeah. My 2003 does that too. Only on super hot days. It doesnt matter to me though because I have a swirl tank. The low pressure pump can cavitate all it wants... within reason.

 

Having your fiberglass 'boot insert' glued in is going to cause you a headache sooner or later. Its not like I take mine out much, but it sure makes working on the back end easier! I can see why you wouldnt want to fool with removing it though. What a headache!

[MBEARDEN]

Both times the pump has done this the tank has been less that half full...I will fill it up and see if that helps...it's only supposed to be 105 today. I expect the builder in Illinois bonded the fiberglass tub to the body...no reason to do it that way...must have thought it would stiffen the car. It will be a mess to cut it out.

[slomove]

My '98 Birkin had the boot tub also glued with silicone to the skin/frame. I used a sharp box cutter to go all around and cut a single straight slit through the sealant. Now it goes back in and out and still looks reasonable.

[slomove]

Both times the pump has done this the tank has been less that half full...I will fill it up and see if that helps...it's only supposed to be 105 today. I expect the builder in Illinois bonded the fiberglass tub to the body...no reason to do it that way...must have thought it would stiffen the car. It will be a mess to cut it out.

 

Do you have an in-tank pump? That would be unusual for a Birkin (as far as I know) but if so, yes they need to be submerged or at least splashed with fuel to keep cool.

[jlumba81]

Is it fuel line routed near any hot parts? Maybe extra fuel line insulation by the transmission or in the engine bay is needed.

[MBEARDEN]

Is it fuel line routed near any hot parts? Maybe extra fuel line insulation by the transmission or in the engine bay is needed.

 

 

If I am not mistaken the fuel line runs through the console...a few weeks ago I lined the inside of the console with Eastwood heat insulation with the foil refective layer...which made a dramatic improvement in cockpit temp...but maybe the heat is boiling the fuel in the line?