Walbro Fuel Pump: strange noise...any ideas?
05-01-2006, 04:44 PM
#1
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Walbro Fuel Pump: strange noise...any ideas?
I got home from work today and grabbed my laptop to tune some ping out of the 1600RPM range. After I was done, I got out of my 4R and heard a "new" sound while it was idling. This is going to sound funny, but the best way to describe it is that it sounds just like a late model Chevy truck at idle. Ever heard one? There is a very distinct "buzzing" noise while it's running.
Anyway, that's the new noise I have. It doesn't increase when I rev it. It stays constant. It sounds like an electric motor spinning inside of a box. I am 95% sure it is coming from my fuel tank because I pulled my rear seat forward and put my ear near the top of the tank. It was louder when I did that.
I have experienced no performance changes over the past few weeks. MPG has remained steady.
I hope this noise isn't the fuel pump announcing that it plans to croak on me.
Any thoughts? Can someone listen to their Walbro-equipped rig and see if they have the same noise?
Thanks!
Anyway, that's the new noise I have. It doesn't increase when I rev it. It stays constant. It sounds like an electric motor spinning inside of a box. I am 95% sure it is coming from my fuel tank because I pulled my rear seat forward and put my ear near the top of the tank. It was louder when I did that.
I have experienced no performance changes over the past few weeks. MPG has remained steady.
I hope this noise isn't the fuel pump announcing that it plans to croak on me.
Any thoughts? Can someone listen to their Walbro-equipped rig and see if they have the same noise?
Thanks!
05-01-2006, 06:40 PM
#3
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Fremont, CA
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Christian----the Walbro pumps DO make noise. You probably just didn't pay much attention to it before. Mine makes noise like you describe and it bugged the crap out of me for a while. It is worse with 1/4 tank of fuel or less. I finally got used to the noise and don't pay attention to it anymore.
05-02-2006, 05:19 AM
#5
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by TRDOLMAN
Mine makes noise like you describe and it bugged the crap out of me for a while. It is worse with 1/4 tank of fuel or less.
Hey Mark, if you get down below a 1/4 tank sometime, see if you hear the buzzing sound.
Thanks guys!
05-02-2006, 05:27 AM
#6
Registered User
Originally Posted by <96 Runner>
Now that makes me feel a bit better! Reason being is that I am at < 1/4 tank. I assume it is louder at < 1/4 tank because the pump is not submersed? Makes sense to me.
Hey Mark, if you get down below a 1/4 tank sometime, see if you hear the buzzing sound.
Trending Topics
05-02-2006, 06:24 AM
#8
Registered User
Originally Posted by <96 Runner>
Oh c'mon, you know you will burn through that in no time! 
05-03-2006, 05:18 AM
#11
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am sure it would help if you sprayed something dense, like Rhino. However, I should note that it isn't a bad sound (to me anyway), it was simply a sound I had never heard before. It sounds kind of cool in a way. I am just happy to hear it isn't a sound the FP makes before it takes a dump. 
05-03-2006, 06:19 AM
#13
Registered User
OMG ARE YOU KIDDING! haha I have been listneing to that intermittently for the past 6 months and could never duplicate it when I wanted to.. You have no idea how happy I am to finally figure out what it is.
OP thanks dude.
OP thanks dude.
05-03-2006, 07:05 AM
#14
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If your running the 255 lt walbro pump, swap it out for the toyota Supra pump. I got mine for 100 bucks and it was a direct drop in on a 2003 wrx. No noise coming from it and everybody I spoke to said they last about 10x longer than a walbro.
05-03-2006, 08:41 AM
#15
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by MossyRocks
No noise coming from it and everybody I spoke to said they last about 10x longer than a walbro.
BTW, most of us run the 190.
Last edited by rimpainter.com; 05-03-2006 at 08:42 AM.
05-03-2006, 10:10 AM
#16
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I ran the supra pump for 50,000 miles, and it never made a sound. But i sold the car so I couldn't tell you past that. However the other 4 cars that I for sure know of that used walbros cashed out in 10,000 miles. One of them actually died in 30 miles. These were 255lt pumps though, I have nothing on 190's. You know you'd think on yotatech that people wouldn't ? advice on a TOYOTA part ie. the supra fuel pump. Everyone and i mean everyone doing the swap in subarus that has any clue what they're doing highly recommends going with the supra pump instead of the walbro.
05-03-2006, 11:11 AM
#18
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by MossyRocks
You know you'd think on yotatech that people wouldn't ? advice on a TOYOTA part ie. the supra fuel pump.
