[ddt90GL]

Hi all.
First just wanted to say that this is a great forum. I've been visiting for sometime now and found many answers I was looking for. Now it's time to ask some questions to the experts.

My car is 1990 Taurus GL SW, with a 3.0L Vulcan. My great aunt was the first owner and I bought it from her in 1998. It has now 97K miles. I recently did some badly needed maintenance: replaced plugs, wire, cap and rotor, thermostat plus cleaning the throttle plate and IAC.

Ok, this is my case. Since 2000, the fuel pump has been making this humming sound. I've read a lot about noisy Ford fuel pumps, so I assume I just ended up with one of them.

But then I read that a stuck-closed fuel pressure regulator could make the pump noisy by increasing the fuel pressure and making the pump work harder. So I did an experiment an removed the vacuum line from the regulator (which I believe would re-create a WOT condition) and the humming is gone, although I was expecting it to either remain the same or probably increase. Does this make sense to you guys? It seems to me the regulator is not doing what is supposed to but before I go ahead and buy a new one I wanted to get some other opinions..

Thanks in advance for your help. I have also another problem with a code 72 but I'll be checking the vaccum lines and MAP before I bug you about that.

Dave

 

[Rockledge]

Hi Dave and welcome.

I think what you are saying is logical, but what you have done test-wise (so far) is not complete enough to go ahead and start replacing parts. IMO, your best course of action would be to check your fuel pressure with a gauge. If your pressure is within specs, then you won't need to worry about the noisy pump or the regulator until they actually do fail. If your fuel pressure is not within specs, then that might confirm your suspicions.

Checking FP is a simple job, if you don't have access to a gauge, then call a local garage and ask how much a quick check will cost you.

 

[ddt90GL]

Rock,

Thanks for your reply. I was out of town and just got back. I had the fuel pressure checked a couple of months back (actually last November) and according to the guy, it was OK, although he didn't tell me how many psi. Ahh, also changed the fuel filter last month.

Probably the pump is fine, but is just noisy. As I said, it as been like that since 2000 and I haven't had any driveability problems that could be associated with low/high fuel pressure. But I'll check the pressure again, just to be sure...

Thanks.

 

[silvapain]

If you live close to an Autozone, you can rent a FP tester from them for cheap. ALso, if you live near the south side of chicago, I have a gauge and can check it for you.


BTW, welcome the the TCCA ddt!