Hi All,

I have a 1987 Vanagon with a fuel pump that is making a fairly loud (you can
hear it from inside the van) buzzing sound.  I replaced the pump and filter
about a year ago, but we have driven the van very little in that year - it
basically sat in an open garage throughout the winter ( New England - cold
and wet ).

After I replaced the pump it worked without any noise that I noticed.
Usually, when we start up the van the pump is quiet, but the noise comes on
after driving a bit.

We just got back from a small trip ( about 400 miles ).  The van ran well,
but the pump was noisy.  I am kind of nervous about taking the van on
another trip.

So, my questions are...

Is this noise a sign of the fuel pump dying, or are these things sometimes
noisy? i.e. should I replace it again?

Does sitting unused for months affect the fuel pump?  If so, is there
anything I can do to prevent this from happening again.

I have a problem with the expansion tank and need to install a kit to
replace the hoses, etc.  Is there any way that this could affect the fuel
pump ( perhaps back pressure, but that seems unlikely ).

Thanks.

David