In a message dated 07/07/2006 9:07:04 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

The fuel  pump seemed kind of noisy when I bought my
'85 westfalia.  I had the  filters replaced first, but
the noise (kind of a loud buzzing from the  pump
vicinity) persisted.  As the pump looked like it could
be 21  years old I ordered a new Bosch from Bus Depot
and had it installed.   The noise has remained exactly
the same, as near as I can tell.  It  will sometimes
subside at idle and is least likely to happen right
upon  startup, but is otherwise pretty constant.

I don't really mind  apparently having replaced the
pump prematurely as it was old, but what  else should I
be looking for?  The mechanic who did the work  seemed
pretty unconcerned about it and said "lots of vanagons
sound like  that".  Do they? Do I need to worry about
gunk in the line making the  pump work harder, or is
there something else that could be making the  noise?
I've never actaully heard one go bad (and don't have
much  experience with other vanagons) so I don't really
know what's  "normal".

The van runs great and gets reasonable mpg for an AT.
The  new pump's been in for about 300 miles or so.

Curt, noisy fuel pumps are an indication of fuel  starvation of the pump
especially if the pump is mounted as it should be on the  two rubber mounts.
Either your filter between the tank and pump, if you  have this filter, is blocked
or the tank itself has a restricted  flow.  The tanks do have a known problem
that is quite prevalent these days  as the vans get older.  There is a filter
screen in the bottom of the tank  leading to a rubber hose that leads to the
tanks exit port.  The screens  get blocked with rust and other debris and the
hoses disintegrate.  Only  fix is to install a new tank without the filter
screen and hose.

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa  Valley
_Frank Condelli  & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10,  2007