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View Full Version : I can hear the fuel pump moving around?


GustavoCesare
03-21-2014, 03:05 PM
I have a stock 1996 s14.

When i drive i hear the fuel pump moving around if i brake too hard or if i hit small pot holes.

How can i fix this, or what piece would i need to buy? I had changed out the old fuel pump to a new one since the previous one was fucked. When I was putting it back in, my friend told me the long "metal piece" or what ever it's called, the one that holds the fuel pump isn't from a 240sx.

I'd appreciate any help.

I had left the car when i first purchased it to my mechanic to do a tune up and alignment and i'm almost sure he told me the same thing. The car throws out a bit of smoke when i accelerate after stoping for longer than 30 seconds. He had done i forgot what to mount the fuel pump correctly temporarily and the smoking stopped. I had to move it to change the fuel pump and it started again. I'd call up my mechanic to ask what he had done but i lost his number + he lives extremely far from where i live now.

jr_ss
03-21-2014, 05:12 PM
Pull the fuel cap in the trunk and take a peek. If something is loose, secure it. Make sure you order a new cap rubber gasket as the old one will no longer fit.

mechanicalmoron
03-21-2014, 10:24 PM
You do not hear the pump. You hear your subframe moving on worn bushings, or your worn out shocks clunking. Or both.

It smokes after idling because it's got bad valve stem seals. Might have bad everything else. You should do a compression test.

You can read up on oil viscosity, and change the grade you use - it may help the symptom, though the only way to fix the real problem is to.... fix it. (if you have good compression, the seals can be fixed with the motor in the car).



Regardless of if the seller mechanic guy knows it, he was feeding you a load of horse shit and paranoia about the fuel pump. That's NOT how it works. If it's loose, it's not causing smoking, that's just not a sign of a loose fuel pump....

Dboyizmlg
03-21-2014, 10:33 PM
Lol , I just had a similar issue with my car last week! Seriously!

It would make noise in the rear end.... I guessed it was in the fuel tank.
Sure enough it was! I pulled out my fuel pump assembly to take a look, and found out that the baffle/splash plate thing had come loose. The weld on the top of it broke off, so as I would come to a quick stop the baffle plate would move around and make a lot of noise... Lol.

I fixed it by cutting the baffle plate off into a few pieces and removing it out of the tank.

I'm not sure if this is you're issue, but it doesn't hurt to take a look.

Best regards

zerodameaon
03-22-2014, 04:56 AM
The baffle is breaking off is quite common, the pump is not moving but it is being hit by the baffle. Or maybe mechanicalmoron is right for the first time ever and your subframe is messed up, but check the baffle first as its the easiest to diagnose.

Def
03-22-2014, 08:53 AM
+1 to baffle plate in tank. I'd try to epoxy it back though, it's actually a pretty good baffle design compared to most stock tanks.

zerodameaon
03-22-2014, 07:14 PM
Till that plastic part warps and closes up cutting off your fuel flow.

Dboyizmlg
03-22-2014, 07:33 PM
Also keep in mind that this happened on my S13 chassis.
I know the fuel tank design is different on the S14 chassis.

Let's hope you can still peak inside some how, it's been a while the last time I worked on S14 fuel tank.

mechanicalmoron
03-22-2014, 08:05 PM
The baffle is breaking off is quite common, the pump is not moving but it is being hit by the baffle. Or maybe mechanicalmoron is right for the first time ever and your subframe is messed up, but check the baffle first as its the easiest to diagnose.

There's no actual symptoms he's listed, other than, my rear end is making noise, and my car's smoking... if his mechanic stopped the pump moving, or whatever was moving, then that's not a problem, unless he used chewing gum or something.

I mean, sure, take a peek - but don't think for a minute that it will fix the smoking problem, that's internal engine wear. Fuel starvation would make you lose power, and possibly ping, run super rough, or do other nasty stuff - but not make you smoke after idling.

Def
03-22-2014, 09:46 PM
Till that plastic part warps and closes up cutting off your fuel flow.

The baffle on an S13 is all metal, I was thinking it was the same on the S14 tank I had open, but maybe not. Been many years...

zerodameaon
03-22-2014, 11:37 PM
There's no actual symptoms he's listed, other than, my rear end is making noise, and my car's smoking... if his mechanic stopped the pump moving, or whatever was moving, then that's not a problem, unless he used chewing gum or something.

I mean, sure, take a peek - but don't think for a minute that it will fix the smoking problem, that's internal engine wear. Fuel starvation would make you lose power, and possibly ping, run super rough, or do other nasty stuff - but not make you smoke after idling.

Notice I did not say anything about smoking, I was addressing the clunking noise, if his mechanic jerry rigged something(which I missed last night along with the fact that its a S14) there is a good chance that shit broke.

This is what a S14 fuel pump holder should look like and if you have anything else you should find one of these even if it isnt the fuel pump making noise.

http://www.kenchanblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/walbro_install_6.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/2guig5z.jpg

The baffle on an S13 is all metal, I was thinking it was the same on the S14 tank I had open, but maybe not. Been many years...

The baffle that breaks of is all metal but there is a plastic tray thing that loops around from the right side to the back half of the baffle/basket on the S13. It allows fuel to get into the one baffle/basket hole on the right side when you are doing a hard left hand corner, mine warped and was not letting fuel into the basket/baffle area.

GustavoCesare
03-22-2014, 11:46 PM
I've been working open to close shifts so i haven't had the time to look or do anything but hopefully tomorrow morning i can take a peek.

Also, the smoking stopped completely when what ever was loose the first time was temporarily fixed. The car didn't smoke once nor smelled like gas. After the fuel pump change, it got loose again and the smoking started. It smells like gas pretty much.

zerodameaon
03-23-2014, 03:26 AM
Is the smoke black or white or kinda greyish and sweet smelling?

GustavoCesare
03-23-2014, 05:19 AM
Is the smoke black or white or kinda greyish and sweet smelling?

To be honest, not 100% sure. Really haven't paid attention to the color as I only see if through tinted windows but I'm assuming it's greyish and it just smells like gasoline.

GustavoCesare
03-25-2014, 04:32 PM
Well, looks like my old mechanic didn't really know what he was doing. The noise was due to a really worn bushing in te rear and the smell and smoke was due to a leak I was having. Jut found it today.

Problem solved. Really appreciate all the response.