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This problem goes back several years and two fuel pumps, and I've never found anyone who has had the same experience in spite of many searches on this board. I'm hoping my luck will change and someone can shed some light on this.
2000 9-3 Base w/automatic. On occasion after driving the car for at least a half hour and then stopping for at least 20 minutes or so, I will hear a very prominent noise coming from the fuel pump when I turn the ignition on. The noise is sort of a rumble/buzzing/grinding noise and can last for just a second or up to five seconds. To me, it sounds like the pump is cavitating. While the noise is going on the car will start but will idle rough, or not start at all if the noise lasts relatively long. But even at its worst, the noise is only momentary and the pump goes goes back to its normal hum and the car runs fine. In the beginning this will only occur once or twice a month, and then more frequently as time goes by. It occurs whether the tank is full, low, or anywhere in between.
A couple years ago, even though the pump never actually failed, I dropped the tank and replaced the complete pump and the inlet and outlet valves. With the new pump installed it hummed along just as it should when I turned the key and everything was fine for about six months...and then the noise started occurring again just like before! I'm now at the point where it is occurring more frequently and longer, so I feel I need to do something.
Here's my frustration; in every other occasion I've read about here on Saabnet when a fuel pump fails it just, plain STOPS, either intermittently or permanently. That has never occurred on this car. And more important, no one has ever reported strange noises as a precursor to pump failure that I am aware of. So what's going on with my TWO consecutive pumps that they make identical noises that no one else has ever witnessed? I do not think this is a coincidence. I'd like some ideas before I blindly jump in and put another pump in.
posted by 50.168.9...
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