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Jonathan
Dodge Dakota
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3/12/2010
12:12:13

Subject: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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Around 79,900 miles I noticed a high pitch whining coming from the rear of my 2000 dodge Dakota pickup. I searched around and placing my ear up against the tank found the sound to be the loudest. I took my truck to a Dodge dealer service shop and they told me that I needed a new pump. I had them install the new pump and now, about 8800 miles later I’m hearing the same noise coming from the same place.

Can there be an electrical fault in the truck’s supply voltage to the pump that can be killing the pumps? If so, where should I look next before buying a new pump.

v/r



daddio
Dodge Dakota
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3/12/2010
12:32:29

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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Check voltage at the pump first.

By the way, I posted this in your other thread in the Dealers Recall board.

"Might I have gotten a defective part?"

I think you found the answer. My '00 QC has about 125k on it and the fuel pump is as quite as the first day I drove.




Jonathan
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3/12/2010
14:48:08

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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Thank you for your reply.

I believe the currently equipped fuel pump is still under warrantee so I’m going to give the shop a shot at replacing it. I may be able to avoid buying another pump, though I’m sure labor is not covered.

Have you or anyone else noticed how shops don’t seem to talk to their customers anymore?

v/r




daddio
Dodge Dakota
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3/12/2010
16:28:10

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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The only "shop" I've had work on my vehicles the last 30 years is a body shop. And that's only becasue I never wanted to learn body work or paint. I can change and align body parts though.
Everything else has been done by me.



Jonathan
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3/23/2010
17:29:04

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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I've just heard back from the dealer shop after dropping my truck off for an inspection of the fuel pump noise. They've run their tests and determined that noise is a constant and is not a problem for the vehical. I'm going tomarrow to pick it up, noise and all.

It's frustrating but I don't have the money for another new pump.



fotodak
Dodge Dakota
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3/23/2010
21:48:51

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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If it is normal, then why did they say your original pump was defective?

It's time to get nasty with the service manager.
In effect, they stole your money. When it's your dime, the noise shouldn't be. When it's theirs, it's normal.

Ask them to start any used truck on the lot.
Fuel pumps should be quiet.




daddio
Dodge Dakota
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3/24/2010
09:02:36

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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Fotodak is right. As I posted earlier, the original pump in my truck w/ about 120K miles doesn't make a sound. I'd say that the replacement pump they installed is defective.



Jonathan
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2010
11:50:19

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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I've determined, in the presence of the dealer service mechanic and his service advisor, that if I trun on my head lamps, fog laps, and depress the brake petal just enough to turn on the brake lamps... the Noise goes away.

(turning on just tehe heaed lamps or just the taillamps did indeed cause teh noise to deminish but it goes away if all three light circuits are active)

I have a direct control over the sound comming from the fuel pump and the shop claimed: "that to be normal;" but that's bull.

I'm going to look over the circuit diagrams for the headlamps and taillamps and see if there is a common relay or fuse that may be shorting to ground or, may becomming isolated from ground.

In addition, I kept the first fuel pump and have it stored incase it's ok after all.

Please let me know what you think and if you've come across a problem similar to this. I'm still holding the voltage regulator in the alternator in question and will test that too.



daddio
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3/25/2010
12:06:46

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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I think their call is BS also. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, The voltage regulator is built into the PCM. I guess you know what that means, unfortunately?



Jonathan
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3/25/2010
13:23:56

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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What is your opinion, if you have one, of a PCM retailer Solo Auto Electronics?



daddio
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2010
13:37:10

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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I've never used them before but their website states that they furnish the rebuilt PCM already flashed with your VIN and mileage so that will save youi a trip the the stealership again.

Also, a quick trip to the BBB's website showed they are not a member and have only to unanswered complaints against them.

The webz is your friend.



Jonathan
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2010
14:36:03

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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Understood.

I've found that there is a Voltage Regulator for the vehical systems inside the alternator.

The voltage regulator inside the PCM appears to only effect the PCM stepping 12 volt supply down to 5 volt with no path out to the lighting system or fuel delevery system power supply.

There seems to be a connection into the dash board where the fuel sending unit sends a 5 volt signal to both the fuel guage and the PCM... this part is a bit confusing but I wanted to run that by you to see if I had it straight.



daddio
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2010
15:13:14

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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I'd be lying if I told you that was all correct as I do not know because I've never looked at the wiring diagram. One thing you may want to check before going out a buy a PCM. Check the voltage at the pump. With it whining and then turning on all the lights to stop the whining and compare the voltages. You could just have a dirty or loose ground.



fotodak
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2010
18:20:38

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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Either way the dealer is blowing smoke up your tailpipe.

The reason the noise goes away when you turn on all the systems is because at idle the alternator doesn't put out enough current to supply all the systems. Do that and rev the engine. I bet the noise comes back because it receives full voltage.

The noise is NOT normal.



Jonathan
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3/25/2010
18:57:02

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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That's the thing. I have the Truck at home now and it seems that every time I push on the break petal, I mean just a little tap to get the brake lights to come on, the noise gets worse. I release the brake petal and the noise goes away. Maybe I had ti reversed last time it's odd. My third brake lamp is out though, so I may buy a few bulbs and see if there is moisture damage in the third brakelamp housing up where the cargo lamp are, looks like there is alge in there and I may be getting an electrical short to groud that's screwing with my diagnosis. Worse case, I get my thrid brake lamp working again and go from there.

I'm having nothing more to do with that service shop.



Jonathan
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2010
19:00:41

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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Here's my thinking. Under the current conditions when I apply the brakes I hear the noise get louder. I'm assuming that if I have a short to ground voltage is dropping off causing the pump to spin down and become more audible than it's designed to be.

The Alternator is outputing a steady 13.8 volts. I'm going to jump on the granade a replace the brake lamp. If the noise goes away I'll be unable to think for at least a month.



Jonathan
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3/30/2010
08:53:55

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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I replaced the brake lamp, no change. I'll starting tracing the ground connections. Worse case senario is I drive the truck as is until I start noticing something other than the noise. The good news is I can't here it over the radio:)



Jonathan
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4/05/2010
12:47:29

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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I've checked through the grounds no problem. I did find that my Assessory belt tensioner needed to be replaced. I did that, but no change in the fuel pump noise, not that I expected any. Next thing I've noticed that I need is a tune up, plugs, wire, rotor, cap, I may evne replace the primary coil and wire. I dont expect that have any effect on the fuel pump noise and plan on replacing the fuel pump with a nice AC Delco when I start noticing performance issues ( if I do, it may just ba a noisy pump because dodge wants me to buy a new truck rather than service the old one).

Thank you all for the assistance you've given me with this problem. I'll keep an ear to the track if you have any more idea what maybe causing this issue.

Respectfully,
Jonathan



fotodak
Dodge Dakota
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4/06/2010
14:35:42

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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It isn't a problem of any shorts to ground.

When you press on the brake the light switch is completing a circuit that goes where? TO GROUND.
It has to or the lights don't work.

The problem is a noisy pump. Don't drive yourself nuts.
Get it replaced and then if you feel like you want to go through the headache, take that dealer to small claims court.
The fact they said the first noisy one was defective and the second is not says it all.



fotodak
Dodge Dakota
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4/06/2010
14:37:04

RE: Fuel Pump high pitch whine
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BW-don't blame Dodge for this. It's the dealer that is wanting you to buy a truck.



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