Hi guys, I have a weird problem. Took the car out for a 2 hour drive (85 TR Euro). Weather was hot and muggy. Pulled the car into the garage, shut it off and i heard a whining sound coming from under the car. I thought it was the fuel pumps staying on so I disconnected the battery....here's the kicker....the sounds continues, stops for a bit and then starts again about three times then went away. What is it? Second question, how do you know when your fuel pumps are starting to go. After a long drive they just don't sound right. Is there a test I can do or is it better just to replace them when they start sounding funny? Where is the best place to order them from?
Greetings.. Sound to me you have a problem with fuel vapors. I would check to see if that sound is coming from the right rear area.. There are two charcoal canisters and a check valve.. Sometimes that valve goes bad.. There is also another check valve on the right rear (located - open liftgate and go towards the quarter glass. You will see some fabric lines going to a valve then lines going towards the fuel tank.. Maybe thats your issue.. I find it hard to believe that two fuel pumps go at the same time.. plus I heard that the buzzing sound of pumps is low pitch almost like a rumble. Next time you hear that noise slowly loosen your fuel cap and release some of the pressure - the noise should stop - if it does one of those valves or lines is bad causing a build up of pressure. Sometimes the charcoal canisters are bad as well.. I would not be so quick to go and buy fuel pumps.. R
Can you elaborate a bit, please? Are you saying that even while you had the battery disconnected, you still heard the sound?
Nothing can be "running" with the battery disconnected, so I would suggest you check for a leak somewhere in the vacuum storage circuit. This is the system that operates the door locks, etc. --- also, one of the lock actuators itself may be faulty and "bleeding" air.
Also, the check valve in the brake booster vacuum line (different circuit from the one I mentioned above) could have an intermittent leak. The hose between the valve and the booster also could be leaking.
Hi Finnerty, Yes, the sounds was heard after the engine was off and even the battery disconnected. Actually the noise did come from the right side of the car. I did notice lately as well that when I go to the gas station to fill up, i get a huge release of air when i twist off the gas cap. So it could be a charcoal filter clogged. Where are these located and are they easy to replace?
They are located on the right rear area below the tail lamp. Great access if you remove the under pan. I did it by removing the tail lamp and it was a pain in the as*, big time.. Drop the pan and you will see the two charcoal canisters. I recommend changing all hoses and that check valve. Remember which way that valve goes (located in between canisters more towards the top) as there has been some confusion lately as to how this goes.. Snap a photo for reference.. R
In light of that info, forget what I said --- follow Robbie's suggestion. The problem is in your fuel evap. / recovery system.
Dang... Had my car for more than 12 years and all this time I thought it was a normal sound as it slowly bleeds off pressure after a drive. RoccoM - - the sound you hear is likely a different issue from 'low power'. I'll poke my ear around more closely! Rgds, Vincenzo
here's another twist. I looked at the manual for the part numbers for the charcoal canisters and the euro versions don't have them listed. Only a relief valve. Does this make any sense.
Yes, a 1985 euro TR (that hasn't been US federalized) doesn't have a fuel vapor recovery system. One should've been added to yours when it was brought into the US, but it may, or may not, use the US TR parts.
Thanks for chiming in Steve. Do you think the valve could make that sounds after the car is off as stated above?
My US system moans/groans for a few minutes sometimes after shutoff (especially on warm days when the fuel level is low), but I don't see how it could seriously affect engine runability. Robbie gave the best first step to investigate in his first post -- just unscrew the gas cap after shut-off to vent the system -- if the noise ceases, you know it's "something" in the fuel vapor recovery system. Not sure what "valve" you mean because what's actually on your euro TR is presently unknown
