Fuel Valve/Pump

[TonyMc]

Help and advice required.

I have a 2002 2.0 petrol Passat. In the past few months I became aware that when I started the car from cold, the car seemed to be making a high pitched 'hair dryer' type noise until I heard a click, then it stopped and the car settled to the normal idle.

However, in the past week or so it no longer makes this noise, amd the car takes at least 2 or 3 turns to start. This is because the car no longer starts at about 1000 revs when cold - it now starts at idling revs - which is about 900 revs. Does this suggest that there is an issue with the fuel valve/pump? If so, does anyone have a idea of how much this may cost me to resolve?

Any help appreciated.

[KrashBandiKoot]

Sounds to me like the fuel pump is on its way out. Or it could just be a filter problem.

The whine could be the pump having to work harder to push through the fuel lines into the fuel rail. The reason why it's taking a few more turns to start is either the non-return valve is blocked open so fuel is seeping back down the fuel line into the tank so the pump has to pick up the fuel and build the pressure back up in the fuel rail for the injectors to deliver it into the pots. Or it could be a very lazy fuel pump.

If you can, try taking out the fuel pump and hooking it up directly to a battery, usually if there's dirt in the impella this will clear it. Or it could be a failing impella bearing which means you'll have to put a new fuel pump on as they're not serviceable. I'd try changing out the fuel filter first to see if that makes any difference. If not then it'll be a fuel pump issue which means either a clean or a replacement.

As for cost, no idea. There's plenty of reconditioned fuel pumps available or you can just buy a new one from a motor factors. As for fitting, again no idea as it depends on how difficult it is to get to the fuel pump.