Buzzing sound from the Fuel Pump

[Brooksr13]

I have just finished replacing the battery in a friends 2002 California EV and when I turn the key on I get an odd buzzing sound from the fuel pump.  Its not the normal startup noise sounds more like a radio interference kind of noise.  When I start the bike the noise persists.......Any Ideas?


Thanks


Mark

[oldbike54]

 Sounds like the pump is plugged up a bit , or the E-petcock screens are dirty .

   Dusty

[Kiwi_Roy]

The pump also gets extra noisy if the fuel filter is plugged.
You can get an idea of it's health by removing relay 5, the one closest to the front on older EVs
Turn the key on you should hear quite a loud click from the fuel petcock
Inserting an ammeter from 30 to 87 of the pump relay will make the pump run and should draw just a bit under 4 Amps with a nice even sound.
If the pump is much higher than 4 I would suspect the filter is blocked

The pump can also draw well over 10 Amps for a few seconds if the petcock is not energized, at least mine does. For this reason don't try to run with the petcock closed.

BTW, the pump often makes a few weird noises on first turning on, I suspect it may be gas bubbles.

[LowRyter]

maybe it's getting more current and running harder.

[Kiwi_Roy]

maybe it's getting more current and running harder.

It will do that if the filter plugs, the pressure can go from 40 to 75 psi when the internal relief lets go.

[Wayne Orwig]

Does it have an electric petcock. If those fail, which is common, the pump has to work harder to pull the gasoline out, and they make a lot of noise.