feeder pump or main fuel pump?

[BStone]

Hi there everyone! I have done some searching, and I could not find any info that puts the two symptoms I am experiencing together. This is in my 1986 C900 8V N/A

First issue - when my tank gets below half-full, I get the sputtering, chugging, and performance issues that are associated with the fuel feeder pump.

Second issue - I have a very pronounced buzzing that is coming from my trunk area. I am pretty sure it is the fuel pump, but i have seen that if it starts getting louder, that it might be on it's way out.

Now my question is: Would the feeder pump be buzzing as well? Or would a bad main fuel pump also cause the performance issues on low fuel? I would just replace both, but I am rather low in the "car fund" right now, so I just wanted to be sure.


Thanks everyone!

[Matt88S]

I'd venture the guess that with the feeder pump out the main pump is being starved of fuel. It sits in a plastic bucket that the feeder pump keeps filled with fuel, this insulates, cools, and to a degree quiets the sound of the main pump.

I've never heard of a feed pump buzzing, they are very small and operate differently I believe. They are pretty cheap, $30-40??

I'd replace your feeder pump as soon as you can, and just keep the tank topped off to reduce strain on the main pump, it's not a cheap pump to replace.

[BStone]

Originally Posted by Matt88S

I'd replace your feeder pump as soon as you can, and just keep the tank topped off to reduce strain on the main pump, it's not a cheap pump to replace.

Yeah I noticed the price of a main fuel pump! Whoa! I will go ahead and order the feeder pump off of http://www.thesaabsite.com/900old/c9008vfuel.htm. It seems a bit much from what you have quoted, but there are no Saab parts around the ND area for quite some distance.

Thanks again!

[Eiron]

My son's '85 8v n/a had the same buzzing. It turned out that the bad feeder pump had trashed the main pump. We replaced the feeder but it wasn't soon enough to save the main. I'd get a new feeder ASAP, before you stress out the main pump any more. Still, don't be surprised if your main goes out anyway. If it's loud enough to hear, its life has been considerably shortened.

[Matt88S]

Originally Posted by BStone

Yeah I noticed the price of a main fuel pump! Whoa! I will go ahead and order the feeder pump off of http://www.thesaabsite.com/900old/c9008vfuel.htm. It seems a bit much from what you have quoted, but there are no Saab parts around the ND area for quite some distance.

Thanks again!

If you haven't already ordered.... http://www.eeuroparts.com/Main/PartD...spx?id=7526163 $44.90

I've found thesaabsite to be more expensive than eeuroparts, but thesaabsite does tend to have more of the odd little bits. For everyday parts I use eeuroparts, when I can't find it on eeuroparts then I amble on over the thesaabsite. eeuoparts also offers free shipping on orders over $49.

I swear, before I found eeuroparts.com some years back I was ready to pack it in. The dealer never had anything in and charged out the wazoo for things when they did, poor customer service as well, the local parts stores had limited selection and often had to order in as well. Finding parts had gotten to be such a fight I was just worn out fussing with the cars. eeuroparts.com has been a major blessing for me and the tired old Swabs. If I have a problem I get online, order the part, prices beat anything local, and it doesn't take any longer to ship it to me than it would have for the dealer or parts store to order it in. And I get the brands and quality I want, no more Moog or off the wall house brands for me. (:

Of course if I ever move across the pond, PartsforSaabs.com shall become my new best friend.