Fuel pump noise normal?

[hiwaycruzer]

This is my first post, so hello to all you gearheads...
I recently bought a '96 Tahoe 4-door 4x4 with 177K on it. As with any used car or truck, one has to get acquainted with the vehicle's 'character traits'.
One trait of my Tahoe is a loud whine from the fuel pump, considerably louder than I'm used to hearing on other vehicles.
So to my question; is a properly functioning Tahoe fuel pump noisier than most?

 

[AtomicHoe094]

These trucks are all pretty noisy. as long as your getting the required fuel pressure, id leave it alone haha

 

[WalterMitty]

My answer would be "no", a loud whine isn't a typical characteristic. That doesn't mean your pump won't run for several more years without failing, but when it does fail it can be without further warning. And it ain't something you fix on the side of the road/trail.

 

[hiwaycruzer]

Thanks for your input, AtomicHoe094 and WalterMitty

 

[WalterMitty]

Thanks for your input, AtomicHoe094 and WalterMitty

Welcome to the board from one new guy to another.

I had a fuel pump put me on the side of the road in my 1995 K1500 last year with 135,000 miles on the clock. It wasn't exactly the middle of nowhere, but it was the North Rim of the Grand Canyon with no cell phone reception and nearly 80 miles to the nearest town. A nice lady hauled us 16 miles out of her way to get to a phone. I bought an 80 mile tow and fuel pump in Kanab, Utah. It killed pretty much a day of the trip, and wasn't cheap either.

So, with my recent acquisition of a 1996 Yukon with only ~50,000 miles on it, I felt pretty safe taking off for parts isolated this summer. During some extensive slow going above 9000' in Bangs Canyon, Colorado, my fuel pump started whining. I was nowhere near anything a tow operator would call a "road". The feeling in my stomach wasn't great.

The fuel pump held up for the rest of the trip but when I got home I had the local GMC dealer order and install a lifetime parts and labor fuel module. That doesn't mean I won't ever be stranded in some desolate area again, but I've hopefully improved my odds.

I tell that long (boring) story to illustrate why I would be inclined to replace it now with the best part I could afford. If your life (or at least significant inconvenience) doesn't depend on this truck running, you can do like lots of folks and run it till it quits and have a buddy tow you home.

ETA: and change that fuel filter the first chance you get.

ETA: Pictures that goes with this story.

 

[hiwaycruzer]

Hey Walter, great story, not boring, and very instructive.
I recently purchased an AC/Delco fuel pump module through Amazon, hope they sent me the right one. I plan to install it after I use up most of the fuel in my tank.
I'll be doing it on my back in the garage, which will no doubt cause these 57 year-old bones some grief before I'm done.
I installed a new filter last week- should be OK...

 

[WalterMitty]

Hey Walter, great story, not boring, and very instructive.
I recently purchased an AC/Delco fuel pump module through Amazon, hope they sent me the right one. I plan to install it after I use up most of the fuel in my tank.
I'll be doing it on my back in the garage, which will no doubt cause these 57 year-old bones some grief before I'm done.
I installed a new filter last week- should be OK...

Good luck to you! Be sure you've got good ventilation and no nearby ignition sources, you *will* spill some gas.

Everything will definitely hurt the next day.

 

[ezdaar]

if you run a GM or chevy vehical down below 1/4 tank of gas alot, your FP will fail faster than normal.

GM pumps run really hot, and the fuel is needed to cool them.

 

[SunlitComet]

My fuel pump does not believe you.

 

[ezdaar]

the 20 or so fuel pumps I have changed on GM vehicals died due to overheating..