Hi all,
My 97 Passat VR6 is failing me! I have been hearing an increasing loud whine from behind the drivers' side rear tire and now the car is stumbling and acts like its fuel starved. Does this sound like a fuel pump? Does anyone have a document for replacement? What else should I do while I am in there? Filters?
As always any help is appreciated,
RickT
You are due for a fuel pump failure... however I suppose it is possible that the noise is caused by a clogged filter that is making the pump work harder. It is difficult to make an educated guess because I do not know the type of pump that is used. I have hear that it is two stages of pumping driven by a single motor. With some pump types a drop in flow will cause the motor to speed up.
The pump and the filter are in different spots. The filter is underneath the car near the tire. I think there is an access panel or sheild that has to be removed. There is a steel band that holds the filter to the car.
When I did my 1995 Passat VR6 filter, I had to cut the steel band and I also cut the OEM clamps to remove the filter. You can use screw-type clamps to put the new filter on IMHO and avoid the need for the special tool used to tighten OEM clamps.
If the filter does not solve the problem then you may as well go ahead and replace the pump as soon as possible. You should be able to find more info about replacing the pump if you search this forum.
good luck!
snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com wrote:
doesn't the '97 also have that transfer pump in the tank? (2 fuel pumps) If it does then I would look there first, along with changing the filter as Mark indicates.
There is no timing belt on a VR6!
However s> Check the timing belt!
Update:
Everyone wins! Except me, the coil pack is shorting, the fuel pump is failing and who knows at this rate maybe the timing belt in my wife's car will go! Thanks a bunch for all of the information, great help. I dropped it off at a dealer.
you can fix the coil pack for $4 worth of JB weld epoxy. I did this..approximately in 2002 and I still am running that coil pack (4 years later). (I did have to redo the epoxy once).
the dealer had charged me $600 to replace the coil pack in ~2000 and this coil pack lasted no longer than the 4$ repair.
Do not let your dealer charge you more than .5 hour for the coil pack at least. This is an easy job to do.
Not so bad to let the dealer do your fuel pump because of the safety risk you take doing that job yourself.
snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com wrote:
I use that quick set epoxy to fix them. I usually perform a wet test before the fix and after the fix (spray the coil pack or ign. transformer with water). Last year I did this "cheap" fix to a 2001 GTi ign. transformer that was causing the Engine light to come on. I had missed a spot that I had to recoat but so far all is good and the car was able to pass emissions testing!
later, dave (One out of many daves)
The wifes car part was just an attempt at humor by me..
The fuel pump is bad, I am waiting for the part to come in, also the coil pack in the car is faulty. Some fine folks here were offiering me some free advice for a cheap fix on the coil pack...and it is appreciated.
RickT
I didn't notice if anyone posted a description of how to do that, so here it is.
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