I don't know if the car is really making a new noise, or if it's just something I'm now noticing because I've had the rear seats folded forward for the past month or so... but anyways. The car is an '86 GTi (RD), and it seems like the fuel pump might be making a horrible buzzing/pre-death sound (?). Yes, I know what the normal pressurizing up buzz sound is, but that's constant and this comes and goes.
The car runs fine, and in fact, recently got it's best milage ever (35mpg) on a thousand mile roadtrip. But this sound is stressing me out, and I'd like to be proactive before I end up by the side of the road. In the first minute after starting it up in the morning, it will often do a quick (1/4 sec) cough/stall the first time I run it up off of idle, ie. it's fine puttering out to the road but can scare me the first time I pull into traffic. After that, no symptoms other than the loud buzzing I hear on and off coming from the general fuel pump area.
I believe this car actually has two fuel pumps, a tank one and a transfer one, and I've heard that one can go while the other will pick up the slack.. for a while at least. But that only burns out the one surviving pump quicker. Any truth to that rumor? This was a $200 beater that's served me faithfully for the past year, but I'm not investing in a mechanics time or new parts here. I've got the upcoming weekend off and a decent selection at the local Pick N' Pull. Are there some simple tests to do and would pulling some emergency spares from the wrecking yard be pretty straight forward? I have a replacement fuel filter sitting around somewhere too. Open to advise or experience in similar situations.
BTW, my last project pre-roadtrip was fixing the oil cooler:oil flange gasket, and let me document for all after three attempts and four sockets bought that it's a 1 1/16" nut holding the cooler to the flange, and you still have to be careful and ensure that it's flush. Also, a carefully applied clamp will remove the 'oil pipe' (name?) from the flange to facilitate getting the gasket out without having to disconnect the coolant hoses to the cooler. Just an FYI. This car barely leaks a drop now, after getting up to about 1/2 qt a month from this one gasket alone.
Thanks for your help!