I'm hearing my fuel pump. I have a wagon & I think it is the in-tank because it's coming from the back seemingly. Does this indicate that it's going? Will it strand me or just not work like below half a tank? Last wagon that had a third seat (this one does too) I was charged $450 for replacement, cause had to remove third seat etc. So I think I won't be so lazy & do it myself this time... Can it stay noisy for a long time w/o failing? Thanks.

I agree with everything that Wayne said. The reason the pump's whining is that it's working too hard. A faulty in tank pump can cause this, but as Wayne mentioned, you can put a tube in the gas filler hole and listen for the intank pump. If that's running, you could have a faulty fuel pressure regulator that is allowing the fuel pressure to pump up too high. Happened to me. Spec is about 36 psi, mine was above 90 psi. Changed the regulator and the fuel pump shut up.

I had the exact same problem. Heard the whine of the fuel pump (main, not in-tank) and I thought, being relatively inexperienced, "so there's the problem." I put in a new (used) fuel pump and the sound (and the problem--stalling, hesitation, etc.) continued. I switched the Fuel Pump Relay and the problem continued. I replaced the FPR, and the problem stopped.

Replacement is indeed a piece of cake.

Can you please give me some more information on this?

Where is the fuel pressure reg?

What does it look like?

Is it cheap / expensive?

How do you measure the pressure?

Thanks much,

John

The fuel pressure regulator is at the end of the fuel rail. If you've got the hood open, the fuel rail is the tube that goes from the firewall to the front of the engine just to the right of the valve cover. There's 4 taps for the injectors on the rail. At the front of the engine the rail ends at the fuel pressure regulator. It kinda looks like the old vacuum advance on a distributor, and in fact has a vacuum line attached to it. On the back side of the regulator is the non-metal (rubber?) fuel return line that goes back to the tank. Before you do any parts changing, make sure that return line is unrestricted. Remove the return line from the back of the regulator and blow into it. In a couple of seconds you should be able to hear/feel bubbles in the tank. If you can't blow through it, your return line is restricted causing pressure to build up.

If you're a tool junkie like myself and you want a fuel pressure tester, you're going to have to do a little leg work. Unfortunately, Volvo didn't use a schraeder valve on their fuel line, so you've got to buy theirs or build one from parts. The fuel pressure tester from Volvo is insanely priced at about $200 American. Or you can build one from a generic fuel pressure tester that you can pick up at your local auto parts store (about $25) and a couple of parts from Volvo (about $45). If you want to go this route, let me know and I'll get the Volvo part numbers for you. I've also heard of some people cutting the line to the fuel rail and teeing in a fitting that will allow you to use a generic fuel pressure tester. Personally, that makes me nervous. If you buy a tester from the store, make sure it goes to at least 100 psi.

But if you want to take a chance and just replace the regulator, it'll cost about $45 from Volvo.

Removal and replacement is a piece of cake. Disconnect the fuel rail at the regulator (be sure to wrap a rag around the junction when you do this because you will have gas spewing out), disconnect the return line, remove the vacuum line at the front of the regulator, and unscrew the regulator mounting bracket. Installation is the reverse of removal.

If you don't already have it, get the Bentley manual for the 240. All of the above information is explained in much greater detail with pretty pictures.

Good luck.

Hello Gary,

If the sound you are hearing is the fuel pump. It's probably the main

pump under the car forward of the left rear wheel. The in- tank pump can be heard if you remove the gas filler cap & listen carefully.

If the in- tank pump is not working then the main pump is working harder causing the noise. If this continues at some point in time- the main

pump will fail.