HELP, What is this???

Hi,  noticed a noise, like a squeeling noise when idling coming from around the rear drivers side wheel. looked underneath and the noise is coming from this part.
Was told by mechanic this car has two fuel pumps, an added aftermarket fuel pump. Is this a fuel pump? there is two things cable tied to a very loose metal plate bolted onto the underneath of the car. The pipes are rubber not metal so surely it cant be a fuel pump?? and there dosent seem to be any power lines going to this part from what i can see. i'll attach some pictures. Hope someone can help!

Looks like a fuel pump to me, especially if that's wires I can see going in to it.

It may be the original one, just not in its foam case or metal cradle?

Hairyarse said

Looks like a fuel pump to me, especially if that's wires I can see going in to it.

It may be the original one, just not in its foam case or metal cradle?

Just strange, would of thought the piping would be metal not rubber being a fuel pipe? whats the other thing next to it? sorry not very good with mechanics, might be a stupid question! Is it normal for it to be located here? people i'v asked were baffled by what it was. Would a wining noise when idling mean it's on it's way out?

Not sure what the other item is - I think later cars had another item there (think my cabby has??) It's not the accumulator. From the pics if I can make them out right then the location is wrong, they're both too far back, normally the pump is right by the rear beam mount on the drivers side.

If I'm right that your location is wrong then it would explain the pipe - must be a home made set up by a previous owner. My tintop was fitted with rubber fuel hose when I got it. It did split quite quickly so keep an eye on it

My old tin top was fitted with rubber hose. It looks right and it's certainly a pump and it looks like pre-pump filter.  Although it doesn't like anything I've seen before.

The only time I ever heard my pump make this type of noise was when. I was ultra low on fuel.

I'm wondering if this might be the case.

Hairyarse said

Not sure what the other item is - I think later cars had another item there (think my cabby has??) It's not the accumulator. From the pics if I can make them out right then the location is wrong, they're both too far back, normally the pump is right by the rear beam mount on the drivers side.

If I'm right that your location is wrong then it would explain the pipe - must be a home made set up by a previous owner. My tintop was fitted with rubber fuel hose when I got it. It did split quite quickly so keep an eye on it

Alright thanks, i'll keep an eye on the pipes for cracks etc. the location is right at the back behind the rear wheel, not in line or infront of it. It's a 1.3 polo gt conversion (fuel injection), would that have anything to do with it?

Retro Specification said

My old tin top was fitted with rubber hose. It looks right and it's certainly a pump and it looks like pre-pump filter.  Although it doesn't like anything I've seen before.

The only time I ever heard my pump make this type of noise was when. I was ultra low on fuel.

I'm wondering if this might be the case.

Rubber hoses as standard then? it's a 1.3 polo gt conversion (fuel injection) garage mentioned it has 2 fuel pumps, just really confused on the set up.  I have around half a tank of petrol so not that.

yeah it's all part of the gt conversion mate as it would have been converted from the standard carb'd engine to injection

so because you're car most likely still has the carby tank fitted, it will probably have a lift pump/sender assembly fitted from a later cabby/scirocco etc in the tank (have a look under back seat), along with this it needs the main fuel pump (which is the round thing with the wires/plug on it) and a reservoir (which should be the plastic boxish thing next to the pump) to keep a reserve of fuel

you should really have a large fuel filter too either mounted down with the above stuff or in the bay? and you don't have another pump in the bay do you?

ned_h said

yeah it's all part of the gt conversion mate as it would have been converted from the standard carb'd engine to injection

so because you're car most likely still has the carby tank fitted, it will probably have a lift pump/sender assembly fitted from a later cabby/scirocco etc in the tank (have a look under back seat), along with this it needs the main fuel pump (which is the round thing with the wires/plug on it) and a reservoir (which should be the plastic boxish thing next to the pump) to keep a reserve of fuel

you should really have a large fuel filter too either mounted down with the above stuff or in the bay? and you don't have another pump in the bay do you?

Thanks for the help! don't think there was a filter there, might be in the bay with another fuel pump. garage did say to me there is 2 fuel pumps, one of them is aftermarket, im guessing this pictured is the aftermarket pump and reservoir. So there must be a main pump and filter in the bay? Confuses me. Would it of had the extra pump and resi fitted because the original pump wasnt powerful enough for the switch between carb to fuel injection?

the pump in the pics above should be your main fuel pump. Because there's a reservoir fitted then you should still have the original tank so if you take a look under your back seat and remove the round cover plate, you'll be able to see the top of the tank and the fuel sender if you remove this it should have a small round in-tank fuel pump attached to it. You shouldn't have another pump in the bay, just a filter if not under the car after the reservoir and main pump. which'll look a bit like this:
http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0182/1073/products/100_0678_large.jpg?v=1368645034

yeah exactly mate, I'm guessing was originally a 1.1/1.3 so would have had a mechanical pump mounted on the head

http://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=fuel-systems-and_3%2Fgti-fuel-tank
^see at the bottom picture, you should have the in tank fuel sender/pump assembly >> plastic reservoir >> main pump >> filter (can be mounted in bay)  

(there'll be some experts along soon if i'm getting any of this wrong )

ned_h said

the pump in the pics above should be your main fuel pump. Because there's a reservoir fitted then you should still have the original tank so if you take a look under your back seat and remove the round cover plate, you'll be able to see the top of the tank and the fuel sender if you remove this it should have a small round in-tank fuel pump attached to it. You shouldn't have another pump in the bay, just a filter if not under the car after the reservoir and main pump. which'll look a bit like this:
http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0182/1073/products/100_0678_large.jpg?v=1368645034

yeah exactly mate, I'm guessing was originally a 1.1/1.3 so would have had a mechanical pump mounted on the head

http://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=fuel-systems-and_3%2Fgti-fuel-tank
^see at the bottom picture, you should have the in tank fuel sender/pump assembly >> plastic reservoir >> main pump >> filter (can be mounted in bay)  

(there'll be some experts along soon if i'm getting any of this wrong )

Thanks alot for everything, top bloke! Helped me out alot, and the good news is the noise from the pump has stopped, just started to start again when i got home after a 30min drive though.

Nice one, glad you got the help you needed  

yeah thats the polo main fuel pump and reservoir.

as ned says you need to check inside the tank for a lifter pump, if not there then this is why the main pump is squeeling its having to draw fuel up from inside the tank which it really doesnt like, and it will die eventually.

the lifter pump is there to keep the reservoir fully topped up with fuel to prevent the main pump from straining, any g40 shape polo one will work, as will post-84 cabrio or scirocco gti unit. try to get a 3 pin plug off the donor with some loom, or one from a pre-90 mk2 gti so you can graft this to your loom. the level sender and earth wires are easy splice to the old wires (or pop pins out and swap) last wire is fuel pump power which you tap into the feed to the main pump.

look for a fuel filter between the main pump and the fuel rail, and any other fuel pumps kicking about will need to be binned if after the main pump. if between the tank and reservoir this is ok they'll be doing the job of the lifter pump if working ok.