Whirring in rear when I switch the ignition on? Help please.

[Gogo]

When I switch the ignition on I get a whirring noise from the rear which lasts for a few seconds and then stops. My feeling is that it is the roof motor. The hood opens and closes OK but now just "slams" very slightly on the last few inches on the close cycle.

Is this the hood motor or the hydraulics? Any advice will be appreciated!

 

[mr wilks]

Never had a E85 so don't know its specific characteristics but many other cars ive had the priming of the fuel pump can be heard from the rear for a few seconds just after opening or key in ignition ?

 

[SteveG]

Gogo,

I have the same thing, put the key in the ignition and turn on and there is a whirring for a couple of seconds. It is the fuel pump sending fuel to the injection system prior to start and it cuts off when pressure is reached. As the previous respondent has alluded to, this is perfectly normal & probably only more noticeable in the Zed as the tank is right behind you rather than buried further back in a standard saloon car :wink:

 

[Gogo]

Thanks for the prompt responses. Two further questions:

1. I have never noticed this noise before which seems to suggest that something has changed. If so what is the likely cause of this change?

2. At the same time I noticed that the previous very smooth operation of the hood changed - with a slight "slam" in the last few inches of the hood opening cycle. Is this just a coincidence? What could this be?

 

[Mark-Z4]

Fuel pump priming?

 

[SteveG]

I've been out in mine this morning and tried to pay attention to the noises prior to starting the engine. There is a small whirr which seems to be the fuel pump priming as per my earlier post, then nothing until the starter is operated.

Opening and closing the hood seems to provide a much more mechanical noise both from the hood motor and the mechanism itself, this is a different noise from the fuel pump but there is no noise from the hood motor until the button is depressed to commence the hood operation. On closing the hood, mine slows as it approaches the screen header rail and does shut with a bit of a thud prior to the latches engaging. I have never viewed this as anything other than 'normal', the process is fairly smooth but appreciate this term may be very subjective. I would imagine if there was a problem with the motor not providing enough hydraulic pressure to operate the roof mechanism, it would not open or close fully, likewise if the motor was failing from water ingress. I cleaned the drains when I first got the car and it is something I will continue to do on a regular basis having seen comments on the forum about the fragility of this part, but as I have said I have no noise from the hood motor on position 1 or 2 of the ignition switch or indeed start up, until the button is operated.

Sorry this is so long winded, but hope it is of some assistance.

 

[Gogo]

Thanks for the further comments, particularly the detailed response from Steve G!

It looks like it must be the fuel pump, although I need to investigate why it has suddenly got noisy.

It looks like the hood issue is just a coincidence (or my paranoia!) - it has always been very smooth and the drains are clear.

 

[thepits]

(or my paranoia!) .

I know how you feel - I went to my doctor and told him that I was a paranoid schizophrenic - he said I wasn't .......


but We know differently, don't We :rofl: