My husband and I own a 1988 Ford Escort with 79,000 miles. In several weeks we plan to trade in the Escort for a brand-new Windstar van. When Goose, the salesman, test-drove the Escort, he said the fuel pump was making noises and needed to be replaced. Do fuel pumps really make noise, and why? My husband thinks we should fix this before trading it in; however, I disagree. Recently, I had the fuel pressure checked by a mechanic and was told the pressure was OK. What are your thoughts? -- Evelyn

Ray: My first thought is that your husband is much too honest to be dealing with car salesmen, Evelyn. You definitely need to tie him up and leave him home when you go in to negotiate for the Windstar!

Tom: Fuel pumps DO make noise when they're starting to go bad. They make something between a whine and a groan. And if Goose has accurately diagnosed the fuel-pump noise (and that's a big "if" in my opinion, since he's got ulterior motives), then your fuel pump may be starting to go.

Ray: But I say tough! It's possible for the fuel pump to start making noise before it's gotten bad enough to affect the fuel pressure, and therefore the performance of the car. And if you've had the pressure checked recently, and it's up to specifications, then I don't think you're obligated to fix it.

Tom: Goose is probably just trying to knock a couple of hundred bucks off the trade-in value of your car so he can make a bigger commission and get those sexy new plaid pants he's had his eyes on.

Ray: If the pressure specification are good, then I'd just fill up the tank (the fuel pump is inside the gas tank, and it makes less noise when the tank is full) and trade it in. And if Goose doesn't like it, tell him to go lay an egg.

It's amazing how many bad driving habits and wacko theories have been passed down from generation to generation! Tom and Ray set the record straight in their booklet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1996 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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