Greg, I agree with the possibility there is contact with the tank bottom. Even with the sock material squashed between the inlet and the tank, the contact would make it loud.

I bought the little hose -- might have been the same place you did -- just to see if it was an ordinary piece of fuel line (it was) and found it to be too long as supplied. Mine don't make noise (but my hearing is suspect).

Also, I don't agree with the idea that they burn out from lack of fuel to cool them. This mode suits the main pressure pump, but not this little light duty transfer pump. The electronics keep it from running unless the car is running (fuel present) anyway. Sure it needs fuel to lube the bushings, but you'd have to do a heck of a lot of cranking on fumes to keep that from happening.

If for some reason it was wired (or built) backward, I believe you'd have a hard time getting fuel out of a tank less than 1/2 full. Even harder than with the pump disconnected.

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Art Benstein near Baltimore