MattyG

I think I finally got rid of it. I didn't know what it was at first. It almost sounded like a radio/stereo issue. But it's an early warning sign that your fuel pump is working overtime.

So thanks to some decent threads on the forum, I changed the fuel filter and strainer to see if that will help.

The car's a lot more perkier although strangely it's idling rougher. I was having kickdown problems as in, hesitation and then it would go. That's gone away.

Looked at my old filter and it's black. I didn't have a hacksaw so I didn't get to cut it open but here's the new filter on the ole assembly.

929rider

iTrader: (1)

i have had this problem for 2 years now. getting a filter tomorrow. my question is it only does the noise when it is cold out. and how does the sound come in the cabin?

Lukas99GS

Mine makes a whining noise only when it's cold an only between 30-40 mph, but I had heard it was the differential and I needed new fluid, I'll try both and see what happens

MattyG

Yep. My symptoms exactly. Cold weather, cold fuel which is denser. A clogged filter will make that pump work that much harder until the weather warms up. Then it was random in my case - very high frequency noise like your stereo is out of tune.

But as time goes on you will see hesitation issues as the computer tries to figure out what your throttle pedal is doing vs the fuel pressure. A serious kickdown demands more fuel but your filter is working against the fuel pump.

The sound comes right into the cabin because the fuel pump assembly is right behind you under the passenger seat. I'm so glad these cars give you lots of advance notice somthing's wrong.

Edit: Just be careful when you're changing it. It requires some finesse. And the fuel filter for my 2002 GS430? Turns out to be the same one from a 04 Camry. I bought it for $20 on Ebay. LOL.

MattyG

So the whining noise occasionally comes back but only when it's cold. The car's running better.

I might still have to go for a fuel pump replacement. But now that I've had some practice Shouldn't be a big deal. Does anybody know if the Denso pump changed from 98 GS400 from the 02 GS430? There's different part #'s