Harmonica in the fuel tank

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jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2507
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
Location: Cambridge

Harmonica in the fuel tank

Post by jamescarruthers » Sat Feb 03, 2024 2:03 pm

I started the 480 up today to let it run while I worked on installing a new rear seatbelt so that now my son’s bigger car seat can be installed (thanks Jeff!).

The fuel tank must have to let some air in and out and I would imagine that it used to do this silently. Now however it sounds like a harmonica every few minutes or so. Is this something very blocked up and needs my attention or is it just what they do when it gets old and I can ignore it in favour of more pressing matters?
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

jifflemon
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2480
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2016 11:03 am

Re: Harmonica in the fuel tank

Post by jifflemon » Sat Feb 03, 2024 3:06 pm

Off to study Seymour - he’s go the smaller tank too. The only time he makes a noise is when the fuel level is dangerous low.

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jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2507
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: Harmonica in the fuel tank

Post by jamescarruthers » Sat Feb 03, 2024 3:35 pm

Got half a tank in according to the Info Centre
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

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edie_fox
480 Rookie
Posts: 415
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:05 pm
Location: Lincolnshire

Re: Harmonica in the fuel tank

Post by edie_fox » Sat Feb 03, 2024 11:35 pm

Mine started doing this after a longer drive about 8 months after I got it. Usually, as long as I didn’t let the range drop below 100 miles left in the tank, it didn’t happen.

And it was a case of ‘it’s not broken, don’t need to fix it’. It was all working fine just awful whine if low. I think I’ve read the same in a few places online over the past few years too from other owners.

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