Quick whining noise when shutting down car? (Sometimes when unlocking doors)

AlphaSnacks · 09-11-2011, 07:35 PM

I've noticed a new sound over the past month, a quick whine that sounds from somewhere around the passengers's side when I shut down the car - sounds for about half a second. I also just noticed it when I hit the unlock button twice on my keyfob (car was off) and it did it then.

I know fuel pumps can whine when they engage and disengage, but it's odd to me that I've never noticed the sound before - because it is very obvious and perceptible, definitely not faint. I'd have noticed something like that from the first day of owning the car. I also know this isn't the ECU whine, because it mostly happens when the car turns off and it sounds like it's coming from the passengers side somewhere.

Where is the fuel pump located on our cars?

Zxces50 · 09-11-2011, 07:42 PM

Not sure if same sound - but when fan running and shut off car can hear it spin down. If you shut climate control off- does not happen. No idea about the fob

AlphaSnacks · 09-11-2011, 08:23 PM

It's not the fan. The fan takes more than a split-second to turn off - it whirs down. This is a mechanical/electric sounding whine. Lasts all of half a second.

AlphaSnacks · 09-11-2011, 08:27 PM

Did some searching, fuel pump is behind passenger seat it turns out? That's exactly where the sound is coming from. Now my concern is why I can hear it now and not before?

rudi · 09-11-2011, 10:18 PM

Is it like a terminator or robotic sound? If it is, I had this since day one and it doesn't seem to be a problem. Got no idea what it is though.

AlphaSnacks · 09-11-2011, 10:35 PM

Lmao, that's EXACTLY how I wanted to describe it, but thought no one would get the reference or understand what I mean. That is hilarious someone else thinks like that.

370zFORme!! · 09-11-2011, 10:53 PM

Ya its the fuel pump. Confirmed by Nissan Master tech.

svmtbman · 09-12-2011, 06:41 PM

Could be your steering wheel locking, do you hear it when you start the car as well?

PluckyPurcell · 09-12-2011, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svmtbman

Could be your steering wheel locking, do you hear it when you start the car as well?

Definitely the steering lock. Just listen to that added security.

AlphaSnacks · 09-13-2011, 10:15 PM

I don't hear it when starting the car, I don't think. It's definitely coming from behind me somewhere.

nmjaxx9 · 09-13-2011, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arnold K.

I don't hear it when starting the car, I don't think. It's definitely coming from behind me somewhere.

Check for a gremlin or troll lurking in your hatch that might be it.

XwChriswX · 09-13-2011, 10:47 PM

I know exactly the sound you're talking about, sounds like a jet engine shutting down. I actually like it. Sounds all futuristic and stuff...

Like the cars in Men In Black.

ImportConvert · 09-14-2011, 01:59 AM

My Z06 does the same thing FWIW. I wouldn't worry about it whether it's the FP or not. Many cars do it. All the gadgets in them now-days it seems tend to make some noise.

PluckyPurcell · 09-14-2011, 07:28 AM

Upon shutdown the Z electronically drives a pin into a notch inside the steering column to completely disable the steering wheel from turning. Press start and the pin retracts. That's the sound you hear.

From the owner's manual...

STEERING LOCK (if so equipped)
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/8 of a right or left turn
from the straight up position.
To lock the steering wheel, push the
ignition switch to the OFF position. To
unlock the steering wheel, push the ignition
switch. If the steering lock release
malfunction indicator appears on the vehicle
information display, push the pushbutton
ignition switch again while lightly
turning the steering wheel right and left.
(See “VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY”
in the “2. Instruments and controls” section.)

AlphaSnacks · 09-14-2011, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PluckyPurcell

Upon shutdown the Z electronically drives a pin into a notch inside the steering column to completely disable the steering wheel from turning. Press start and the pin retracts. That's the sound you hear.

From the owner's manual...

STEERING LOCK (if so equipped)
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/8 of a right or left turn
from the straight up position.
To lock the steering wheel, push the
ignition switch to the OFF position. To
unlock the steering wheel, push the ignition
switch. If the steering lock release
malfunction indicator appears on the vehicle
information display, push the pushbutton
ignition switch again while lightly
turning the steering wheel right and left.
(See “VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY”
in the “2. Instruments and controls” section.)

I know what the steering column lock and unlock sounds like. This sounds nothing like it. It is definitely the fuel pump.

09-11-2011, 07:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
AlphaSnacks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Windermere, FL Posts: 1,618 Drives: '13 XKR-S, '10 370Z Rep Power: 18	Quick whining noise when shutting down car? (Sometimes when unlocking doors) I've noticed a new sound over the past month, a quick whine that sounds from somewhere around the passengers's side when I shut down the car - sounds for about half a second. I also just noticed it when I hit the unlock button twice on my keyfob (car was off) and it did it then. I know fuel pumps can whine when they engage and disengage, but it's odd to me that I've never noticed the sound before - because it is very obvious and perceptible, definitely not faint. I'd have noticed something like that from the first day of owning the car. I also know this isn't the ECU whine, because it mostly happens when the car turns off and it sounds like it's coming from the passengers side somewhere. Where is the fuel pump located on our cars?

09-11-2011, 10:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
370zFORme!! Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,459 Drives: 2012 6MT STiffy Rep Power: 17	Ya its the fuel pump. Confirmed by Nissan Master tech. __________________ 87' Honda Civic Hatchback: Kaput @ 288,000 miles, 90' Toyota Celica: Kaput @ 175,000 miles, 93' Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4: Kaput @ 138,000 miles, 06' Scion Tc: Traded in @ 64,000 miles, 10' Nissan 370z: Traded in @ 25,000 miles, 12' Subaru Impreza Sti: Current.

09-12-2011, 06:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
svmtbman Base Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Macon, GA Age: 53 Posts: 219 Drives: 2011 370Z PW M6 Rep Power: 14	Could be your steering wheel locking, do you hear it when you start the car as well? __________________ 2011 Pearl White, Persimmon, Touring, Sport, Navigation, 6sp - PW JDM shift knob, Invidia Gemini CBE, aFe dry filters, HPS intake tubes, JDM fog light, Redline shift boot, LED interior lights, Z1 hood struts, and 30% tint.

09-13-2011, 10:47 PM	#12 (permalink)
XwChriswX WFLYIDNNE Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: In The Fastlane Posts: 50,648 Drives: 02 GDB WRX Rep Power: 451	I know exactly the sound you're talking about, sounds like a jet engine shutting down. I actually like it. Sounds all futuristic and stuff... Like the cars in Men In Black. __________________ Bonnie - Stage 2, Audio build coming this fall! R.I.P. Abby 3/29/10 - 3/30/14

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09-11-2011, 07:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zxces50 Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 208 Drives: 15 C7 Stingray Z51 Rep Power: 16	Not sure if same sound - but when fan running and shut off car can hear it spin down. If you shut climate control off- does not happen. No idea about the fob

09-11-2011, 08:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
AlphaSnacks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Windermere, FL Posts: 1,618 Drives: '13 XKR-S, '10 370Z Rep Power: 18	It's not the fan. The fan takes more than a split-second to turn off - it whirs down. This is a mechanical/electric sounding whine. Lasts all of half a second.

09-11-2011, 08:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
AlphaSnacks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Windermere, FL Posts: 1,618 Drives: '13 XKR-S, '10 370Z Rep Power: 18	Did some searching, fuel pump is behind passenger seat it turns out? That's exactly where the sound is coming from. Now my concern is why I can hear it now and not before?

09-11-2011, 10:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
rudi Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 306 Drives: 370Z Australian Spec Rep Power: 15	Is it like a terminator or robotic sound? If it is, I had this since day one and it doesn't seem to be a problem. Got no idea what it is though.

09-11-2011, 10:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
AlphaSnacks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Windermere, FL Posts: 1,618 Drives: '13 XKR-S, '10 370Z Rep Power: 18	Lmao, that's EXACTLY how I wanted to describe it, but thought no one would get the reference or understand what I mean. That is hilarious someone else thinks like that.

09-13-2011, 10:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
AlphaSnacks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Windermere, FL Posts: 1,618 Drives: '13 XKR-S, '10 370Z Rep Power: 18	I don't hear it when starting the car, I don't think. It's definitely coming from behind me somewhere.

09-14-2011, 01:59 AM	#13 (permalink)
ImportConvert A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: SWMO Posts: 4,454 Drives: 2019 CX5 GT Reserve Rep Power: 7626	My Z06 does the same thing FWIW. I wouldn't worry about it whether it's the FP or not. Many cars do it. All the gadgets in them now-days it seems tend to make some noise.

09-14-2011, 07:28 AM	#14 (permalink)
PluckyPurcell Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: 353018 811254 Posts: 72 Drives: '11 Z Roadster GM M6 Rep Power: 14	Upon shutdown the Z electronically drives a pin into a notch inside the steering column to completely disable the steering wheel from turning. Press start and the pin retracts. That's the sound you hear. From the owner's manual... STEERING LOCK (if so equipped) In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it must be turned about 1/8 of a right or left turn from the straight up position. To lock the steering wheel, push the ignition switch to the OFF position. To unlock the steering wheel, push the ignition switch. If the steering lock release malfunction indicator appears on the vehicle information display, push the pushbutton ignition switch again while lightly turning the steering wheel right and left. (See “VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY” in the “2. Instruments and controls” section.)