ever notice when you are driving your car cold, that is cars before 2006 throttle by wire,and you hear a vacume sound coming from the left front on and off again? that is your air pump. it makes noise, not much, but you can hear it.

when it starts to go it makes a real mega woooshing sound, many can hear you coming from blocks away. mine went south, the engine light came on, and to the dealer it went.

now this sound has been there since maybe 6 months ago and 5,000 miles. i noticed it then and the dealer took it in over night to reproduce the symptom when cold. at that time they said just let it die and bring it in.

so now i find that the warranty covers the pump...which can be expensive as there is much labor to remove this and that to get to it. i am paying for the check engine light check out and the relay which also failed producing the engine code.

anyone else had to replace this? it is the first thing that has gone south on this car in 4 years and 31,000 miles....

 

definetly seems early - I know a member that replaced it at 80K. it's not a critical item and is covered by warranty so I wouldn't worry too much

 

thanks, i just wanted all those with the noise to know what they could be in for. smog warranty in calif is exteneded beyond 3years to i think 7.