Topic: Installed fuel pump insulator

[Sly Bob]

Ordered the new and improved fuel pump insulator (12628069) the other day. Ordered it Friday and they said it would be in on Saturday. Couldn't get down there then but picked it up today. The insulator if ou are not familiar with it is one that GM puts on the Opel GTs and it's designed to reduce the noise that the high pressure fuel pump generates.

This is a picture of the front of the insulators. The old style is the one at the bottom of the picture
[attach=1]

And from the rear, you can see how the new insulator wraps around the pump better than the old design did.
[attach=2]

Made a difference. Some have said that the difference from the old to the new style is about a 40% improvement in sound. Although I haven't a way to verify that, that sounds about right. It certainly toned it down a bit. $20 well spent.

[SolNut]

Standard on GXP Coupes 

Steve
 

[LiquidPT]

Standard on GXP Coupes 

Steve
 

Oh cool. I was gonna go out and check if I needed one.

[Uranium-238]

I'll worry about the fuel pump's noise when I don't hear it...

[lil goat]

Mine was very loud, didn't do much to quiet it down, then it died maybe that's why it was so loud. I could barely hear it when the car was new. Let's see what the new one sounds like, there is no way it quieted mine 40% maybe 10% but like I said it may have been because mine was going bad, it just about drove me nuts!

[DragonSolGXP]

I bought one of these a few weeks ago but didn't install it. Looks like a lot of work.

I guess it's not standard on a 2008 GXP? I haven't really noticed that much noise?

[Sly Bob]

I didn't hear the noise inside the car, only when I had the hood open. Not a big inconvenience for me but I'm glad I installed it.

It took me less than 20 minutes to install it DragonSol. Piece of cake to install.

1)  You first need to take off the wiper arms and set them aside. No need to disconnect the rubber washer hoses.

The wipers are really easy to remove. First you need to remove the plastic cap that covers the nut that holds the wiper arm in place. You should be able to get a finger nail behind it to get it going and it will come off rather easily.

You will now see the nut that has to be removed to take off the wiper arm. The nut is 15mm in size. After you remove the nut, pull on the wiper arm while gently rocking it and it will come right off. It's on a tapered spline so you shouldn't have to pull to hard

You could probably pry on it as well to assist in removing it but I just rocked and pulled. Didn't want to take a chance on scratching anything.

2)  Remove the six screws that hold down the air inlet at the bottom of the windshield with a 7mm nut driver or socket. No need to remove it entirely, just take out the six screws. Removing the six will allow you to slide your hand under it so you can remove the three bolts from the bracket that holds the old insulator in place.

3)  You will have to remove the electrical connector that goes to the fuel pump. Underneath is a small tab that you pull up or squeeze toward the bottom of the connector. Once you have done this you can pull the electrical connector off the pump.

4)  Now get a 10mm socket on a 1/4" ratchet and remove the three bolts that hold the bracket that holds the insulator in place (pictured below). They are easy to get out. Slide the bracket out of the way as best you can so you can remove the old insulator then install the new insulator and reverse the procedure.

You can cut the zip tie on the bottom of the bracket that is preventing you from removing the bracket entirely. If you cut it to remove the bracket, be sure to replace it after you are done to prevent damage to wiring harness that it attached. I was able to get the old insulator off and the new one on without cutting the zip tie.

[Critterman]

So that's what drove you nuts goat.   Good to know.

Hey we tried to get you a fuel rail and pump, yesterday, but the plant manager wouldn't let us near the parts bin.

We even told him we wouldn't take anything we couldn't care out or home in the car

[DRM]

I have had my insulator for months and have been too lazy to install it.  Since so many folks here have been replacing theirs I decided to install it last night.  Only took about 15 minutes.  But instead of removing the insulator bracket, I just removed the one screw that was easy to access and bent the bracket out of the way and pushed it back when I replaced the insulator.  I got that idea from Joe's Garage.

I didn't have to remove the wipers either.

Thanks all for the great info here.

[DragonSolGXP]

I didn't hear the noise inside the car, only when I had the hood open. Not a big inconvenience for me but I'm glad I installed it.

It took me less than 20 minutes to install it DragonSol. Piece of cake to install.

1)  You first need to take off the wiper arms and set them aside. No need to disconnect the rubber washer hoses.

The wipers are really easy to remove. First you need to remove the plastic cap that covers the nut that holds the wiper arm in place. You should be able to get a finger nail behind it to get it going and it will come off rather easily.

[attachment=2]
You will now see the nut that has to be removed to take off the wiper arm. The nut is 15mm in size. After you remove the nut, pull on the wiper arm while gently rocking it and it will come right off. It's on a tapered spline so you shouldn't have to pull to hard

[attachment=3]
You could probably pry on it as well to assist in removing it but I just rocked and pulled. Didn't want to take a chance on scratching anything.

2)  Remove the six screws that hold down the air inlet at the bottom of the windshield with a 7mm nut driver or socket. No need to remove it entirely, just take out the six screws. Removing the six will allow you to slide your hand under it so you can remove the three bolts from the bracket that holds the old insulator in place.

3)  You will have to remove the electrical connector that goes to the fuel pump. Underneath is a small tab that you pull up or squeeze toward the bottom of the connector. Once you have done this you can pull the electrical connector off the pump.

4)  Now get a 10mm socket on a 1/4" ratchet and remove the three bolts that hold the bracket that holds the insulator in place (pictured below). They are easy to get out. Slide the bracket out of the way as best you can so you can remove the old insulator then install the new insulator and reverse the procedure.

[attachment=1]
You can cut the zip tie on the bottom of the bracket that is preventing you from removing the bracket entirely. If you cut it to remove the bracket, be sure to replace it after you are done to prevent damage to wiring harness that it attached. I was able to get the old insulator off and the new one on without cutting the zip tie.

Thanks. Doesn't look too bad. I'll give it a try on the weekend when it stops raining. Ahhh.... how do you remove the wiper arms?

[Sly Bob]

Not really into bending things DRM unless it's necessary. I am always concerned that the paint will crack and the part will start to rust at the crack.

The wipers are really easy to remove. I will update the thread above.

First you need to remove the plastic cap that covers the nut that holds the wiper arm in place. You should be able to get a finger nail behind it to get it going and it will come off rather easily.

[attachment=1]

You will now see the nut that has to be removed to take off the wiper arm. The nut is 15mm in size. After you remove the nut, pull on the wiper arm while gently rocking it and it will come right off. It's on a tapered spline so you shouldn't have to pull to hard

[attachment=2]

You could probably pry on it as well to assist in removing it but I just rocked and pulled. Didn't want to take a chance on scratching anything.

[Sly Bob]

Aren't digital cameras great!!!   

[e-sarge]

Having seen the insulator when I had the cowl off to replace the windshield, I would recommend going the extra step to remove the cowl -- it takes 2 more minutes and gives you complete access to the fuel pump area. You can also clean some s**t that you can't easily get to with the cowl in place. You will have to peel the ends off the A-pillars -- just clean the A-pillar and press them back on when you re-assemble.

Also, when replacing the wipers, don't forget to align them with the "T" marks on the windshield before you tighten the 15mm bolt. Now before you ask what "T" marks, just place your wipers where you think they belong, then look near the tips of the wiper blade (lower tip driver's side, upper tip passenger side) to find the "T" marks. I always wondered what those were for, until I asked my glass guy.

[Sly Bob]

Thanks e-sarge. You didn't let yours get dirty in there did ya? 

It's not a bad idea though as once you have the six screws out all that's left is a few push pins or Christmas trees as some call them. They are small too and way easier to get out than some I have fought with. 

So THAT'S what those "T"s are on the windshield. I didn't know what they were for either. 

[tazz]

Ordered mine first part of last week and the dealer said it would probably be in end of that week or on Tues/Wed of the following week since Mon was a Holiday.  Well they didn't call Tues so I called them a few minutes ago and asked if it had come in and they said yup it here.  I then asked why didn't they call and when it had come in?  They stated yesterday and I said ok I'll be over right away.  Got there and they guy was real nice and said I'm the guy who called about the fuel insulator and he said I'll be right back.  Rang it up and only charged me $8.67 almost $2 off list so it wasn't bad.  Wish they would give me those kinds of discounts all the time.

[lil goat]

Mine was very loud, didn't do much to quiet it down, then it died maybe that's why it was so loud. I could barely hear it when the car was new. Let's see what the new one sounds like, there is no way it quieted mine 40% maybe 10% but like I said it may have been because mine was going bad, it just about drove me nuts!

Since I got the new pump I have not heard a sound, I guess they put the insulator back. Maybe I should look, sure is MUCH quieter.

[redlinedude]

I called my local Saturn dealer and they ordered the part for me and are replacing under factory warranty. I'll post my feedback as soon as its done

[redlinedude]

I had my fuel pump cover installed under warranty last week and it seems a lot quieter to me.

[Unclefester]

I don't hear it and if I do I jsut turn up the stereo.