When I start my '02 SF (w/ 152,000 KM) there is a rumbling sound that lasts for about 15 seconds. If you stop and restart the engine, it doesn't do it -- only when the engine has been off for 10+ minutes.

The car does a lot of idling because of my job.

Any suggestions? It starts perfectly every time, and the sound isn't extremely loud, but it is noticeable.

Can you tell where it's coming from (front/rear, left/right)? Have you started the car with the hood up and then jumped out and checked around the engine? There are lots of possibilities.

Mine does this and as far as I know, it's normal operating procedure. The sound you hear is the fuel pump sending a rush of fuel forward from the tank as starting the engine takes more fuel than idling does.

Yeah, mine sounds exactly like that -- fuel being sent from the tank to the engine. I won't worry about it much then.. I guess it has made that sound forever, I just haven't noticed it.

There shouldn't be any noise like that from an in-tank fuel pump. A healthy one anyway. My guess would be a heat-shield or exhaust issue.

Joel

Mine does it when I turn the key to 'ON', even if I don't start the engine. You can actually hear the gasoline flowing forward when it makes the grumbling noise but that's the only time it does it. I'm honestly not concerned; if it's been doing it for five years and 131,000 miles and something was wrong, it would have broken by now.

Weird. I've heard some odd electronic noises on various vehicles w/ key to "on" (clicks, servo buzzes, etc), coolant flow noise at idle, just never experienced a fuel flow noise.

Joel

Neither have I. Then a younger person than I might hear things I wouldn't.

Not deaf yet by a long shot, but the ears aren't quite as keen as they were forty years ago.

It's 5:30 now and my Santa Fe has been sitting for about three hours. I was not able to capture the 'grumbling' but I was able to catch the fuel pump whirring and sending fuel forward. My tank is at about 1/2 and it is roughly 64ºF in my garage, moderately humid.

Here is a quick video of mine operating under these conditions. I'll try to capture the elusive 'grumbling' as the car continues to cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z78UB1Nrmgs

Sweet! Thanks for taking the time. That is a LOUD FP. and my wife thought I was nuts. "What are you doing out in the garage with the camera... Again?" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grin.gif)

Joel

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink2.gif) It's a guy thing. They simply don't understand!

I just had a thought. Could it be a cracked exhaust manifold that closes up as soon as it starts to warm up? If so, it's warranty time.