what type of sound should you hear coming from pump when the engine is running?

 

you can't hear it when engine is running.

when engine is cold, put the shifter in 1st, then crank the engine to start; engine won't start but you'll hear the pump whirring.

 

when i pop my trunk and lift the spare tire cover i hear a hissing like sound.

 

is that my fuel filter at work?

 

something that sounds like an electronic hissss?

 

yes...@ front right of the boot.

 

My XJ Series 3 pump always sounded like a very high pitched whine, and not all that noisy, you had to lift off the cover in the boot to really hear it. I never had any problems with it, either, and I had the car 14 years

 

that sound is a combination of fuel pump and solenoid valves doing their thing. don't worry about it. The fuel filter is silent. Also, these cars have something like an Altitude Metering Valve or Sensing device mounted in the upper right side of trunk/boot, behind the right side panel, it makes a certain noise too. (it is a solenoid-looking valve, anonized gold in color with two red wires). I would describe the noise as a house door bell transformer vibration. There is no documentation for it in any of the Service Manuals I've seen, (mine are old). A Jaguar mechanic told me what it was and told me to leave it alone.

 

thanks fellas. im trying to give the car a good cleaning and i do not want to break anything else or mess with anything that needs to be left alone.

which leads me to my air intake area. i want to clean this side of the enging compartment as well as the parts...fuel filter..throttle body...

what is my best approach ? type of cleaner..things to be careful of...things i shouldnt touch, things i should touch etc?

 

First, don't blast the engine bay with a garden hose.

Lots of rags, brushes, Simple Green (or similar), mild solvent. Ordinary paint thinner in a hand trigger spray bottle is useful. WD40 is a great mild solvent for cleaning.

Clean/tighten any and all electrical connections and ground points you come across.

Clean the throttle body with aerosol carb cleaner, rags, toothbrush. Set throttle blade gap to .002"

Cheers
DD