gsxr1216

interesting... I hear the pump on mine when I back out of my driveway or my parking spot at work, certainly no boost in either of those conditions and my gauge is showing decent vacuum???

itguy08

I get what you are saying about vacuum. But the car and SUVs that use the Ecoboost 3.5 do not have a vacuum pump at all.

I wonder if the trucks need more vacuum for the brakes or the hubs which also need vacuum?

s_vares

My pump has started making a horrible noise at start up too.

I wonder if the mechanical one can be used, how many wires are on the plug for the electric one? Might it throw an engine code?

gouldje

I wonder if my pump is starting to go. when I start my truck and back out of the garage I don't have proper brake pressure, I need to pump it to get full pressure. so if this vacuum pump supplies pressure to the booster that make sence. not sure but a theory.

mamonti

As stated it is on the 3.5l only and to provide vacuum to the brake booster once it detects a low vacuum from the sensor. If the pump is bad then it will set a code in the ABS module which should give you a ABS light on the dash. If the OP said it was filled with salt then it might not be a bad idea to protect it somehow such as relocating it or wrapping it in some type of shield or bag!

Bpierre

There are only two power wires going to the pump so you should be able to disconnect it without getting any codes

dieselhunter44

Diesels have been using vacuum pumps for years without much issue. The difference between a diesel and something very specific to our trucks is that diesels (e.g Superduty) use hydroboost brakes. They use hydraulic pressure from the power steering pump to assist braking. The vacuum pump is only used for HVAC and hub operation. We don't have conventional hydraulic power steering (except 6.2's) so you must rely on a vacuum pump for brake assist as is the case for Ecoboost trucks

TexasEd

Would low vacuum pressure produce a code?

Cord

My Dodge 2500 had a vacuum pump driven off the power steering pump and vacuum brakes. The Hydroboost system was a system that I believe first appeared on the Grand Nationals and my be proprietary to GM.

I will say that I've had my vacuum pump seize a few times and it gets interesting. Even though I'm showing vacuum at idle, a minute run time won't give me power brakes. Twice I've had to use the brakes shortly after starting the truck and there has been no boost. Dealer felt it once too. Gets your attention because you don't realize just how much we are relying on the boost. Strangely, the only time I've felt a lack of boost is right after starting the engine.

s_vares

I know I have electronic dual zone HVAC and there is nothing on that system vacuum actuated. So just brake booster and front hubs I presume.