Noise under hood and battery issue?

[CharityDC]

https://youtu.be/bJo3ho8wjPA

Issue #1: Odd noise coming from under the hood, as you can see/hear in the video linked above, it comes and goes when you mess with the wire/hose, whatever it is. What is it? How do you fix it?

Issue #2: Just started last night at football practice, went to start the van, it wouldn't start, just heard clicking. Got a jump start to get home after practice, let it run to charge. Start it this morning, same thing, just clicked a couple times. Jump started it again, drove it around. Later this morning, start it, just clicks, turn it over again and NOTHING (no noise at all), turn it over a 3rd time it started....a hard struggling start. Its done exactly that 4 times today.
Bad battery? It is 5 years old.
My husband disconnected the positive from the battery and it didn't die/shut off, so assuming the alternator is still good?
Thanks!

[Stealthee]

Battery probably has a bad cell.

[wiswind]

I figure that a battery has a 5 year life.
Any more is a gift.
Since you were able to get going with a jump start......that points to the battery.
I would replace the battery with the most powerful one you can find (cold cranking amps) if you are in a northern area.
NOTE......a weak battery places a extra load onto the alternator, so it is not unusual for the alternator and battery to fail close to each other.

[Stealthee]

A weak battery really doesn't stress an alternator as bad as a weak alternator stresses a battery.

In all my years of driving I have only replaced one alternator on my vehicles, even though I went through a few weak batteries. A weak battery did not kill the alternator. I've never replaced and alternator and battery back to back.

[CharityDC]

Thanks
I'm hoping the alternator does not fail anytime soon, it was replaced within a few days to a week after the battery was replaced 5 years ago.
BTW, I am in Florida, It don't get too cold here.

Any ideas on the noise in the video?

[wiswind]

My best guess on the noise would be some vaccum leak.....cracked hose...etc.

[scubacat]

Ditto to wiswind. Definitely an air/vacuum leak of some sort. Try and grab each hose separately and see which one is the culprit.

[CharityDC]

Thanks for all the replies!

It def was the battery, will be getting a new battery this week.

The noise is coming from the hose my husband is moving in the video which connects to a metal line that goes into the firewall. I'll try to get a picture of where it comes from and where it goes to in a few.

[CharityDC]

I'm hoping I did these right.
Hoping to find out what this line is....it "looks" like it goes either into the bottom of the firewall or under the van. Editing to add, It doesn't make that sound in the video ALL the time, only sometimes.
12016619_10153475919721558_2119531422_n.jpg

12032288_10153475919731558_1764055602_n.jpg

12007305_10153475919726558_223251132_n.jpg

[tomj76]

I believe the line you're highlighting is the fuel hose. I can't tell if it is supply or return (both go down along the firewall, then under the vehicle to the fuel tank). Is the noise you're referring to the "beep" that is heard on the video?

[CharityDC]

Originally Posted by tomj76

I believe the line you're highlighting is the fuel hose. I can't tell if it is supply or return (both go down along the firewall, then under the vehicle to the fuel tank). Is the noise you're referring to the "beep" that is heard on the video?

Yes that is the noise I am referring to. Is this something serious that should be replaced immediately? Is it something My husband can do himself? We don't smell fuel in the engine compartment when its making that noise.

How would i figure out if it is the supply or return?
And Thanks for your reply!!!

[tomj76]

The "beep" almost sounds like it comes from something electronic. Are you sure it comes from the fuel line? If it runs OK and you can't detect gasoline, then it's probably safe.

I don't have any advise regarding how to tell them apart. I know the connectors between the hoses and the fuel rail are different sizes, but I don't remember which is the smaller one.

Of course the one that comes from the fuel filter is the supply line, but that's not much help when looking at them in the engine compartment. The one connected to the fuel regulator (the circular device on the fuel rail with the vacuum line coming from it) "should be" the return line.

[scubacat]

The one you specified (the "inside" tube) is the return line. The outside one is the pressure line.

The noise is most likely a vacuum leak. Spray some water or carb cleaner in different areas and see if the idle changes or the noise happens.

[tomj76]

You might be able to isolate the location of the noise using a rubber hose. I've done this with a length of 1/4" hose, one end at your ear, the other moved around to search for the source of the sound.