From time to time, the vacuum pump in my trunk will repeat a short whirring noise for minutes at a time. If I lock/unlock the doors a few times it will stop (the locks do in fact work), but it's getting irritating. Anyone else had this problem? I'm hesitant to try and fix it (since it ain't broke), but maybe you all have some insight. Attached is a picture of the part.

 

Mine was doing the same thing before it completely went bad. It makes that whining noise like someone is humming inside the car. It did take years sounding like that before the whole vacuum broke and my car lock won't work, the whinning sound did go away and so as my central lock. I needed to get a new one and the price isn't cheap.

 

You have a leak in your vacuum system. Fix it now or it will eventually burnt out the vacuum pump motor. Cheaper to fix now and you also won't have to listen to the pump.

 

I'm having the same issue, I unplugged the connector to get rid of the noise. Funny thing is that when I use the key to unlock or lock the doors on the driver side, it works on all the doors.

 

Do you know what the part number is for this thing by chance?

 

Yellow line is central locking
white line is vacuum assist for ventilation. You have vacuum elements behind your dash leaking

 

That makes the most sense. I wish I knew where they all are.