Helping my dad with a problem
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Helping my dad with a problem
So my dad was driving down the freeway and suddenly the 1968 F-250 died on him. He got it towed home and he determined the problem was a the fuel pump (mechanical) so he bought a new one and installed it. The truck fired up and he got about half way down the block and then it died. He had to push it back to the garage where it has sat ever since. I'm not sure if the problem is the fuel pump or not or if my dad didn't install it correctly. Any ideas help! I hate to see this truck sit like this and I would love to get it back out on the road. Quick details, we tried reinstalling the fuel pump, reattached all the fuel lines and the car wouldn't start. We sprayed some starting fluid in the carb and it turned over then died, just burning off the starting fluid. I put my finger over the fuel line the comes from the pump and goes to the carb to see if there is any pressure and I couldn't even feel any air coming out. Thanks!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Christopherf250 Welcome to 
and the Bumpside Forum. 
Sounds like a fuel delivery issue. It may not be leaving the tank or may be stopped up elsewhere.
When you remove the line from the tank is gas pouring? Remove the tank cap and have a blow tip on an air hose and blow air back into the tank in case there is a sediment blockage. Are there inline filters? Those can get stopped up. Is there gas coming out of the line at the carb? Lastly the pump may not be working.
It's trial & error til you find it.
John
and the Bumpside Forum. Sounds like a fuel delivery issue. It may not be leaving the tank or may be stopped up elsewhere.
When you remove the line from the tank is gas pouring? Remove the tank cap and have a blow tip on an air hose and blow air back into the tank in case there is a sediment blockage. Are there inline filters? Those can get stopped up. Is there gas coming out of the line at the carb? Lastly the pump may not be working.
It's trial & error til you find it.
John
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 5
From: Garner NC
I'm going with rust in the tank also. The filter for the fuel pump is the bottom of the pump. Remove the sediment can and see if there is any brown dust in there. You can pull the sending unit on top of the tank and look inside with a flashlight as well. Very common issue. The sending unit is going to look like crap if it is the original, and probably no longer has the filter sock on the end of the pickup tube so larger chunks of rust can then make their way to the pump. If you have rust in the tank, replace it. Cheap insurance IMHO. I have done that on every Mustang I have ever owned and never regretted it.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
Likes: 5
From: The hills of No. Calif.
Does this truck have dual tanks, or just the single in-cab tank? If it's dual tanks, any chance the lever under the seat got moved, possibly to the closed position or in-between tanks? I've seen the fuel lines at the selector valve crack and cause the pump to suck air. And is there fuel in the tank(s)? It's happened to more than one person that they simply ran out of gas and didn't check that because the gauge was still registering fuel in the tank.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,209
Likes: 12
From: Black Hills of SD
Not trying to be disrespectful but I think we should have a sticky titled "My truck won't run" with a nice simple flow chart on how to check for fuel delivery and spark. Then it would be easy to send people to solid concise troubleshooting information.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 20
From: Four Oaks, NC
I had this problem with mine too due to rust in the tank. Gets sucked into the fuel line and clogs it up. The best fix is a new tank, and blow the fuel lines out real good with compressed air (or even better, replace with a new hard line). Replace the fuel filter and any rubber lines as well (the modern fuel likes to eat away old rubber, it has about 10% ethanol in it which can be caustic to old car fuel system that wasn't made for this type of fuel).
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,031
Likes: 72
still the OP needs to isolate where the issue is. I would be for using a gas can of some sorts, disconnect the feed line to the fuel pump. Sit the gas can on the fender well or wherever and run a line from it to the fuel pump and see what happens.
If it behaves normally, then good chance is the fuel line is clogged or at the fuel tank.
While the fuel feed line is off and provided no in-line filters exist, I would use an air tank and send pressure back toward the fuel tank (with the gas cap off and hopefully not a full tank) and listen for air and bubbles.
If it behaves normally, then good chance is the fuel line is clogged or at the fuel tank.
While the fuel feed line is off and provided no in-line filters exist, I would use an air tank and send pressure back toward the fuel tank (with the gas cap off and hopefully not a full tank) and listen for air and bubbles.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,209
Likes: 12
From: Black Hills of SD
I always just use my hand held vacuum pump with the catch jar on the line from the tank (at the fuel pump). It's real easy to see what kind of delivery you are getting and if there are bubbles, eliminates guess work and throwing parts at something trying to guess what it might be. It's an inexpensive tool and should be in everyone's tool box, along with a good test light.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,592
Likes: 10
From: **** hole San Jose ca.
Well you've found the problem, Now all you have to do is figure out why the gas is not getting through to the carb.
All the posters replied have danced around items the could be one of the reasons your not getting gas.
I'd check that the pump itself is working at all. It has been noted that these can wear down so much on the pump cam wheel that operates the pump leveler action of the pump has failed.
Not likely but at least it's worth a check of it to ensure it's working.
To check, crank engine while placing your thumb/finger on the inlet side.
It should have some vacuum sucking action on ones finger. Then it's good.
Then look for any hard/cracked rubber lines. It's best to replace all the rubber lines. If still not sucking up or pumping gas then it's iin the tank.
Like posted above the tank pickup tube can rust holes into it and if gas is below a hole it will not get any gas until adding more gas above any of the holes.
If no holes in the pickup tube then it could be a blockage on the tip/filter sock sucked in some blockage.
Check all & report back here.
Orich
All the posters replied have danced around items the could be one of the reasons your not getting gas.
I'd check that the pump itself is working at all. It has been noted that these can wear down so much on the pump cam wheel that operates the pump leveler action of the pump has failed.
Not likely but at least it's worth a check of it to ensure it's working.
To check, crank engine while placing your thumb/finger on the inlet side.
It should have some vacuum sucking action on ones finger. Then it's good.
Then look for any hard/cracked rubber lines. It's best to replace all the rubber lines. If still not sucking up or pumping gas then it's iin the tank.
Like posted above the tank pickup tube can rust holes into it and if gas is below a hole it will not get any gas until adding more gas above any of the holes.
If no holes in the pickup tube then it could be a blockage on the tip/filter sock sucked in some blockage.
Check all & report back here.
Orich
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,592
Likes: 10
From: **** hole San Jose ca.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,350
Likes: 7
From: Garland, Tx
OH GOD, let's not start that again... LMAO
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,255
Likes: 199
From: Phoenix, Az.
So my dad was driving down the freeway and suddenly the 1968 F-250 died on him. He got it towed home and he determined the problem was a the fuel pump (mechanical) so he bought a new one and installed it. The truck fired up and he got about half way down the block and then it died. He had to push it back to the garage where it has sat ever since. I'm not sure if the problem is the fuel pump or not or if my dad didn't install it correctly. Any ideas help! I hate to see this truck sit like this and I would love to get it back out on the road. Quick details, we tried reinstalling the fuel pump, reattached all the fuel lines and the car wouldn't start. We sprayed some starting fluid in the carb and it turned over then died, just burning off the starting fluid. I put my finger over the fuel line the comes from the pump and goes to the carb to see if there is any pressure and I couldn't even feel any air coming out. Thanks!
And #2. let me say (without disrespect intended) that usually when a person asks a question they look for an answer. If one asks us and then disappears they get the rath of the jeckles .
