I have a 1987 F-150 that doesn't seem to be switching fuel tanks. It will only burn gas out of the front tank and when I switch tanks the fuel gauge changes but it will keep burning gas out of the front tank. If I have it switched to the back tank for a few minutes it starts making a loud howling noise and as soon as I switch it back to the front tank the howling goes away. Every once in a while if I have it on the back tank it will just die then if you switch tanks it will start up again like nothing ever happened.

 

Either the switching valve is stuck, or the rear in-tank fuel pump is not working. The valve switches via fuel pressure from the tank pumps. I had the same problem when I was in high school and ended up running the front tank out of gas thinking I was running off of the rear tank.

 

What engine do you have ?

Do you have a tachometer in your Dash ?

 

It has the 302 with no tachometer

 

"a loud howling noise" That's probably your High Pressure Pump starving for fuel, with neither tank pumping when you switch to rear tank. surprised the HP pump doesn't suck a little fuel out of the front tank, even though you have turned off the front tank pump by switching to the rear.

I'm guessing like Eric states, your rear Fuel Pump is not working or its not getting power.

You could check the power to the rear tank pump via one of the connectors in the path/harness, Brown/White. Also check the Ground wires leading away from the Rear Tank, Orange for the pump.

You can also check for power at the Fuel Tank Selector Switch for the Rear Tank, Brown/White for the pump.

 

If it is your fuel tank selector valve rockauto are currently out of stock of the Dorman replacements, I am waiting for them to get some in so I can replace mine.

 

You found them on rockauto? The only one I can find is 260 from o'reillys or 160 from amazon

 

Yeh, Dorman do a replacement, the part no is 911-000, I was worried that they might have stopped making them but I sent an email and apparently they were meant to be coming back into stock soon.

 

Thanks guys. I will have to check into it some more.