Someone needs to design a 35 gallon replacement tank for these dual tank vans and trucks. That would eliminate all these problems with valves, multiple fuel pumps, switches, etc.

 

Yes the 88 has the same filter in the same location. In this case its the only thing he didn't replace. I myself replace that front inline filter once a year. Always runs better once its replaced.

I think the bronco comes with a large rear 35 gallon tank. I've heard a few people converting over.

 

Interesting. I wonder how difficult it would be. My back tank has some really bad gas in it. I was thinking of replacing the tank it has, but I'd much rather spend a little more and just get a bigger tank and eliminate the two tank set up.

 

I don't mean to jump in and take over the thread but, I've read through the other posts and it seems I may have the same problem with my '88 E-150 Conversion, it has a EFI 302 and dual tanks. I bought the van fall of '10 cheap, maybe part of the problem? :-)

The Problem:
When the rear tank was selected the van would run and drive for approx. half a mile then sputter and die... as if it ran out of gas. After this happening a couple times I quite using that tank and selected the front tank, which ran fine for the last 6 months... until last week. I started up the street and it spit and sputtered then died, as though it ran out of gas... had a little trouble getting it started but finally did, then it ran fine the rest of the way to the store and back approx. 2 miles. The next day my wife gets in and starts it, the van runs for maybe 30 seconds the dies... tries to start again and again only for it to run for maybe a second and then die. It continued to do this until yesterday. I started it after fighting the same issues as described above, then selected the rear tank and it started. It ran for about 5 to 10 minutes, at idle, then died as though it ran out of gas... it wouldn't start again.

thoughts? Could it be the fuel selector valve? I don't have a fuel pressure tester or any fancy tools, just a shade tree, weekend, wanna-be mechanic.
I'd like to know if there is a sequence of trouble shooting I can do before investing any money into parts that don't fix the problem... just can't afford that kind of trouble shooting.

Thanks in advance for your help!
-aaron

 

Ok, I just came back in from testing the van. It started without hesitation (Front Tank Selected) and ran for 5 minutes then died, suddenly, no hesitation, no acting like its starving, just died. When trying to restart it starts for 1 second (literally) then dies, no more.

thoughts?

 

Did you check for fuel pressure at the rail fitting?

 

No, I have no way of testing the fuel pressure.

 

Well get yourself a fuel pressure tester, it's well worth it, and you will need it to determine what's going on, good to have with any vehicle that has fuel injection.

 

Ok, I got me a fuel pressure gauge... I checked the fuel at the rails and it was approx. 37psi-ish. I couldn't find anywhere to put the t-junction in the fuel line under the van... it was all plastic or the special FORD connectors.... ugh. Since I wasn't quite man enough to cut through the plastic lines I decided to test the volume for each tank... the front tank produced 1 liter in 20 seconds, as required, but the rear tank produced 1 liter in 30 seconds. The rear tank hasn't really been an issue because I ruled it out a long time ago, cause it left me stranded. The issue is the recent failure of the front tank.
So, after conducting the volume test I decided to start the van and see how long it ran, I time it. It ran for 17 minutes until I shut it off.... what happened there? it didn't do that before! thoughts?

 

Have you ever changed the fuel filter?

 

I have no idea what all of this thread is about and I am not going to read it all.
You need to start your own Thread so we can help you better.

I would say from the last few posts that you have a Ignition problem and not fuel.
Maybe you have a bad PIP sensor or ICM.
Have you checked your codes?

 

I'm thinking intermittent loss of spark also, unless you have bad or old gas. How old are your wires?

 

Subford: I bought an inexpensive code reader for the van and it displayed no faults... I found that to be odd. I'm starting to thing that it is electrical and not fuel too. I've been told that the TFI Module on these things are inherently faulty and apparently don't always show a code when they go bad. Obviously this is going to have to be the next replacement as I continue my troubleshooting fun.
If anyone has had similar problems and knows the solution I would appreciate the help.

Also, is it possible for a moderator to move this to a new thread?

 

Tom, I don't know how old the plug wires are. I bought the van in september of last year. They don't have any visible issues. The gas is not very old, infect I had just put in 3/4 of a tank when the problem started... go figure.

 

Here is the link to my thread... https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post10184578

Thanks for everyones help!