hey hows it going? first time ford owner here. i got a 1986 ford f-150 302 and it has dual tanks. only one gas tank works. what do i need to look for and check? is this a hard fix or easy? any info on helping me fix this problem would be great. truck is in good shape no rust on it. other than the gas tank not working everything else is ok. what is the lug pattern on the ford 5 lug? is it 5 on 4.75 or something? the rims a beat up from the farm i need to get some new ones. thanks -chris

 

colbyjack,

I am going through a similar issue right now with an 85 F250/460V8. There are a few things that you can test. If you have a Haynes manual, Chapter 4 is about fuel and emmissions, and the front page will give you specs on the PSI, flow rate, etc for your fuel pumps. If you pull the fuel line going into the fuel rail, you should be able to pump gas and see what your flow rate is.

Also, if you have the dual tanks, there is a selector valve under the drivers side door, on the inside of the frame rail. Mine is either clogged or stuck, so I am having to replace it. One way to test this is to disconnect the starter wire from the starter relay on the passenger's side fender wall, then when you crank the key you should hear the fuel pumps going. If you flip your switch to change tanks, you should be able to hear both. If the tanks have fuel, it is a pretty quiet sound, if empty then quite loud. If you don't hear both pumps, then one of them could be bad, or you could have a bad selector valve (the signals to the pumps go through the harness in the valve). There is a 5-wire harness, you can get schematics from ddeboer's website (search for this in the forums and you will find the link).

If you need a replacement valve, I have called around and found the cheapest one at GI Joe's (Wells PN FSV-1). Or call one of the Advance Auto Part's stores (i.e. Kragen, Schucks, Knechts). It is around $50, plus you will need to go to Napa and get a connector shell and pins so create a new harness...

Hope this helps.

 

Wheels are 5 on 5 1/2" pattern - used since forever (well 30's) up thru 97. There have been a few exceptions, but basically all half ton pickups during those years are the same.

 

thanks for the quick replys, im going to get a manual and do what ya said and get er fixed. thanks o i posted a pic on this other thread here it is = http://www.iowa4wd.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=371&sid=b c18fe7664729523afc13ffe64c84c64


-chris

 

most of the problems i've seen with one of two tanks not working is thge swich. ive seen mechanical and elactric switches fail (at the same time on the same truck) so i don't really have a recomendation on what kind of switch to get but, i can say if you happen to be out hunting and a switch goes out on you while you are alone on the side of a mountain you can get under the truck pull the gas line out the switch (a 30-6 shell works great to plug the line) and plug it directly into where the front tank is. this is just a quick fix untill you get back home of course. hope that made sence. and like the country song says "don't ask me how I know"

 

Also ty cleaning the harness connection at the valve. a little contact cleaner to the wiring harness and mine was fixed.