Fuel sender question
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Fuel sender question
I have an 89 EFI F150 with 2 tanks. The rear tank pump/sender is shot and needs to be replaced. I can't even tell how much fuel is in the tank since when I switch to the rear tank the fuel gauge needle starts going for the bottom of the dash board like there was 30 gallons in a 16 gallon tank.
My question is: is fixing the sender/pump a realistic option? I know I'm trying to take the cheap way out since I don't want to shell out the $130 some bucks for a sender/pump if the thing can be fixed, but I figured it was at least worth a shot. Has anyone tried this or even know where to start? I haven't removed it from the tank yet so I'm not that far along. I'm sure that the gas in the rear tank is stale but that's a minor concern for now.
Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.
My question is: is fixing the sender/pump a realistic option? I know I'm trying to take the cheap way out since I don't want to shell out the $130 some bucks for a sender/pump if the thing can be fixed, but I figured it was at least worth a shot. Has anyone tried this or even know where to start? I haven't removed it from the tank yet so I'm not that far along. I'm sure that the gas in the rear tank is stale but that's a minor concern for now.
Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.
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So you're saying there's a loose wire somewhere?
Yeah, I switch to the rear tank and it looks well over full. The odd thing is that the engine will still run if I do this, but if I flip it back to the front tank after driving around for awhile on the rear tank, then the front tank will have less gas in it. That's why I think the rear in-tank pump is shot.
Yeah, I switch to the rear tank and it looks well over full. The odd thing is that the engine will still run if I do this, but if I flip it back to the front tank after driving around for awhile on the rear tank, then the front tank will have less gas in it. That's why I think the rear in-tank pump is shot.
Last edited by jr27; Jan 20, 2007 at 06:19 AM.
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From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Sounds to me like a snafu with the switch. When you turn your switch it does not switch the tanks, but it is grounding the fuel sensor wire for the other tank causing the overfull reading.
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Originally Posted by LxMan1
Perhaps the fuel switching valve on the frame is bad and you are pumping fuel from one tank to the other. My dad's 89 did this.
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I got the in-cabin switch. I replaced it and the gauge is still doing the same thing. The rear fuel gauge read the same with the in-cabin switch in as it did with the in-cabin switch out.
I've already ordered the rear tank sender/pump. I know I'm jumping the gun and probably should be looking at the switching valve first, but I can get that at an auto parts retailer and not have to order it. I just have a hunch about the rear sender.
I've already ordered the rear tank sender/pump. I know I'm jumping the gun and probably should be looking at the switching valve first, but I can get that at an auto parts retailer and not have to order it. I just have a hunch about the rear sender.
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I dropped the rear tank earlier today. It was the sender that was causing the problem. One of the pieces had broken off completely and was just hanging by a few wires.
Aside from the sender, the rear tank has to be replaced. I don't know what the hell happened back there, but after I finished syphoning out as much of a fuel as I could, the inside of the tank had this reddish tint to it. It almost looks like someone put some red wood stain in there. The gasoline didn't even smell like gas; it almost smelt like diesel fuel. No one in the area cleans gas tanks, and it makes more sense to replace the whole tank. I have to replace the connector to the sender as well, since the plastic is cracked and won't attach to the new sender. Tempted to put a 38 gallon tank in there, instead. The spare has been sitting underneath the tool box anyway. Haven't gotten around to the fuel switching valve yet.
Aside from the sender, the rear tank has to be replaced. I don't know what the hell happened back there, but after I finished syphoning out as much of a fuel as I could, the inside of the tank had this reddish tint to it. It almost looks like someone put some red wood stain in there. The gasoline didn't even smell like gas; it almost smelt like diesel fuel. No one in the area cleans gas tanks, and it makes more sense to replace the whole tank. I have to replace the connector to the sender as well, since the plastic is cracked and won't attach to the new sender. Tempted to put a 38 gallon tank in there, instead. The spare has been sitting underneath the tool box anyway. Haven't gotten around to the fuel switching valve yet.
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From: Virginia
So it was the sending unit? I have an 89 F-150 and my problem is when I am driving my fuel tank will go below what the fuel actually is. It can be full and read half. On half I will switch tanks and the guage will bounce back up, and then settle agiain at times. I do not know what tank is doing what. Do you think I should replace the valve before I check the sending units? I keep getting tols that the valve is the best option, just like you have been told jr27.
Motorhead26
Motorhead26
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Yeah, it was the sending unit. Once I dropped the tank and removed the sending unit I saw that the sending unit was pretty beat up. Not sure how it happened but something actually broke off of it. Maybe someone was syphoning gasoline out at some point and screwed it up somehow. Don't know.
I still haven't checked the selector valve yet so it could the valve, too.
I still haven't checked the selector valve yet so it could the valve, too.
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From: Virginia
So, I was wondering, HOW do you depressurize the system to replace the fual valve, without fuel blowing up in my face? You must know what to do about that since you have dropped the fuel tank and all.
Motorhead26
Motorhead26
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There is fuel pressure cutoff switch inside the cabin of the truck on the driver's side. It's mounted to the firewall. I just unplugged the wiring harness to the switch and cranked the engine to relieve the pressure. If the engine turns over at all after the switch is unplugged, it should die out in a few seconds once the fuel lines are depressurized. The wiring harness has 2 wires going to it. Not sure what the colors are, though.
It looks like it has a button on top of it but it's just for show. My wife's 96 Taurus has a switch that looks practically the same as my truck's switch but instead of unplugging the switch you just press the button.
It looks like it has a button on top of it but it's just for show. My wife's 96 Taurus has a switch that looks practically the same as my truck's switch but instead of unplugging the switch you just press the button.
Last edited by jr27; Feb 11, 2007 at 06:32 PM.