Long story ...but Reader's Digest version, wife drove truck all week while her car getting fixed by me. (new upper control arms , sway bar links, etc, right after daughters Accord decided to give up a hub bearing and half shaft! When it rains ---it pours) I get in it Thurs night to get daughter at school, first time I have been in it in a week, I drive a work truck, so truck doesn't usually go much, on way back low fuel light comes on...(2000 7.3, crew 4 door) I freak out because I never let it get below 1/2 tank at most. Her work round trip 75 miles. I go home 1.5 miles further and today Sat. , I go to fill it up 1.5 miles. I put 24 gallons in topping repeatedly. Could have sworn the tanks hold more than that. As I was going the last block in, it started running wierd, like a car with a bad spark plug or wire. Still ran and idled. Added 1/2 white bottle of the additive you get at Wally world. Then it ran bad...I stayed in the paRKING LOT FOR 5 MINUTES IDLING, (i DID GET DIESEL!) Sorry hit the caps button. Anyway I made it home but it ran like crap. Drove to my buddies home, he wasn't there, got up to maybe 30 mph tops, occasional white- black smoke when you tried to go. I figured it picked up some trash and changed out the water/fuel filter on the top of the motor. Clicked the key a couple, total of about 15 times by the end of this... of times and started it. It idled kind of..then ran like ___. Then died, wouldn't start. I put in a CPS just because it has never been changed (99,000 miles) still nothing. Looked in the top fuel bowl -EMPTY ...had the aforementioned diesel owner buddy come over, one of us felt the frame filter or pump??? His vibrates when you hit the key and watch the WTS light...mine nothing. Looked in bowl as he hit key , nothing going in the bowl. Is this what ya'll think it is??? Help. If it is any tricks to changing this thing? Looks like a fuel filter on a 90 vintage car to me, .....

 

Elvis,
I know you live in Texas but has it been cold there this week?
This sounds almost exactly what happened to me 3 years ago. We had a bad cold snap and the local fuel is not winterized.
Long and short is my whole tank was jelled.

 

Unplug the fuel pump on the rail and turn key on and check for voltage. Make sure maybe the pump didnt go out.

 

It was cool by ya'll standards..35-40 @ night 40 high in day. Today it was 60 YAY! I always keep the tank full when it is sitting there waiting for me to drive on weekends, I add the white additive in winter and grey in summer. She let it warm up in the AM before she went to work everyday. I drive it about 50 miles a week lately until her 380 mile jaunt in 4 days. Haven't ever had a problem with the cold her much. Maybe because the bottom of the tank...but that is where the pick up is anyway, right? I am pricing fuel pumps now .

 

Sure sounds like a fuel pump to me. As mentioned you can check for voltage. The fuel pump looks like a gas fuel filter and changes much the same way (except for the wires on it). You'll need a fuel line disconnect tool and a couple of different size sockets.

Too bad you just topped the tank off. When you disconnect the hose off the back of the pump diesel is going to go everywhere. Plug the end with your finger and wear old clothes.

Good Luck.

 

Dang its warm there!! I agree, with these other gents. Fuel pump.

 

Checked on line at all suppliers...$149-$431 (motorcraft). All of them have a "1 year warranty", even the $400+ buck motocraft. House brands-- Master, then Bosch and Carter for $180, kind of leaning toward that one. All in all I guess they are about the same.

 

I've got a $150 one from NAPA on mine since that was the closest place to where I thought mine went out (long story). I don't see any need for the $400+ one.

 

Where abouts are you in Texas? I am in Pflugerville, just NE of Austin. I guess the in tank pumps in the trucks, hopefully don't go out very often. Thanks for the help. Guess I'll take my diesel "bath" tomorrow. Ford changed out my lever and o rings last year, on their dime, but it looks like it is leaking again. While I was under there changing the CPS, I couldn't believe how gross it was down there, used to be clean. What a drag.

 

I'm between Grandview & Maypearl just north of Hillsboro. The diesel bath won't be to bad since it's supposed to be up in the 70's the next couple of days. Just think. You could be up North where it's 15 deg. outside.

When you say you have a leak at the lever & o-rings do you mean the fuel drain valve? If so PM me your address. I've got a few extra of the #202 viton O-rings. I will mail you 2 of them.

 

Chris, Thanks ! Sent you a PM.

 

Before buying anything make sure you check for power and double check the fuses. Could be something simple and you could fix something thats not even broke. Might be worth it to do the intank pump that was just here a few days ago. I think when I get home this year I will end up doing it to mine. I will look for a link and try to post it for you.

 

Here is the link. Looks like a real clean setup. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...completed.html

 

OK. After I checked the fuse, #19 on my truck-good, checked the wire bundle over the valve cover- no problems but I taped it up good, and good voltage up to the fuel pump, I began changing out the pump. After I got it out- it is a Bosch wrapped up in the rubber covering. It is the original one I am sure. It had a longer quick connect end going to the engine. The one I bought Master brand, is the one O Reiily, Advance, and Autozone sell...drag. I bought it before I changed the one in the truck out, and it is 1/2 inch shorter overall length wise and the canister part is shorter as well. Had to move the lines from the engine side where the bracket is up where it 90s by the engine to get enough slack to get it connected. Couldn't connect the latch on the quick connect end due to the piece not as long as factory. I will get something made to remedy that. No leaks on either end. Has anyone else run in to this problem? I called and asked them if they knew that the fuel pumps all 3 sell don't fit like the original. Can't believe that is only choice for aLL 3 STORES-- same brand even. It may be only a 2000 year deal I don't know. Anyway, after I got it in I could tell immediately it was pumping when I turned the key. But the batteries from yesterdays problems of trying to start it and tonight were too much. It will be tough to get going I know anyway. I am leaving the batteries on charge tonight and tomorrow--it is an automatic shutoff. I charged on the passenger battery...I assume it will get to both. 10 amps for about 5 hrs and now I switched it to 2 amps auto shutoff...until tomorrow when I get home. I will check it in the morning b4 I leave. I stink!

 

When you get back under there, cut off the quick disconnect fittings on the hard fuel lines, and use a short piece of rubber fuel hose double clamped from the pump to the hard lines, input and output side. By doing so you have eliminated to possible fuel aeration sources, and you have now solved the pump too short problem.