Fuel Pump Question???
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Senior User
Joined: May 2005
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From: Willamette Valley
Fuel Pump Question???
Hi, my new 1973 Ford Truck is becoming a never ending battle of work but thats okay... I love it! So I was driving today and decided to see if the other fuel tank worked and it seem to be fine but about a mile down the road it started to sputter and I pulled it into a parking lot and it didn't start again. I changed the fuel filter which was nasty but I am guessing it is the fuel pump. I plan on replacing that tomorrow... is there anything else I should do while changing the fuel pump out? How do I clean that tank out so that it doesn't do this again? Thanks for any tips or help you can give!
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
Just a word of advice - randomly replacing parts, with no prior diagnosis whatsoever, is about the worst way to tackle problems. You've stated nothing to indicate it's the fuel pump other than guessing. Run a length of hose from the pump outlet to a bucket and crank the motor to actually test if fuel is coming out or not. I have volumetric flow specifications you can test if you're interested in that as well.
Only until you've made a positive identification of the problem should you spend money on replacement parts. It could very well be the fuel pump, but you need to check first. It takes 4 things for a motor to run - fuel, air, spark and compression. Pull the air cleaner off, look down the throat of the carb and pull the throttle back. See if there's gas. That's the first check. We'll go from there.
Only until you've made a positive identification of the problem should you spend money on replacement parts. It could very well be the fuel pump, but you need to check first. It takes 4 things for a motor to run - fuel, air, spark and compression. Pull the air cleaner off, look down the throat of the carb and pull the throttle back. See if there's gas. That's the first check. We'll go from there.
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Senior User
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From: Willamette Valley
Thank you for the advice. I got it towed home and will be working on it here in the next day or two. I only assume the fuel pump since it was running just fine until I switched those tanks. I have had this exact problem before in one of my old Fords and it was the fuel pump. I do know that no fuel is getting to the carb (already checked that). What else could be the cause if not the fuel pump? Thanks!
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: MA
Could be a clogged fuel line.. If the filter was that dirty then there are probably bigger particles in the line..
You can try blowing them out with a compressor or just replace them if they are old..
You can try blowing them out with a compressor or just replace them if they are old..
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Senior User
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From: Willamette Valley
Well, I put on a brand new fuel pump and still nothing. It isn't getting any gas to the carb. What else could it be other than the clogged fuel line? How do I blow out the lines? I am not even sure where to unhook them. I really don't want to pay to have this fixed... it seems like something that shouldn't be that hard. Thanks for any help!
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Also might check the tank selector switch, i had an 87 that if i ran out of gas it seemed to vapor lock and would not pull any fuel. Just a thought
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MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
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From: Austin, TX
Pull the distributor cap off, crank the motor and make sure the rotor turns. If the timing chain broke, the camshaft can't turn and the fuel pump won't work. Is fuel even getting to the fuel pump in the first place? If it draws in air at any spot whatsoever, it can't siphon gasoline forward and won't pump anything. When you changed the fuel pump, the pump inlet hose should have had fuel under siphon pressure, and there would have been a lot of gas. If there wasn't, your fuel line isn't sealed.
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: MA
Well, I put on a brand new fuel pump and still nothing. It isn't getting any gas to the carb. What else could it be other than the clogged fuel line? How do I blow out the lines? I am not even sure where to unhook them. I really don't want to pay to have this fixed... it seems like something that shouldn't be that hard. Thanks for any help!
To blow out a fuel line disconnect both ends and then using an air nozzle that fits into the line blow them out.. You might have to make an adapter to fit using a couple fittings if you don't have the correct size..
Blow it from front to back not back to front..
You might want to try bypassing the selector switch with a piece of hose to see if the clog is there..
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From: Willamette Valley
Okay guys here is the deal. I worked on my truck again today. I looked at unhooking the lines and I really couldn't see exactly where to unhook the lines so I decided to see if I poured a little gas in the carburetor if I could get it to fire and maybe what ever was blocking the line would break loose... probably dumb thinking but it worked. After a few tries... the truck fired up and gas starting going through the lines again! Does this make any sense? Should I be worried this is going to happen again? Thanks for all the help guys!
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
It's possible the problem was the fuel pump, and you didn't crank the motor long enough for the new pump to prime itself, and supply fuel to the motor. However, I think you should go over your fuel lines, because an air-tight system shouldn't take too long to prime. Especially check the rubber line-to-tank hoses, because they are almost always neglected.
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