this is my first suv not to mention first ford. i bought my 2002 ford expedition just about a month ago and it drives beautiful. i noticed about two weeks later that when i would put gas in it took forever to register on the gas gauge. then i actually "broke" down at an office building. it acted as though it had ran out of gas. it had right under 3/4 of a tank left. all the lights on the left side of the speedometer would flash really fast while trying to turn the truck over. i had AAA tow me to my house and i stayed in the truck while being towed due to having my baby with me, so i could see the gauges and the blinking lights, well to make a long enough story somewhat shorter, they stoped blinking and all the gauges worked once again(gas, battery, oil, temp). we got it off of the tow truck and it started right up like nothing had ever happend. it had also happend to me while driving. all the gauges went dead and all the lights started flashing real fast once again. i went over a speed bump fairly quick to go back home and everything went back on again. i since then dont let the gas get down that far and the other day when my husband filled up the tank full, the gauge registered it right away. please if anyone has any ideas of what it may be or could send some "help" my way, it would so be greatly appreciated!! thankyou, new proud owner of a ford(hope to stay that way) shannon

 

Sounds like you might have a bad electrical connection somewhere. I would start with the battery cables. Make sure they are tight on the battery, and the cables are still solidly connected to the ends. Then I would look for ground straps between the engine and body. Somebody else here can probably tell you where those are located on the truck.

 

My thoughts exactly, a bad connection for the engine to body ground. If it's not that, next I would suspect a bad battery.

 

This wouldn't have anything to do with it not starting, but if you fill it up with the engine on, the guage doesn't register full right away.

 

My old 98 Explorer would do the same thing to me. After each time it was towed, it would start with no problem. After about the 10th time and a different shop to work on it. The guy found a relay under the front bumper that would come unconnected. It had a lose connection. He clean the connection and taped it so that it would not come lose. I never had a problem since then until my daughter wrecked it. Sad to say it is no longer with us.

 

I appreciate the reply's i have received in here. When AAA came out to give me a tow they checked the battery and it was perfectly fine. I have since it first had happened to me I have tried to keep the gas tank full. I have noticed that it seems to happen with it only has 1/4 tank of gas left. It is very puzzling. I haven't taken it in yet, i don't trust to many mechanics out there. Anymore ideas on what the problem might be would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again for the responses!!! Shannon (still enjoying her expedition)

 

Well why didn't you say so before! Your fuel pump is shot.

 

Thank you for your reply again, you say that it sounds like the fuel pump is shot. I dont know much about cars at all but if the fuel pump is bad would the truck still run when driving it? It has not stalled, but of course if i were to shut it off when all the lights are blinking, it would not start again and sound like it had ran out of gas. But when its being driven and it starts to act up all the gauges stop working and the lights on the left hand side start flickering but then it "corrects" itself and everything goes back on. Would that be because the pump is on its way out? Or something completely different.

 

The fuel pump is submerged in the fuel, making the fuel a heat sink that keeps the pump cool. When the fuel level falls far enough in the tank to expose the pump to air, it no long has the fuel acting as a heat sink so the pump runs hotter. It's during these times of running hotter that the pump acts up and fails. The electrical problem could simply be a side effect of an intermittent short within the pump.

 

so then what would be your advice in taking it in to a mechanic so i don't get ripped off

 

Get three quotes to get a feel of the cost involved in your area. While you're at each of these 3 places getting a quote, let them know you suspect it's the fuel pump but you need them to confirm it. Their responses could help you decide which shop has the right people to do the job.

 

thankyou very much for all your advice