'01 Fuel Pump Issues

[dungar]

So I know what you're already thinking by reading the thread title, "It's the infamous bad fuel pump dummy, there was a recall on this."

TRUST ME....I'm aware. Been there done that. To the tune of just under $1k, I had the entire fuel pump assembly and main fuel filter replaced a little less than 1 year ago. It actually failed 2 weeks outside of the 10 year recall period and Ford refused to send a dime my way. (That's customer retention for ya)

I'm trying to rule out every possible scenario before I look into having this replaced again (or sending the vehicle to the junk yard, a more likely solution).

About a week ago I went to start my car and drive it to work and it sputtered a bit and then stalled. Went to start it again, it did some more sputtering and stalled again. Let the car sit for a day. Got in it the next day, listened for the fuel pump to charge the line (which it did with no issue) and I was able to drive the car for a week without any problems.

This morning I stopped for coffee on my way to work and when I started the car the exact same thing happened. But this time I wasn't able to get the car to start back up again. Turns out the fuse for the fuel pump had blown. Swapped the 15 amp fuse out, fuel pump charged the line with no problem, and I was able to drive to work without any engine hesitation or power issues.

Just now when I went to take my lunch break I got in my car and I could not hear the fuel pump running when I turned the key. Checked the fuse, it did not blow this time. Went to lunch, let the car sit for an hour, got back and tried again...... the fuel pump operated and the car started up.

What do you guys think? Would a failing pump be exhibiting these intermittent problems or could this be an electrical problem? When the pump chooses to run it runs great and the engine has no reduction of power.

Any information or advice would be appreciated. I know my way around a car, but would like to avoid suctioning out a tank of gas and dropping the tank if I could.

[Sponsor]

[ZXthrizzle05]

you dont need to drop the tank to check the pump. as long as your gas light is on you wont get any gas on you when you drop the front of the tank. you then can check to see if the actual fuel pump control module is connected to the top of the pump. i ahd this problem as well after i finished my turbo build. it jiggled loose somehow with all the towing and raising and droping on n off the jacks. also check your relay switch. replace it.

[dungar]

Good idea with the relay switch. I'll be sure to replace that as well. Could that have blown the fuse/be the problem at hand?

This is probably the one scenario where I wish my gas tank was on E... Assuming I can even get the vehicle home without the assistance of a tow truck, I still have a half a tank to work with. Would I be able to empty the tank by disconnecting the line running from the fuel filter and splicing it to a line running to an empty gas can or is this not a wise idea....

[ZXthrizzle05]

no....what ive done before was dropped the front end of the tank. loosened the pump when the hat pops off the top i stick a vaccuum hose in there give a little suck and alot of the gas dumps into a 5 gallon container for better leverage. youll still smell like gas but you wont be covered in it

[dungar]

This is more work than a car with 184,000 miles is worth. I'm going to try replacing the relay, if that doesn't do it, I'll be buying something that is NOT a Ford this weekend :)