88 Taurus 3.8L off the road for 6 years. Prepped and got it running. Promptly drove it to gas station for a fill with complete fill with fresh gas. Drove about 2 miles. Got it home and it died in the drive. Turns out to be a fuel problem. Replaced the filter, but the old one showed no blockage.
Can start it after about 10 tries on the key, idles or revs OK for about 15 seconds and then starts to stumble and finally dies. While running, pressure at the schraeder valve is only about 15~19 lbs (should be closer to 40). When running, too smooth to be a handful of injectors, and one stuck shouldn't drop the pressure down that low anyway. Regulator is a PITA to remove as it's mounted upside down -- requires getting to fuel rail which itself is the PITA (have to pull air intake system & etc first). Don't see how to (briefly) deadhead the return easily.
How to isolate whether it's the regulator or fuel pump??? Too many metal lines with special fittings...
2007-03-12 09:23:35 · 10 answers · asked by C Anderson 5 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
While it could be the tank screen, that means pulling the tank to find out. Especially with the anti-siphon device and a full tank, that's not going to be fun.
Need someone with sufficient knowledge of the fuel plumbing specifics to provide a suggestion that will readily isolate pump vs. regulator, as both are known to fail on this model.
As neither the tank nor the regulator are a "fun" job, I'd REALLY like to make the call on which to pull beforehand!
Appreciated the gas cap suggestion, BTW. Gave that a try early on. Wish it had been that easy!
2007-03-12 10:14:44 · update #1
Linda -
If it was the rear collision switch, the fuel pump wouldn't run at all. It does. Just not adequate pressure up front.
The fuel pressure regulator is NOT back with the fuel pump. It sits up at the head of the fuel rail under the hood.
Last -- perhaps your junkyard will sell you a fuel pump for $15~20, but you'll find that a new one will be *good* bit more expensive than that.
Last, there is no access to the pump apart from dropping the fuel tank. Not sure which version of Sable you had, but it was nothing like this...
2007-03-18 07:24:16 · update #2
Filter in tank probably clogged with shellac
2007-03-12 09:29:59 · answer #1 · answered by gejandsons 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You obviously have a serious problem here. Being that your car sat idle for so long, changing the fuel pump was a good idea anyway. With a car like this you always like to fix the least expensive things first. On that model you should have a button, in your truck that shuts off the fuel. Its in the trunk on the left side....Ford put that in there for collision purposes...So the car don't blow in a collision. Now, you also have your regulator and your pump...together, under your back seat. So if you change one you have to change the other anyway. I could b e wrong but I believe they are both together. Pull the back seat out and take off the 10 bolt screws. If its not under the back seat its in the trunk itself. So check the trunk first....Then just change the whole unit...Its between 15 and 20 dollars. Being you don't have the pressure your suppose to have, the only other thing is maybe a clogged line. Which you might find a way to blow that out with air. but be careful you don't damage components doing that. Hope this helps. I had a Sable which is basically the same car and had the same trouble with it...Same as you. So I hot wired that switch and took it out. Then I wrapped them together and taped them.
2007-03-18 06:07:43 · answer #2 · answered by Your Asking Me? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Best way I know to check the fuel pump is have someone turn the key on while you go under the tank(do not try to start the car). You should hear a hum for a couple of seconds. If you don`t--drop the tank and replace. I`m going to assume your regulator is vacuum operated. If so, check to see if it holds pressure by placing a small hose on it and suck it in. If it holds pressure against your tongue it`s good. You may want to check the EGR solenoid to see if it`s even working. Last resort-replace the computer. Good Luck
2007-03-17 18:03:49 · answer #3 · answered by flamer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Start here first...unscrew your fuel cap. I know it sounds stupid, and you may even know it, but this repair is free and has the potential to solve your problem.
Gas caps are vented because when the fuel drains out of the gas tank, it needs to be replaced with something inside of the tank...air. Think about turning an open 2-litre of water upside down...when the water drains out, it glugs in order to let air pass by, and fill in at the top of the bottle. As more water drains out, more air needs to get in...same basic principle in the gas tank. If air is unable to get in to replace the fuel as your engine sucks it down, it will create a vacuum, which will cause lower fuel pressure. Pop the cap off and then run your tests again. Like I said, it could very well be a bigger problem than that, but at least the gas cap is free to check and easy.
2007-03-12 09:35:27 · answer #4 · answered by jdm 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With an internal fuel pump in the tank the easiest way to check that is to take the line loose from the carbureator and have someone tunr the key on and see if it spews out nicely.
If it does, than you know it isnl't your fuel pump and can easily diagnose the rest.
It's possible that it could be a clogged injector, but rule them out one by one instead of guessing.
Three things make a car run.
Compression, fuel and fire.
When one of these is out of balance or gone it won't run.
Your car ran and you put gas in it then it started acting up.
It sounds like to me you have a fuel problem.
2007-03-20 00:24:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi, when u turn the ignition key to on no start position u should be able to hear the fuel pump run for 2 seconds. if you do, unplug the MAP sensor and start the car. if it runs it will run like two cylinders are missing. replace MAP sensor. this sensor will also give you low fuel pressure. make sure the regulator holds vacume just like what flamer said. also check the regulator vacume line is good . also check the fuel pump relay make sure it delivers voltage to the pump continuesly in the run position..good luck.
2007-03-20 06:44:04 · answer #6 · answered by charlie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-06-25 09:06:53 · answer #7 · answered by Trisha 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you can hear the pump working when you turn the key on, don't start, it's a pretty good bet that it's your regulator. Check all your fuses both underhood & inside car. Good Luck...
2007-03-20 00:04:42 · answer #8 · answered by nbr660 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fuel pump definitely!!
2007-03-18 05:34:52 · answer #9 · answered by mikeyb33_66 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's a ford duh
2007-03-20 03:21:47 · answer #10 · answered by franksr57 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋