Fuel Pump....

[trwp72]

Today I had the fuel pump on the 91 changed out... When we replaced the spark plugs last week, my mechanic said it looked like the car was running lean... So we changed the fuel pump, fuel strainer, (The "Sock") And the fuel filter... It now runs like new! The fuel strainer was so plugged up, we don't know how the car even ran! He also hooked the old pump up to 12 volts.. and it sounded like it had rocks in it, it was making so much noise! Another thing was I had paid a shop about a year ago to change the fuel filter out... Well, we figured out that they never changed it... because there was undercoating on the fuel filter... I undercoated the car about 2 years ago... So it was never changed out... and I guess they just kept the filter... I wish I could remember who did it... I know it wasn't either of my regular shops... I was pissed to say the least when we figured that out... The filter was plugged up, of course.... So with all the new parts, it idles so good, I keep having to push the accelerator at lights to see if it is still running!

Tom...

[86VickyLX]

Do you have reciepts for when that place did the fuel filter?

[1987cp]

Dude, that sucks. Some folks charge $60-ish to change fuel filters, too.

[trwp72]

That's the problem, I can't even remember who I had do it... I know it wasn't one of my regular shops tho....

[gadget73]

I've got some receipts for my LSC that I suspect may have been bogus. 2 racks in 10,000 miles? The one on the car has less than 10k on it, and the inner tie rod end that comes with a rack is bad. There's just no way that should happen.

[86GmLsCoupe]

Sort of surprised the fuel pump was in that bad a shape but of course lots of things like age, gas used, and driving habits will affect it. My Dad and I replaced my pump after mistakenly thinking it had died (Ford and their damn relays) and the original Bosch/Motorcraft one ended up being perfectly fine. So in the end it got a brand new Bosch/Motorcraft and I've got a working spare. When we dropped the tank, the sock was pretty clean and the tank was pristine inside. Sucks that you got conned but at least you got it sorted out now and your car is happy again. I detest letting anyone touch my car, except for the Trans (they can have fun with that) and the occasional alignment.

[trwp72]

Sort of surprised the fuel pump was in that bad a shape but of course lots of things like age, gas used, and driving habits will affect it.

Well, the car has almost 200 K on it... and the pump was the original one... so I would say it was due...

I detest letting anyone touch my car, except for the Trans (they can have fun with that) and the occasional alignment.

Well, until i get a house with a garage, I will have to go to shops for alot of my work... And i have a really good Transmission guy... So no worries there... I have only two mechanics that I let touch my car... And both are great... just depends on which one isn't busy at the time... and if both are busy.. I wait...

Tom...

[gadget73]

Panther pumps tend to be very durable, but if the fuel had gotten contaminated or the car sat for a while at any point, that will take a toll. I did mine at 165k because the fuel tank sprung a leak, and it was fine. I think Blaze did his at something like 250k and it was also OK. Even so, 200k out of a pump isn't anything to complain about. My LSC ate its first pump somewhere around the 196k mile mark. It left the guy stranded too, there was a tow bill with the pump install receipt.

[trwp72]

I tend to be very pro-active when it comes to my cars maintenance... Not wait until it quits... If I realize something is getting worn out, it gets changed out... BEFORE it needs a wrecker! So far, my car has never been towed, except the first night I had a wrecker bring it to the house from the fire house, since I was working... And the battery was stone cold dead... When I got home the next day, it was sitting in the driveway, waiting on me to come home and start working on it! Recharged the battery on trickle for about 4 days, new alternator... and it cranked right up!

[86GmLsCoupe]

You definitely baby your car so it certainly makes sense that you got the pump changed and have some piece of mind. I do the same thing with replacing stuff before it completely goes even if it costs more because I'm never selling my car, and some parts are getting harder and harder to come by.

[fordktpjoe]

trwp, you said your pump sounded like it had rocks in it. Could you hear that inside the car?

Mine "sings" Sort of a high pitched whine when the engine is running, and it can be heard inside the car, while driving. Reckon Ima need a pump too.

What'd it cost you to have that pump put in? I have replaced one in a vic before, but I have no place to work on it now, so it'll have to be farmed out.

[trwp72]

It cost me $60.00 to have it installed... I bought the parts... About $180.00 total... on the 88-91 models, it can be changed without dropping the tank... And my mechanic has a sort of suction unit made out of an old fuel pump he uses to suction out the bottom, to make sure there is nothing in the tank.... He changed the pump, filter and sock in about 30 miinutes...

Yes, I used to hear the high pitch whine like you describe... Sound alot different when it was out of the tank. I would say if you can hear it.. change it, as now I can't hear anything from the tank when its running....

It also get much better gas milage... I think because the computer was compensating for the lean condition... I had to reset the computer after we were done because it was running rough... So I disconnected the battery negative cable, and stepped on the brake for about 20 seconds... then re-connected it, turned the key on for about 30 seconds, then started the car... It runs like a champ now... idles nice, and I now it burns a little over an 1/8 of a tank going back and forth to work... (60 miles round trip) Before it used to take about a 1/4 of a tank...

[gadget73]

Some whine is normal. I have a new pump and it does make a bit of a wizzing noise. If it sounds like a dead supercharger or something, replace it. On the other hand, I've seen some pumps that get super super quiet when they're dying. Its hard to say whats normal and whats not normal since it seems a bit inconsistant.

[fordktpjoe]

It cost me $60.00 to have it installed... I bought the parts... About $180.00 total... on the 88-91 models, it can be changed without dropping the tank... And my mechanic has a sort of suction unit made out of an old fuel pump he uses to suction out the bottom, to make sure there is nothing in the tank.... He changed the pump, filter and sock in about 30 miinutes...

Changed without dropping the tank? KEWL! Are you telling me Ford finally got smart and put a trap door in the bottom of the trunk?

Hell, I could do that on the carport then.

Next question, why step on the brake after disconnecting the battery cable?

I know unhooking the cable clears any codes, but the brake???

[gadget73]

90 and 91 have the fuel pump on the plate at the front of the tank, along with the fuel guage sending unit. Older models had 2 plates, the one at the back up against the trunk had the fuel pump. If you're of the butchering sort you can probably cut a hole to get the pump out on an earlier model, but thats a really crappy way to do a repair if you ask me. The tank isn't that hard to drop and do the job properly.

The brake is to put a load on the system to drain any power out. If the door is open, you've already got the system loaded, so any power hanging out in your stereo amp or whatever else is added will be discharged.