nightmare began with low fuel

[nardbuster]

Driving with low fuel left me sleepless. I have not ever driven my 1999 5.0L XLT with gas at such a low level before. Then I put some gas from a questionable filling station.
The next day my 5.0L missed and showed no power. Two questions came to mind. The fuel or plugged filter / fuel pump. I went to a different filling station and added more gas. The idea add some better gas to mix with the bad gas.

A past experience came to mind. where I changed my plug wires and spark plugs. So I began there, New plug wires and plugs. Not the problem, changed the fuel filter, nope still runs poor, no power and interlopes to speed. Next idea was to drain the tank. I tried to use the fuel pump relay to something sparked.
I must have connected the the wrong terminals. Besides the fuel didn't flow.from the hose attached to gas line from the tank. Darkness came, I reconnected the gas filter and tried to start the 5.0. Gas does no longer make it to the gas rail... Has the jack lifted the car to a point where gas doesn't get to the gas pickup in the tank?
If the relay idea did not work. Can I put power to the power aft of the interia gas switch to get the fuel pump to assist in draining the tank through the line from the tank?

I have having a nightmare at this point......
Did I damage my Explorer by trying the relay trick to empty my fuel cell?
Tomorrow the sun will rise...I need some.ideas......

 

[crunchie_frog]

It sounds to me like your fuel pump is shot. Do you hear it come on when you turn the ignition to the run position? I think when you run the tank really low at least one bad thing can happen, the pump can overheat as there is less fuel around it to cool it causing the pump to fail. If your 99 has typical mileage, the fuel pump may have been on its last legs anyway.

There are lots of posts on here about fuel pump replacement if you search. Good luck,

 

[my98nnj]

It's not the gas, more then likely the pump as mentioned above.

 

[TheTech79]

Have you ever took the front driveshaft off a awd ford explorer and still be able to ride

 

[nardbuster]

I could start and drive. Until I tried the relay thing...
My main concern is.... did that spark reset my PCM and negate my chipped key?

 

[Turdle]

Check all the fuses.

You probably blew the fuel pump fuse.

backing up a bit, when you turn on the key ( just to the on position) does the check engine light turn on?

 

[ZWilson07]

Have you ever took the front driveshaft off a awd ford explorer and still be able to ride

Search on the forum as well as starting your own thread. You have posted this in two different threads, both of which had nothing even close to do with yours.

Go to the 95-01 section and start a new thread.

Thanks

EDIT: check these. Sorry for thread hijacking, just trying to get it back on track.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=421422
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=267368
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=253359
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=203441
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225515

 

[hsquare]

Back to the fuel tank thing . . .

That is a piece of advice that I will remember - never run the car on extremely low fuel levels for long or the pump will over heat.

I'm going to store a 20 litre can in the garage . . just in case.

Thanks for that Crunchie Frog.

 

[nardbuster]

I located a fuse 30a common to the PCM relay, is open. I will replace it this evening.
I believe my Explorer will start again.
As I mentioned . The fuel pump relay idea to drain my gas tank. The relay I chose is for the PCM, the spark was arrested by the 30a fuse(ref. explorerforum.com sticky)(#10 ). #10 fuse is a red wire (chilton ref.) that is the PCM, fuel pump, MAF, injectors and IAC valve.
I think my Explorer will start... I will share my experience.
Don't look for a red wire..... the fuse in the distribution box is the target.

 

[nardbuster]

I located a fuse 30a common to the PCM relay, is open. I will replace it this evening.
I believe my Explorer will start again.
As I mentioned . The fuel pump relay idea to drain my gas tank. The relay I chose is for the PCM, the spark was arrested by the 30a fuse(ref. explorerforum.com sticky)([URL=http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=10]#10 [/URL] ). [URL=http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=10]#10 [/URL] fuse is a red wire (chilton ref.) that is the PCM, fuel pump, MAF, injectors and IAC valve.
I think my Explorer will start... I will share my experience.
Don't look for a red wire..... the fuse in the distribution box is the target.

My fuel pump didn't work.
I checked fuel pump fuses, all were great.
But, FP didn't work.
Checked other fuses, Mother of Explorer, internal panel #19 and distribution pnl #10 .
Replaced those two, turned key and SMILE. I can do!,