Fuel Issue

[Viro]

I was having issues with the fuel gauge not reading right after topping up the tank. Gas gauge would read 'empty' and odometer screen would display 'low fuel. It would never show up right after filling the tank and driving awsay from the gas station. It would mostly show up after sitting the night or a few hours.

I popped some seafoam into the tank on one fill up as the guage would always come back and read right after 50k or so. Since I did that in early spring, I haven't had an issue.

I had it do it again last week, after a day or so, it started reading ok again but this time the check engine light came on and didn't go away when it did start reading the proper fuel level (and I can't remember if it ever came up when it happened before).

I had this hunch it was related to the guage issue so I ponied up the dough and bought a reader and got two codes:

P0461 Fuel sensor A circuit range/performance
Po463 Fuel level sensor A circuit high input

The reader allowed me to erase the code and isn't detecting it for now. 'Check engine' light is gone.

Where does this lead me too next. I'm at 111000kms, pretty safe to say changing the fuel filter wouldn't be a bad option.

I'm no car guru but I'm trying to do a little more of my own stuff that I feel comfortable doing (finding the time gets a little difficult), so for now atleast pulling the code/resetting the fault was money well spent so far!

I'm pretty much assuming something with the fuel pump/sending unit and pretty sure it's not something I would tackle but was just looking to get some opinions.

 

[ncranchero]

Most likely the Fuel Pump Driver Module or the Fuel Level Sensor. Pretty much leaning towards the level sender since running Seafoam alters the problem. The tests for this require tools most of us don't have though. If you Seafoam it and it goes away for an extended period I'd either just do that on a schedule determined by you and the recurrence of the problem or replace the fuel pump/sender assembly. OR, pay Ford to diagnose it and repair it. Either option other than the Seafoam regimen will be costly.

If your fuel up there in CA is containing more and more Ethanol as ours is here in the US the problems will be on the increase.

 

[Viro]

Most likely the Fuel Pump Driver Module or the Fuel Level Sensor. Pretty much leaning towards the level sender since running Seafoam alters the problem. The tests for this require tools most of us don't have though. If you Seafoam it and it goes away for an extended period I'd either just do that on a schedule determined by you and the recurrence of the problem or replace the fuel pump/sender assembly. OR, pay Ford to diagnose it and repair it. Either option other than the Seafoam regimen will be costly.

If your fuel up there in CA is containing more and more Ethanol as ours is here in the US the problems will be on the increase.

Ironically I just tossed in the Seafoam for the heck of it and hadn't had the problem for 6 months or so. I picked up the code reader because like I mentioned, couldn't remember if the engine light came on before but this time it didn't go away.

Best $100 I spent! LOL....only cuz I got to reset it and not see it without spending almost the same to a mechanic (who'd have probably suckered me into replacing a bunch of stuff)

Again, I'm not a car guru but I was kinda thinking the sending unit. The problem only shows up when I fill the tank, hasn't happened otherwise so I can live with it if it just stays to that problem.

Almost seems like the float is sticking seeing as the seafoam seemed to keep it from happening.

I tossed a can in after it happened last week so we'll see where this goes.

Are the sending unit and fuel pump the same part on the '04 Tracs? Is replacing the fuel filter really needed then? I know it won't hurt, but just trying to get some ideas. I'm gonna guess if its the sending unit etc it's probably not an easy job for a rookie....

 

[ncranchero]

One unit.

Doing it

 

[Viro]

LOL. That might be out or my realm of repair. Doesn't seem out of the realm of possiblity but that looks like an all day job for me.....and I never seem to have that kind of time.

I guess I found what to expect if I gotta get it done. You could actually probably lower that tank much better with a pallet pump jack if you got one around. I could probably actually do this at work 'cuz we got one.

Hopefully it just stays as a sensor problem for awhile and not the fuel pump. LOL