sonik
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 9, 2003
- Messages
- 225
- Reaction score
- 1
- City, State
- Seattle, WA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '94 XLT
Skip the first few paragraphs if you don't want to read a little story Well, I ran out of gas for the first time today - when these Ford's hit E on the gas gauge there must not be a gallon or so to go like some other cars. Anyway, I got an alignment done and pulled out of the place. About 2 blocks down the road it's running badly and I'm about to pull around to raise hell at the shop. I stop at a red light, it dies, she barely fires back up, and I pull off to the side of the road. I tried to start her a few more times. Now I remember a couple days ago I only had about a 1/5 of a tank left. Well, I do some walking and get a gallon then drove her back to top her off.
At this point she wants to stall when at a stop. I had to put it in park and raise the rpms to keep it from stalling. I stopped by an auto parts place to get a fuel filter because I thought I heard once that it should be replaced after running out of gas. I make it home and crack open the Haynes manual to discover I need some special tool to get the filter off. By now the auto parts stores are closed.
I remembered that the volt guage was jumping around when it was about to stall so I took out the battery and it's hooked up to a charger now. I have concerns about the battery, it looks like it's the original 84 mo Motorcraft battery, and the terminals and cables needed a good brushing. The alignment place may have also left the truck idling awhile, or turned it off and on a few times... they had to test drive it three times. The rest of the stuff under the hood looks super clean - maybe too clean for a 10 year old 95k truck (got it at a dealer).
SO, tomorrow I'll need to get that fuel filter tool and replace the filter unless for reason the battery turned out to be the problem. When it was running I heard what sounded like air blowing or maybe water (fuel?) going through something at a high pressure behind the steering wheel. I had someone keep the rpms up while I checked under the hood but couldn't hear anything. A/C and heater were not on. It wasn't there with the ignition only in the ON position - just when running. Did I smell gas? Well, I had a just emptied portable gas tank in the back so I smelled that.
I know Ford says the fuel filter shuoldn't need to be replaced, so maybe I'm just wasting my time with that. If anyone can offer a few words of encouragment or can help diagnose my problem (well, just the truck's problems for now) that would be great.
At this point she wants to stall when at a stop. I had to put it in park and raise the rpms to keep it from stalling. I stopped by an auto parts place to get a fuel filter because I thought I heard once that it should be replaced after running out of gas. I make it home and crack open the Haynes manual to discover I need some special tool to get the filter off. By now the auto parts stores are closed.
I remembered that the volt guage was jumping around when it was about to stall so I took out the battery and it's hooked up to a charger now. I have concerns about the battery, it looks like it's the original 84 mo Motorcraft battery, and the terminals and cables needed a good brushing. The alignment place may have also left the truck idling awhile, or turned it off and on a few times... they had to test drive it three times. The rest of the stuff under the hood looks super clean - maybe too clean for a 10 year old 95k truck (got it at a dealer).
SO, tomorrow I'll need to get that fuel filter tool and replace the filter unless for reason the battery turned out to be the problem. When it was running I heard what sounded like air blowing or maybe water (fuel?) going through something at a high pressure behind the steering wheel. I had someone keep the rpms up while I checked under the hood but couldn't hear anything. A/C and heater were not on. It wasn't there with the ignition only in the ON position - just when running. Did I smell gas? Well, I had a just emptied portable gas tank in the back so I smelled that.
I know Ford says the fuel filter shuoldn't need to be replaced, so maybe I'm just wasting my time with that. If anyone can offer a few words of encouragment or can help diagnose my problem (well, just the truck's problems for now) that would be great.