Weak battery, smell of gas

[witchdoctor]

I've read everything I can find about this....out of the blue my battery is dead. When I jump start, I can smell gas, so I think fuel pump relay and change it.

It seems to have had no effect. It is still very hard to start, and I smell gas coming from underneath about even with the driver's door. I could understand if maybe the filter is clogged, but this shouldn't affect the battery (Optima yellow top, 1 year old)

Please help!

 

[falls guy]

You could just have a bad battery causing the truck to not get enough spark, therefore flooding out, causing the smell of gas. Check your alternater, make sure the volts read good. Check fuel pressure regulator. When the fpr goes you will smell gas if it is causing it to flood. If thats the case the battery thing would be a coincidence to happen at the same time though.
Good luck.

 

[410Fortune]

I suspect your alternator as well, have it tested.
However I have also had Optima's fall flat on their face, dead after a short time. Optima will replace them for free if this is the case, if you complain enough and have a receipt

 

[witchdoctor]

Found fuel leak.....it is in braided lines that attach to fuel rail. Ford here wants $500+ for this....wtf? Is there anywhere I can get a fuel line kit that will work here?

Please help, no way can I pay this....

 

[410Fortune]

Is it leaking at the fitting or from the line?
junk yard is your best bet, or fix the one you have.
It just goes down to a bracket at the filter on the frame, the hose is not that long or hard to get off.
Ford is the LAST place to go for something like this.

 

[witchdoctor]

It is leaking from the line where it passes behind a bracket near the top of the engine. I found a post on here; evidently if you use that bracket for the negative when jump starting, it ruptures the line.

Supposedly there's supposed to be a warning tag on the bracket to avoid this; mine didn't have one.

I was looking on Summit Racing, and they have fuel line kits; I just don't know if the fittings are the same.

 

[witchdoctor]

Bump....has anyone been able to separate the lines from the fuel rail? It seems to be all one piece....

 

[410Fortune]

it is not one piece, follow it down, I am not as familiar with the SOHC but I can look at a friends later tonight and help.

Inside the metal braiding is a nylon line, it is possible to cut the nylon line and rebuild it by pressing the fitting back onto it, if you have enough length left. Is the leak right at the end of it?

 

[witchdoctor]

No, the leak is right in the middle of the line.

 

[Josh]

I have a line off of a 92. I don't know if they can be adapted or not. I think 98s have a returnless system. My buddies 93 had a similar problem. Is it the quick disconnect line that attaches to the line that connects to the FPR on the fuel rail? What size is it? The one that I have goes from the fuel filter to the supply line which connects to the front of the fuel filter under the drivers door. The lines usualy join somewhere around the PS unit.

 

[witchdoctor]

The one I need is the other one, thanks. I found a guy to custom fabricate new lines; $300 installed is way better than a $500 part.

 

[Josh]

Dam we got them for 10 bucks at the junkyard. That sucks. Took about 30 minutes to install. Are you a local or did you move down there? I used to go to Rosie Roads all the time when I was in the Navy. I loved it down there. Had a lot of good times. I don't think the casinos pay like they used to though.

 

[witchdoctor]

I moved here from Miami 10 years ago.

 

[MJR]

Sell the POS Ford and get a Toyota, i regret ever owning a Ford after all the problems my old explorer had. Toyota 4runner outpreforms the explorer and is a much more solid vehicle, in comparison. After driving one you'll wonder why you ever considered Ford, there is a substantial difference in quality.
-Peace

 

[Josh]

Sell the POS Ford and get a Toyota, i regret ever owning a Ford after all the problems my old explorer had. Toyota 4runner outpreforms the explorer and is a much more solid vehicle, in comparison. After driving one you'll wonder why you ever considered Ford, there is a substantial difference in quality.
-Peace

Well my POS Ford has been very good to me for over 230,000 miles. I know everyone is entitled to their opinion, but if you don't like explorers so much, then try the Toyota forum instead.

 

[Flash]

I've got to admit that owning a Ford in Oz isn't as easy as owning a Toyota.
I had a duel cab SR5 a few years ago and while it was a capable off roader, it was damn uncomfortable and didn't have much room in it.
Let's face it, we all do more time on the road than off.
If on road capability at all costs is the goal and on road be damned, buy a Landrover.