[Jimmy]

Ok, last night I was low on gas...I figured I had about 20-25 miles left on the tank. Running it that low is nothing new, I've done it on almost every tank of gas since I bought the Focus, and it turned 30k 2 days ago. But as I *try* to make a rh turn from a stop (red light), the car stalls. I curse at myself, thinking I let the clutch out too quick, restart, and give it gas to make sure it goes. It dies, before I even let off the clutch. Hmm. Ok...car's rolling through the turn, I restart and drive about 4 feet, it dies again. Fortunately, there's a gas station about 10 yrds away. I coast in, and put 1 gallon in. (I have a bottle of Techron I want to use). Start'er up, back up, go to 1st, it dies. Twice.

Then I filled it up all the way-STUPID STUPID STUPID. Is there any way to induce the conditions to make it stall? Or do I just have to waste gas as fast as possible? I dont want to wait too long, because I'm driving to Vegas in a couple of weeks.

 

[Shiva Chaos]

Originally posted by Jimmy:
Is there any way to induce the conditions to make it stall? :

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">drive. a lot.

actually you could try driving without your spare and an empty rear for a while with a low tank while bouncing the rear over uneven road. That will really kill your pump

 

[Ford5pointoh]

It is not a good idea to run your fuel tank so low all the time. The pump is cooled by fuel. It occasionally might suck some air and run hot, which can lead to premature failure. Don't run your tank so low all the time.

 

[askjeffro]

Originally posted by Ford5pointoh:
It is not a good idea to run your fuel tank so low all the time. The pump is cooled by fuel. It occasionally might suck some air and run hot, which can lead to premature failure. Don't run your tank so low all the time.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Good advice. Other advice is to run your tank low occasionally. Gas is not always 100% clean. By running your tank low you can get more dirt gunk sent upstream to be burnt. Some people always run around with half a tank or more, doing so allows deposits to build up. Once built up over the life of the car they can sometimes be broken free, or already free and reduce your fuel delivery capability due to a blocked filer. Not a huge deal, but a tip.

 

[sh0velman]

i think you may have missed the point of this...........

his pump is going out.... hes at 30K miles.... he WANTS it to go out NOW, and not LATER....

get my drift?

 

[TXFO]

why do you want to recreate the failure?

you know the pump is bad so just put in another one.

 

[Phillip]

Running the tank low doesn't have a lot to do with the problem, in this case. The Focus has a well known issue with it's fuel pump. The pick-up tubes get blocked from crap in the fuel tank. You have to drop the tank and clean the screen (as long as the pump *is* still good). Once I did this, it stopped ALL the right hand turn engine stall problems. My pump was fine, the screen was clogged.

Also, clean it for free or let Ford replace it for about 400 bucks with parts and labor.

Is your car still under warranty? If so, they *should* fix it. Just don't let them BS ya. Let THEM know that YOU know what the problem is.

[ 04-02-2003, 09:26 PM: Message edited by: Phillip ]

 

[BowDown]

warranty

 

[Jimmy]

Originally posted by TXFO:
why do you want to recreate the failure?

you know the pump is bad so just put in another one.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Because its still under warranty. I have an appointment for next Tuesday at the dealer, but I want to get it taken care of ASAP. The dealer has to be able to diagnose it, they wont just replace it on my word.

I dont usually run it THAT low, but pretty close. When its 35* out, I'm not worried about the pump overheating-but there was still another gallon of gas in there. Plus the filter is about 25 miles old.

 

[shane_wilson]

My fuel pump went out at 26,000 miles. The replacement was covered by warranty. However, now that i'm out of warranty period, I would like to know some tips to prevent this from happening. Phillip, you said something about cleaning out a screen??? Can you give more details on how to do that? And if anybody else knows of any ways of preventing please post. I can't afford to pay 400 dollars for a repair!!

 

[Phillip]

Originally posted by shane_wilson:
My fuel pump went out at 26,000 miles. The replacement was covered by warranty. However, now that i'm out of warranty period, I would like to know some tips to prevent this from happening. Phillip, you said something about cleaning out a screen??? Can you give more details on how to do that? And if anybody else knows of any ways of preventing please post. I can't afford to pay 400 dollars for a repair!!

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Give me a little bit and I'll find the link. The pics were on Teammodamax.com but it looks like they're changing the site. But this is a text file I saved. I sould have pics somewhere here. I'll keep lookin' for ya.

Here's the step-by-step

Here is the R&R procedure from the service CD.
Hope this helps you.
Bobby
==================================
«2001 Focus Table of Contents»
«Group 3: Powertrain»
«Section 310-01: FUEL TANK AND LINES»
«REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION»

Fuel Tank (235540)
Removal
WARNING:
Do not smoke or carry lighted tobacco or open flame of any type when working on or near any fuel related components. Highly flammable vapors are always present and may ignite. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
1. Relieve the fuel pressure.
2. Drain the fuel tank.
3. Detach the exhaust pipe from the rear hanger insulator.
4. Detach the exhaust pipe from the hanger insulator.
5. Detach the center muffler from the exhaust insulator.
6. Disconnect the exhaust pipe.

1 Remove the nuts.

2 Detach the exhaust pipe from the two insulators
7. Secure the exhaust pipe in a suitable position.
8. Remove the heat shield.
9. CAUTION:
When removing the fuel tank vent and filler pipes, do not use any sharp edge tools to lever off the pipes. Failure to follow this instruction may result in damage to the filler pipes.
Note:
Make a note of the position of the retaining clamp and clip to make sure that it is positioned in exactly the same position when installed.

Disconnect the fuel tank vent pipes and filler pipe.
10. Disconnect the in-line fuel coupling.
11. Disconnect the evaporative emission pipe.
12. Disconnect the rollover valve line.
13. CAUTION:
When supporting the fuel tank, use a suitable packing material to prevent damage to the underside of the fuel tank.

Place a suitable high-lift jack under her fuel tank.
14. Remove the fuel tank support strap bolt.
15. CAUTION:
When lowering the fuel tank, make sure that excessive strain is not placed on the fuel lines and electrical connectors.

Partially lower the fuel tank.
16. Disconnect the fuel pump electrical connector.
17. Disconnect the fuel tank pressure sensor electrical connector.
18. Remove the fuel tank.
Installation
CAUTION:
Do not smoke or carry lighted tobacco or open flame of any type when working on or near any fuel related components. Highly flammable vapors are always present and may ignite. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
1. Note:
The fuel filler and vent pipe retaining clamp and clip must be installed in the same position as removed.

To install, reverse the removal procedure.

2. Carry out an evaporative emission system leak test.
==============================
..and for the fuel pump:

«2001 Focus Table of Contents»
«Group 3: Powertrain»
«Section 310-01: FUEL TANK AND LINES»
«REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION»

Fuel Pump Module (235340)
Special Service Tool(s)
Wrench, Fuel tank sender unit
310-069
Removal
1. Remove the fuel tank.
2. Disconnect the fuel supply line from the fuel pump module.

1 Hold the fuel pump connector.

2 Disconnect the fuel supply line from the fuel pump module.
3. Using the special tool, remove the locking ring.
CAUTION:
Make sure the float or arm are not damaged while removing the fuel pump module.
4. Remove the fuel pump module

1 Rotate the module counterclockwise.

2 Lift the module from the fuel tank.
Installation
Note:
Install a new fuel pump module seal and make sure it is seated correctly on the fuel tank prior to tightening the locking ring.
1. To install, reverse the removal procedure.
2. Carry out an evaporative emission system leak test.

Sorry about this but here are some pics that may help.

These are NOT my photos but they helped me so I figured I'd pass them on.

Also, for a BUNCH more info, do a search in Team Tech using "fuel pumps" for a filter. That's where I got most of this stuff.

Damn, long post.

[ 04-03-2003, 12:40 AM: Message edited by: Phillip ]

 

[Phillip]

Originally posted by drivefaster:
You don't have to run the tank low to reproduce the condition. Your dealer can test the fuel pressure while driving the car to check the pump's condition.

Btw- My dealer claimed that Ford recommends keeping the tank 1/2 full or more. I asked them why they bother putting a 13.2 gallon tank on the car if I'm not supposed to use more than half!! Maybe the Focus needs a 26.4 gallon tank to get the same range as the 13.2 tank should give.

The second pump in my '02 Focus did last longer than the first one I had to replace at 50,000 miles (I nursed it for about 15,000 miles until it ran no more) So there definately is a benefit to the over half full idea - at least in the Focus.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">The one Ford dealer I took mine to couldn't find anything wrong. I TOLD them it was only on hard right hand turns when the tank was down around 1/4 full. They wanted me to leave the car with them...no F'in way. I went home, got on the Jet, found the fix!!

Just wondering, did your fuel pump actually die, or did the screen just get so clogged it wouldn't pull fuel anymore? Mine was full of crap clogging the screen.

 

[drivefaster]

You don't have to run the tank low to reproduce the condition. Your dealer can test the fuel pressure while driving the car to check the pump's condition.

Btw- My dealer claimed that Ford recommends keeping the tank 1/2 full or more. I asked them why they bother putting a 13.2 gallon tank on the car if I'm not supposed to use more than half!! Maybe the Focus needs a 26.4 gallon tank to get the same range as the 13.2 tank should give.

The second pump in my '02 Focus did last longer than the first one I had to replace at 50,000 miles (I nursed it for about 15,000 miles until it ran no more) So there definately is a benefit to the over half full idea - at least in the Focus.

 

[Phillip]

Originally posted by shane_wilson:
My fuel pump went out at 26,000 miles. The replacement was covered by warranty. However, now that i'm out of warranty period, I would like to know some tips to prevent this from happening. Phillip, you said something about cleaning out a screen??? Can you give more details on how to do that? And if anybody else knows of any ways of preventing please post. I can't afford to pay 400 dollars for a repair!!

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Are you willing to yank your back seat out? Do you have way to cut the sheetmetal? My backseat is still out so I'll take some better photos of EXACTY where I cut the floor so all you have to do is unscrew the retaining ring and reach in, twist and remove the pump.

My test was a nice long sweeping right-hander @ about 70 with an 1/8 tank of gas. Engine kept purrin' like a kitten.

I put up with this for close to a year now.

Also, I have a ZX3...don't know if it makes a difference.

[ 04-07-2003, 10:43 PM: Message edited by: Phillip ]

 

[02SVTFOCUS]

this just happened to me 2 weeks ago. randy and i took it to the dealership, told them what was goin on, and asked them to siphon out the gas in the tank, so it would start to "stall out"--and i have a new one in my car now

 

[Phillip]

Originally posted by 02SVTFOCUS:
this just happened to me 2 weeks ago. randy and i took it to the dealership, told them what was goin on, and asked them to siphon out the gas in the tank, so it would start to "stall out"--and i have a new one in my car now

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">It's that stinkin' VERY fine disk filter in the bottom of the fuel pump canister. What a pain. Oh well, I have a fast access via the floor under the rear passenger side seat now.

 

[gtpzx3]

My dealer didn't have to induce my fuel pump problem. They just replaced it when I told them what the symptoms were. They said it was not uncommon.