Trip from #$@* is over.....rear tank inop?

[dakotajeep]

Ok the trip is finally over. I got back last night.

In case you arent sure what I am talking about I spent nearly three weeks of vacation with the truck either in the shop or having it break down on the highway. I had it towed 4 times. I had a new fuel selector valve put in and had the tranny rebuilt since it just died......

My problem now is that my rear tank wont work period. The front tank works as it should but as soon as I switch it to the back the engine dies. I am wondering what the procedure for checking the fuel selector vavle would be. Also, I did remove the original shower head fuel pickup and replaced it with rubber hose. My concern is that maybe I got a piece of the old shower head in the lines ( I may have missed a piece or two). Or maybe the rubber hose is crimped since I wasnt sure how long to have the hose. I think it may have bent and now with the extra draw on the fuel with the turbo I think it may have created a suction on itself or the bottom of the tank. And yes I cut a v in the end of the hose when installed.


The Ford shop did just put a fuel selector valve in. Not sure where to start. I might just take the bed off today and go from there....

Thanks!!!!
Thad

 

[typ4]

take the bed off, pull the sender and get some truck air brake plastic line, warm it in hot water and slip it over the pickup tube. then keep setting the sending unit in and trimming the line till it just touches the bottom then cut off another 1/8 to 1/4 inch. My rear tank is a 30 gallon bronco and if I let it go dry I can get in 33.

The plastic air brake line is fuel rated.

 

[dakotajeep]

Ok, my issue is how do I know when its touching the bottom of the tank?

 

[hesutton]

You will fill the hose touching the bottom when you put the sender in the tank.

I have to wonder if that selector is bad or if there is an obstruction somewhere in the system. Does the fuel level change when you switch tanks? Can you hear the fuel selector valve move when someone throws the switch in the cab?

I had a FSV die on me....there is some good info in THIS POST.

Heath

 

[dakotajeep]

You will fill the hose touching the bottom when you put the sender in the tank.

I have to wonder if that selector is bad or if there is an obstruction somewhere in the system. Does the fuel level change when you switch tanks? Can you hear the fuel selector valve move when someone throws the switch in the cab?

I guess I could "feel" it. Last time I had the bed installed still and it was difficult enough to get the sender in and out not to mention trying to figure the depth.

I am leaning towards obstruction. I am not sure if the level changes or not since alst time I tried to switch them they were both full.....

The selector should move even if the engine isnt running right? At least thats how I understand it...

Thad

 

[Agnem]

Did it EVER work after the Ford dealer "fixed" it? It wouldn't take much for them to swap the supply and return lines by accident. If you don't think that is the problem, why not just disconnect the FSV yourself, and put a suction on that fuel tank supply line and see if you can get any fuel out?

 

[dakotajeep]

Yeah, it worked fine from Bismarck to just north of Nashville. Then I fueled up again and after that it didnt like the back tank.

Also, I just tried to listen for the selector valve switching and it clicked back and forth a few times while I was listening to it and then wouldnt change off the rear tank. I took the cap off the rear tank and a half quart of fuel came out. The truck was sitting nose downhill when that happened. It sitting level and the fuel is still at the rim of the filler nozzle.

Any thoughts?

Thad

 

[hesutton]

I think that valve is *****! Ford did the work right? Wouldn't any Ford dealer be able to "warranty" the work?

Heath

 

[dakotajeep]

I think that valve is *****! Ford did the work right? Wouldn't any Ford dealer be able to "warranty" the work?

Heath

I agree but it did overflow the back tank before I went on the trip. The difference is that when it overflowed before the rear tanked worked a little ie the it ran for awhile and then died. Now it dies immediately after switching to the back tank.

Thad

 

[hesutton]

Well, it sounds like the you are returning fuel to the rear tank all the time.....not just when you have it selected. If your lines are hooked up correctly....again, it looks like the valve is not switching properly. You really need to get that bed off and give the fuel lines a good inspection/cleaning.

Heath

 

[dakotajeep]

I will get to it this week in between trying to outprocess from Fort Rucker and pack all my household goods into a truck.......its gonna be hard to find the time.

 

[mankypro]

ok your ordeal beats mine hands down...

 

[farriswheel]

speaking of fuel tank stuff, where can i buy a sending unit? I went to autozone today and they said they couldnt order one

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

After four or more similar episodes as you are experiencing, I gave up on those junk electric selectors many years ago.

I have been using two MANUAL selectors for many many years and I would not let someone replace them with the absolute best electric one for free.

I still have all of the deceased electric valves around here somewhere as a testimony to their abilities.


I would do as someone suggested and by-pass the valve with hose to just see if fuel will draw from the tank.

It is possible that when you thought the fuel was gelling that it was actually the selector running you dry of fuel.

 

[dakotajeep]

After four or more similar episodes as you are experiencing, I gave up on those junk electric selectors many years ago.

I have been using two MANUAL selectors for many many years and I would not let someone replace them with the absolute best electric one for free.

I still have all of the deceased electric valves around here somewhere as a testimony to their abilities.


I would do as someone suggested and by-pass the valve with hose to just see if fuel will draw from the tank.

It is possible that when you thought the fuel was gelling that it was actually the selector running you dry of fuel.

Yeah, Do you have a right up, part #'s or any info on the manual selectors?

I am thinking that the issues I originally had were not gelling but a fuel supply issue. I personally was never convinced that it was fuel gelling that was causing my problems in SD. All the "experts" kept implying that it was and that I just needed to thaw it out......I had a bottle of PS anti-gel and a half bottle of Howes in each tank so there is no way it should have gelled......which at this point I am sure it didnt....

Thad