Question re: fuel filter light

mexicanjoe

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My “ fuel filter” lamps coming on. I’ve replaced both fuel filter and lift pump.... but it only does this when I pull out of the rear tank and not the front..... I’m going crazy trying to figure this out. When pulling out of the rear tank ,( full of diesel) it cuts out/ surges......but it won’t do this when the front tank is activated??? My friend Boudreaux says it’s the switch on the dash.. I think not. Can anyone help please
 

Shadetreemechanic

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How quickly does it act up after switching tanks? If its instant, then it could very well be the switch. If it takes a couple minutes to act up I would lean toward debris in the tank clogging the showerhead, or pieces of a broken showerhead getting stuck in the fuel line.
 

aggiediesel01

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It could be the the tank selector valve mounted down on the frame under the drivers door. Or it could be a problem with your rear pickup tube, or the line from the tank to the switching valve. If the "showerhead" in the rear tank has failed and a piece is blocking or stuck in the end of the pickup tube or it's full of alge/slime, then it won't flow the fuel required. Since you describe the problem as cutting out/surging when the tank is full, I would suspect the valve or the line to the rear tank first. But since you also describe the filter light coming on, that only happens when the injector pump pulls a vacuum on the filter header which means the lift pump can't deliver fuel through the filter to keep it happy. The valves can be had on ebay now for ~$50 but I would check that rear line for cracks or breaks or a plugged up rear pickup before I blew more money on it. Maybe you can pull the rear feed line at the valve and apply a low pressure to the rear filler and see if fuel flows out easily? Do the same with the front to compare flows?
 

Clb

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^^^ this
Another diagnostic trick
Open the rear fuel cap (so it does not build pressure and **** back out the line), fsv on rear tank, jack some low (1-10psi) pressure air from the engine mounted filter back.
Lower the fuel the better in That tank..
May spit out the obstruction
 
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