Fuel system worked until I fixed it?

[Terry]

I have a 86 ranger with a 2.9 and the two fuel filter setup. I am doing a little pm. I put in a new filter on the frame rail and thought that I would remove the filter in the canister. It ran fine before I removed the canister filter. I had around 32 psi. Now it wont start. My fuel pressure gage shows 0 psi now and I hear the fuel rail pump. I guess I should put a new filter back in. I sould have never second guessed Ford in the first place.

 

[jhammel85]

lol, we've all had these moments...

I'd wonder if maybe the filter is backwards on the frame rail?

 

[adsm08]

Make sure the inline filter is in correctly. The rounded edge is supposed to face the rear of the vehicle.

Now, if you removed the in-line canister unit, well you need to stop playing with things you don't understand. When you can explain to me the full function of that unit you can make the decision to remove it from the system.

If you just changed the filter that is in there and left the canister housing in place then it would seem you don't have the system primed.

See, there is this check valve that helps hold fuel in the supply line instead of letting it drain back to the tank. It is kinda just a little bit located in the canister unit.

If you cycle the key and/or crank the engine long enough it should build up some pressure and fire eventually though.

 

[Terry]

lol, we've all had these moments...

I'd wonder if maybe the filter is backwards on the frame rail?[/QUOTE

I will check it again this afternoon. Somehow when you have been crawling in and out from under the truck and have had gas run all over you and down your back, the "screw this" takes over your brain. I used some vacuum block off plugs to plug the fuel line and remove the cartridge filter. When I went to remove the filter again, my plug was not working very well. I have been trying all day to figure out what to plug them with. I am just having a hard time thinking that if you remove the filter its self that fuel would no longer fl;ow?

 

[jhammel85]

lol, we've all had these moments...

I'd wonder if maybe the filter is backwards on the frame rail?[/QUOTE

I will check it again this afternoon. Somehow when you have been crawling in and out from under the truck and have had gas run all over you and down your back, the "screw this" takes over your brain. I used some vacuum block off plugs to plug the fuel line and remove the cartridge filter. When I went to remove the filter again, my plug was not working very well. I have been trying all day to figure out what to plug them with. I am just having a hard time thinking that if you remove the filter its self that fuel would no longer fl;ow?

It's OK...I had the same problem one time. I was frustrated about something else i was working on under the hood and thought "let me just take a break from this and just do the filter." Got under the truck and got sprayed in the face with 40psi of gasoline.

THAT is what happens when you don't run the truck with the relay pulled, kids

By the way...It burns your eyes like hell.

 

[Terry]

It's OK...I had the same problem one time. I was frustrated about something else i was working on under the hood and thought "let me just take a break from this and just do the filter." Got under the truck and got sprayed in the face with 40psi of gasoline.

THAT is what happens when you don't run the truck with the relay pulled, kids

By the way...It burns your eyes like hell.

It had no fuel pressure. I put the truck up on my ramps but that gas sure loves gravity.

 

[jhammel85]

Yeah I just forgot to do it. A crucial step!

Good luck. Hopefully it's just a backwards filter!

 

[Terry]

I hope so too. I think I will just wear a rain coat. Do you think the wife would get mad if I used her dish washing gloves. I use her baster once to suck out the master cylinder. I still hear about that one and that was over ten years ago.

 

[Terry]

Well I put a filter back into the cartridge and it started. I changed the plugs as well. I still have a problem. The truck runs good until it warms up then it starts running shitty. I put my OBD taster on the test port after I warmed it up in the driveway. KOEO test makes a few clicks but that is all. Nothing changes on my tester, it stays at 000. I borrowed a new taster from the auto parts store and got the same results. I guess I need to start chasing wires. Any suggestions?

 

[jhammel85]

It takes a while when testing. Mine will say 000 for quite a while before magic starts happening.

You have it plugged into the dog house and the signal plug too?

 

[Terry]

It takes a while when testing. Mine will say 000 for quite a while before magic starts happening.

You have it plugged into the dog house and the signal plug too?

Yes, I have both connectors hooked up. I'm leaning towards the TFI. It went out last year and I had a shop replace it. I need to make sure that there is nothing else causing the problem before it goes to the shop.

 

[jhammel85]

Usually a TFI goes out while driving. It gets hot and fails. Once cooled off, the truck runs again.

If you want to test out the TFI, A parts store can test the TFI for you. If you can do the filter on the truck, you can definitely do a TFI. It's just two bolts on the back of the distributor and a plug. If you attempt it yourself, Don't forget to use dielectric grease on the back of the distributor / TFI.

 

[Terry]

Usually a TFI goes out while driving. It gets hot and fails. Once cooled off, the truck runs again.

If you want to test out the TFI, A parts store can test the TFI for you. If you can do the filter on the truck, you can definitely do a TFI. It's just two bolts on the back of the distributor and a plug. If you attempt it yourself, Don't forget to use dielectric grease on the back of the distributor / TFI.

I just did intake gaskets not that long ago. Would have been an easy job when it was already out. I guess I can pull it and if it is bad I will put it back together and call the repair shop that changed it out. Its still covered. I guess I could call them and tell them they can tow it to their shop and replace it or buy me the part and I will do it.

 

[Terry]

Well, after all the testing I think that I found the problem. I pulled the bed of the truck to get to the tank pump. I plugged a piece of rubber hose to the output of the pump. Its not pumping any fuel. I removed the pump assembly from the tank. I hooked some jumper cables to the pump connections and I am getting a small click sound but the pump does not run. I figured out why my gas gauge was not working. I removed the float and I can shake it and hear the gas that is in the float. I was going to go on the cheap and just get the pump. The pump kit and a new strainer was going to be 62 dollars. I went to rock auto and ordered the complete assembly. Out the door with shipping it was 85.00. I like to keep my money in the local stores but with the great service and prices I get from rock auto they can't compete.

 

[Terry]

The fedex man just came. Rock auto packs their boxes well. The pump assembly looks so shiny and clean I almost hate to put it in. Stay tunned.