Irratic starting problem

[Ski]

Sorry, I don't know, but they are only a phone call away.IF NOT, then perhaps there is a motor pool mechanic on base that can help you out, or ask a round maybe someone else has a pressure guage that you can borrow. I picked mine up for about $30 so it is not an expensive tool that someone would be overly protective of.

Nope... then we will have to look for a different problem.

Regarding swapping the filter:

Your pump should put out approx 35-45 PSI pressure. I don't know how safe cutting out the filter and using rubber hoses is. You might want to consider having a shop replace the filter for you. Perhaps with better tools, they can do it easily, and it won't cost much. Just a thought, I imagine that they would pretty much have a set price for swapping out a filter, and if it takes them longer than anticipated, they will have to eat the additional time.

Yes.. you have been a gentleman throughout. I apologize. I had you confused with another thread.

I assume the tuneup included cap plugs and rotor. Did you also include wires and air filter? DId you use a good qulaity air filter or the cheapest you could find? It is my understanding that cheap ones can deteriate and leave deposits on your MAF sensor.

Someone who knows more about codes will have to help you out here, because I am a real newbie on this stuff. I *think* you are supposed to clear out the memory after installing a MAF sensor, but I am not sure.

Also while I am sure that your truck was checked for emmissions, I am pretty certain that they do not check for codes during an inspection, at least up here in NJ they don't.

So you *may* want to get it re-checked for codes.

Since your truck runs intermittently, if it runs fine while it is running, your problem may not be your fuel filter. Although it is probably time for it to be replaced.

Let us know how you make out with your fuel pressure test.

joe

What part of NJ? I recruited up there in Toms River.

I swapped the MAF myself and cleared the code after. I just checked it to ensure that there wasnt one still stored. The intermittent problem is weird in that it seemed to go away when I put 30 bucks worth of gas in my truck. Then after a couple weeks it would act up, throw 30 bucks in and it ran great. Now I have a full tank and it runs like a ***** ape. I just know that here in a couple weeks it probably wont start again and I will have to put gas in it to get it to run.

 

[Broncobill78]

Ok, you replaced the lo-pressure fuel pump in the tank, but what about the high-pressure pump on the framerail ? A bad sending unit will cause the fuel gauge to read incorrectly, either pinning the gauge in one direction or the other or giving erratic readings but it won't compromise fuel flow. I'd look to the high-pressure pump at this point.

 

[Ski]

Ok, you replaced the lo-pressure fuel pump in the tank, but what about the high-pressure pump on the framerail ? A bad sending unit will cause the fuel gauge to read incorrectly, either pinning the gauge in one direction or the other or giving erratic readings but it won't compromise fuel flow. I'd look to the high-pressure pump at this point.

Ok I can follow that train of thought, however, where is it? My haynes doesnt say anything about a high pressure pump. I will definitly swap that before droppin the tank again.

 

[BroncoJoe19]

What part of NJ? I recruited up there in Toms River. I swapped the MAF myself and cleared the code after. I just checked it to ensure that there wasnt one still stored. The intermittent problem is weird in that it seemed to go away when I put 30 bucks worth of gas in my truck. Then after a couple weeks it would act up, throw 30 bucks in and it ran great. Now I have a full tank and it runs like a ***** ape. I just know that here in a couple weeks it probably wont start again and I will have to put gas in it to get it to run.

Small world eh? My cousin lives in Tom's River. I'm in Wayne.

Are you sure you can make a connection between the amount of fuel in your tank and the ability of your truck to start?

IF SO... it is def a fuel delivery problem.

Now I don't know and I am just making stuff up here but follow this line of thought.

Gas, like water always wants to seek its own level, so if for some reason you have a weak pump, a partially clogged inlet, and /or a clogged fuel filter, or any combination of those three, and at a near empty tank, your pump had to raise gas three feet, from the bottom of the tank to the top of the engine, but with a full tank it only had to raise the fuel one foot from the height of the fuel to the top of the engine, that could explain why you get gas with a full tank, but not enough on half tank or less.

Considering that the pump should be able to pump gas at 35-45 psi, ( I am guessing that would be able to push gas up twenty or thirty feet, so the above doesn't sound all that plausable unless the pump is really borderline, or the in line filter is really clogged) If however the filter is really clogged, Betty wouldn't run like a ***** ape, she would sputter a bit, or bog down when you put demands on her.

I am thinking that You really need to get a pressure tester. So that you can test it when it is working, and when it is not.

So.. here is another line of thought.

Ok.. so I was going to go into a long dessertation on having more fuel your tank is heavier., perhaps stresses the frame, pulls on wires leading to the pump, and forces a better connection... less fuel less stress... less connection, no pumping.

Throw that idae out the window.

So I opened my Hanyes manual to see where the electrical connections are to see if the above is actually feasable.

I think I found your problem.

You have a rusty tank, or crap in it.

It appears from the picture that you have an In-Tank filter. I'll bet you that it is clogged. When you have more pressure in the tank i.e. it is more full it can push through the in tank filter to the in-pump-reservoir where it can get pumped out of the tank and through the lines.

When you have less than let's say half a tank of fuel, there is not enough pressure pushing the gas through the in tank filter to the reservoir so that it can get pumped out etc. Your pump is working, but it is starving for fuel.

If you changed the pump a year ago, you should have changed that filter as well. If you did, and I am right, then either you have a rusty tank, or someone dislikes you and put something in your tank.

A truck that hangs around a lot with less than a quarter of a tank is more likely to rust out than one that is kept topped off.

What do you think?

joe

 

[Ski]

Small world eh? My cousin lives in Tom's River. I'm in Wayne.
Are you sure you can make a connection between the amount of fuel in your tank and the ability of your truck to start?

IF SO... it is def a fuel delivery problem.

Now I don't know and I am just making stuff up here but follow this line of thought.

Gas, like water always wants to seek its own level, so if for some reason you have a weak pump, a partially clogged inlet, and /or a clogged fuel filter, or any combination of those three, and at a near empty tank, your pump had to raise gas three feet, from the bottom of the tank to the top of the engine, but with a full tank it only had to raise the fuel one foot from the height of the fuel to the top of the engine, that could explain why you get gas with a full tank, but not enough on half tank or less.

Considering that the pump should be able to pump gas at 35-45 psi, ( I am guessing that would be able to push gas up twenty or thirty feet, so the above doesn't sound all that plausable unless the pump is really borderline, or the in line filter is really clogged) If however the filter is really clogged, Betty wouldn't run like a ***** ape, she would sputter a bit, or bog down when you put demands on her.

I am thinking that You really need to get a pressure tester. So that you can test it when it is working, and when it is not.

So.. here is another line of thought.

Ok.. so I was going to go into a long dessertation on having more fuel your tank is heavier., perhaps stresses the frame, pulls on wires leading to the pump, and forces a better connection... less fuel less stress... less connection, no pumping.

Throw that idae out the window.

So I opened my Hanyes manual to see where the electrical connections are to see if the above is actually feasable.

I think I found your problem.

You have a rusty tank, or crap in it.

It appears from the picture that you have an In-Tank filter. I'll bet you that it is clogged. When you have more pressure in the tank i.e. it is more full it can push through the in tank filter to the in-pump-reservoir where it can get pumped out of the tank and through the lines.

When you have less than let's say half a tank of fuel, there is not enough pressure pushing the gas through the in tank filter to the reservoir so that it can get pumped out etc. Your pump is working, but it is starving for fuel.

If you changed the pump a year ago, you should have changed that filter as well. If you did, and I am right, then either you have a rusty tank, or someone dislikes you and put something in your tank.

A truck that hangs around a lot with less than a quarter of a tank is more likely to rust out than one that is kept topped off.

What do you think?

joe

Wow, ok alot to think about here. You brought up some good points to look at. I really want to get a pressure tester on it. Then I would know more. When I dropped my tank to install the new pump last year, I took a gander into the tank and it looked very clean. That doesnt mean that someone doesnt hold a grudge against me and placed something into my tank.

The only thing I can say as definite is that everytime it wouldnt start, I placed 30 bucks worth of gas in it and it would start and run no problem for a couple weeks. I know its weird, but there you go. It started when I was low on gas, and gradually the tank filled up. Started with the guage on "E" threw 30 bucks in got me to 1/4 tank, ran it for a couple weeks then wouldnt start. Threw 30 bucks in took me to half a tank, ran for a couple weeks, then wouldnt start. Threw 30 bucks in took me to 3/4 of a tank ran for a couple weeks then wouldnt start. Went to through 30 bucks in but only took 19 before it filled my tank, and is currently running. That was last week, so I am thinking I have one week to figure it out, cause I am out of room in my tank LOL

 

[BroncoJoe19]

<SNIP> Went to through 30 bucks in but only took 19 before it filled my tank, and is currently running. That was last week, so I am thinking I have one week to figure it out, cause I am out of room in my tank LOL

:lol:

Man you have a good sense of humor, you really made me literally LOL.

Now as you explain the progression, it really does make sense that the internal filter is getting progressively more clogged.

I am pretty sure that the filter is a separate part, so the job should not be expensive, just labor.

SeaBronc offered a thread on how one may cut a hole in the cargo compartment to get to the fuel pump without dropping the tank. If you are interested in that approach you could do a search for it, or write to him, he is one of the moderators here.

In either case good luck,

Let us know how you make out.

joe

 

[Ski]

:lol: Man you have a good sense of humor, you really made me literally LOL.

Now as you explain the progression, it really does make sense that the internal filter is getting progressively more clogged.

I am pretty sure that the filter is a separate part, so the job should not be expensive, just labor.

SeaBronc offered a thread on how one may cut a hole in the cargo compartment to get to the fuel pump without dropping the tank. If you are interested in that approach you could do a search for it, or write to him, he is one of the moderators here.

In either case good luck,

Let us know how you make out.

joe

I think that if I could not laugh at my dilemma with my truck, I would truelly want to get rid of it. But I do dig my ride! So, here I sit laughing to myself. I am going to get a pressure tester and check it out and get back to ya'll.