Jerrytcb

Lets start at the beginning i bought this ford f150 2 wheel drive and the guy i bought it off of replaced the high pressure pump and the fuel filter. The truck still wouldn't start. He bypassed the fuel shut off switch and still nothing it would just turn over. Now i got it and i dropped the tank and replaced the fuel pump which it was bad. Still wouldn't start. i replaced the fuel pump relay and still nothing. It will start if you spray starting fluid in the intake and run for a second. So i hooked a one gallon gas can to the hood and ran a gas line into the intake thinking it might need help priming. Well it ran for about 4 minutes and i notice the catilayct converters was glowing red so i shut it off. I then cut out the converters and tried it again. It still will not start unless you put gas in the intake.One other thing is the fuel pump never shuts off it stays running untill you turn the key off. The only thing iam thinking now is that i replaced the steering column cause the ignition was broke. Now the truck has a manual transmission and all i could find is a automatic steering column for it. I have been told that could be my problem cause it don't match the cumputer. So right now iam lost and looking for suggestion.

SeanAA

Similar, unsolved problem here. Just bought a 1989 F150 4.9L 2WD, two gas tanks. Have issues filling the tank. Have to pump gas really slow to get it in there, and even then the pump will still cut off before the tank is full. If the pump's auto cut off isn't sensitive enough, the gas just spills out as if the tank is full. The other day, after running out of gas all the time, I finally took the time to fill it up with about 19 gallons. After about 20 miles of driving on that tank I parked it; I then started it up and heard a really strange noise that sounded like it was coming from under the hood. It stalled 30 feet later. Since then, when I turn the key to the on position, the external / high pressure fuel pump makes a constant noise as if it's operating full time. After letting it sit for a long time, it will BARELY start and sputter and then stall again.

I've been through the Clymer manual troubleshooting fuel issues up to the point you need a $130 fuel pressure gauge kit (from Harbor Freight even!). The inertia switch wasn't tripped, and when I ground the fuel pump terminal on the diagnostic Data Link Connector (DLC) it makes the same noise as when i just turn the key to the "on" position. Based on the order of operation of the fuel system the Clymer manual describes, it might be a bad EEC. I'm hoping against odds that it's just a clogged fuel filter and I'm going out now to replace it. If it doesn't work, I'll just chalk it up to good maintenance.

I ran about 3 gallons off the rear fuel tank before I realized it was more like a "rear fuel strainer" with all the rust holes in the bottom of it. A steady stream of gas was hitting my hot exhaust pipe! Glad it didn't catch.

SeanAA

Filter was full of fine rust silt. Replaced and pump still seems to run while the key is in the on position. It seems to want to start. Since the high pressure pump is before the filter, it must be full of that stuff.

fordoor

I've had the same problem the last few days. I turn the key on and the fuel pump keeps running. I replaced fuel pump, no change. I pulled the return line off the tank and cycled the key. The pump ran briefly then stopped as it should. The truck started and ran fine for a few minutes. I stuck the return
line back on and checked the pump It ran steady and didn't shut off.

I figured the return line was blocked. I couldn't get the return line fitting undone behind the plenum. I checked fuel pressure at the shrader valve. It read 80 which is too high. I figured I might as well pull the plenum so I could get to the fitting and try a new pressure regulator. I did all that and discovered a broken vacuum line and the pc valve was pulled out. Got it all back together and cycled the key and listened. It ran briefly and shut off as it should. I started the engine which ran good.... for about 15 seconds. Right back to the same old crap, sputtering and revving up and down. bear with me, I know this getting long.

I turned the key on and sure enough the pump ran steady AGAIN! I let it run and heard a whistling noise coming from the area behind the plenum where the two fuel lines are attached to a bracket. I whacked it with a big screwdriver handle a few times and the noise and the fuel pump stopped! I start the engine, it runs great for ten seconds and goes right back to the same old problem. I start beating and shaking on the bracket. I reached down and took hold of a bundle of wires that run below the bracket and shook on them too. It smoothed right out! It ran good for a few and went rough again so I shook the wires again. It smoothed out again. The problem is somewhere in the bundle of wires.

Then I took the screwdriver and reached between two of the tubes on the plenum and raised up the wires that go to the injectors and it smoothed out again. This time it stayed smooth long enough to take a beer run. On the way back it went crappy again. Tomorrow I will take the plenum back off and pull the casing off the wires and inspect each one. What a pain in the *** this has been. At least I'm on the right track, hopefully.
I've been a little long winded but maybe it'll help someone.