Front Fuel Tank Hard Start
05-10-2017, 02:11 PM
#1
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Front Fuel Tank Hard Start
Truck: 1996 5.0L, 4x4.
So when my truck is on the front fuel tank it is tough to start. Sometimes it goes, sometimes it does not. It is almost a 50-50 chance. If it doesn't start, it will sputter a bit, then eventually die.
If I have it on the rear tank, it always starts.
Note, once I get it the truck to start on the rear tank, i can switch it over to the front tank and drive on that perfectly fine. It is just the starting problem.
I feel like maybe the front tank isn't getting enough fuel to the engine to start it fully? Wondering what the problem might be.
Any suggestions on what I can replace would be appreciated.
Thanks
So when my truck is on the front fuel tank it is tough to start. Sometimes it goes, sometimes it does not. It is almost a 50-50 chance. If it doesn't start, it will sputter a bit, then eventually die.
If I have it on the rear tank, it always starts.
Note, once I get it the truck to start on the rear tank, i can switch it over to the front tank and drive on that perfectly fine. It is just the starting problem.
I feel like maybe the front tank isn't getting enough fuel to the engine to start it fully? Wondering what the problem might be.
Any suggestions on what I can replace would be appreciated.
Thanks
05-10-2017, 05:22 PM
#2
Do a fuel pressure test - with a gauge. That will narrow things down.
Sounds like most likely a weak front pump, but spending about $40 on a fuel pressure tester before buying parts you might not need is a good plan. And you get to keep the gauge for future troubleshooting.
Sounds like most likely a weak front pump, but spending about $40 on a fuel pressure tester before buying parts you might not need is a good plan. And you get to keep the gauge for future troubleshooting.
05-10-2017, 07:09 PM
#3
Fuel Pump
I had nearly the same problems with my 96. Except, it would always start on the front tank and have the problems you described with the rear tank. Additionally it seemed to be temperature sensitive. When it was warm out, it simply would not start on the rear tank, but cold it would normally start. (Check Valve)
I took the bed off to replace the pump and to do some additional repairs, with close observation I found the tanks were rusty and showing sign of damp spots, tank straps were thin and weak, rubber hose detonated and the fuel fill neck also needed to be replaced as they were leaking when fuel was being added. I pretty much put in a whole new fuel system.
I would check pressure before you tackle it, but I would expect the check valve to be weak in one or both tanks and allowing fuel to go back to the tank, making starting difficult on that tank. By the way, the rear pump on my truck, when I did run on it, had a bad check valve and would allow fuel to pass to the front tank, so i had to watch the front tank levels, it to make sure it did not overflow.
I took the bed off to replace the pump and to do some additional repairs, with close observation I found the tanks were rusty and showing sign of damp spots, tank straps were thin and weak, rubber hose detonated and the fuel fill neck also needed to be replaced as they were leaking when fuel was being added. I pretty much put in a whole new fuel system.
I would check pressure before you tackle it, but I would expect the check valve to be weak in one or both tanks and allowing fuel to go back to the tank, making starting difficult on that tank. By the way, the rear pump on my truck, when I did run on it, had a bad check valve and would allow fuel to pass to the front tank, so i had to watch the front tank levels, it to make sure it did not overflow.
