lotiman

I have 2007, 4 door, short bed, regular gas F150. The other day it was announced that gas was going up $.60. I only drive the truck when I have to tow. I had only 3/8 of a tank so I went to fill it up. When I filled it up it still only read 3/8 of a tank. So the next day I drove it to work. On the way to work it still only read 3/8 of a tank. All of a sudden the Low Fuel warning bell goes off. I look at the gas gauge and it read empty. The truck still running fine. No problems. I took it past the local auto parts store and they could not take any reading but they said it was a bad fuel pump ($400) for the part. When I left the auto parts store all of sudden the gas gauge read full but did not last long and dropped back to empty with the warning buzzer going off and went back to work. After work I went to my mechanic and the gas gauge was still reading empty, left the truck run and had him come out and look at it, still reading empty. He told me it would cost me $120.00 to check it out and if it would be a fuel pump it was $600 for the fuel pump and at least another $400 labor plus the $120.00 for checking it out. When I left his shop and turned the corner all of a sudden the gas gauge was reading full. That lasted about 2 blocks then went to empty again.


I am getting ready to do a 1000 mile road trip with the truck.


Ask anyone experienced this problem and how was it resolve?


Thanks,


Craig

lewissa81

It's weird that the gauge goes up and down. You could have some wiring issues. I would trace the wires, as much as you can without dropping the tank.
Sometimes the float inside the tank can get sticky. Running some Techron may help (it will dissolve impurities in the gas like sulfur). However, since the gauge is going up and down and up and down, then changes after taking a turn, the float itself may just be faulty.

basinharley

I think there is an issue with your fuel pipe something like a leakage. It might need a repair. You should take your truck to mechanic and he will install a new fuel pipe.

Martian

A slow, unnoticeable leak wouldn't cause a full tank to read at 3/8 though.

MetalCutter

After I changed my FPDM I had the same issue. I suggested to my mechanic the sticky float problem and he said that's a popular GM problem, not Ford. He said it may be a loose ground at the FPDM. I never checked it and it has since disapeared and not come back. I used to just set the trip odometer at each fill-up and top it off after 250 mi. or so just to be safe.

Martian

Glad you said that... any float can get sticky if using low-grade gas for a while. Dump a bottle of Techron or Redline or Gumout (the kind with Regane) in there with around a half a tank left and get your gas from Shell or BP.

The additive has polyether amine, which will dissolve buildup crap through the whole fuel system. The gas at Shell and BP have it in there as well.

chickenwire

I'm curious as to how a fuel pump would cause an erratic fuel gauge reading and no performance issue with the engine?

Martian

I don't think it would.