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I have a 1988 Ford E350 class C motorhome. When it gets to around 1/3 1/4 tank of gas it starts to run rough and eventually stalls. If you let it sit a while sometimes it will run again. Once you fill up the tank it runs fine again until it gets down to this level. Also the gas gauge doesn't work.
Country: United StatesMake: FordModel: E-350 EconolineYear: 1988Engine: 7.5L ? Gas engine Already Tried: Have taken it to my mechanic. He isn't sure he can get the part but thinks the gas tank might need replacement along with fuel sender unit. Thinks their might be rust crap etc in tank that kicks up and cuts off the fuel when the tank is low.
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Does my explanation of the problem make sense?
Hello?
That could be the problem, ford doesn't make the fuel pump assembly anymore. But this Carter P74597S is the only replacement for these and you have to modify the float to face the opposite direction to make the gas gauge work.
So there is a fuel pump in the tank?
The fuel pump and sender are all one unit?
Yes just a moment.
The fuel pump could also be going out. When the gas gets low the fuel pump might be getting hot and shutting off since the gas cools the pump off.
I see. So I would probably want to replace the fuel pump and the sending unit? They are separate?
But you said they don't make the fuel pump anymore, so maybe I am out of luck? Or is that part number you gave me the fuel pump and sender?
My mechanic is reluctant to work on it because he doesn't know if he can get parts.
The part number i sent you is the only replacement for the whole fuel pump assembly. It has everything on it that goes into the tank, including the pump and sending unit. It is just over 100 dollars on the internet.
Just let him know that is the replacement part he needs and he can get it.
I see. How do you modify the float? You said that has to be modified for the fuel gage to work properly. Will he be able to figure that out?
My mechanic was saying if the tank has garbage in it that it would be hard to get that cleaned out. Do you know if the tanks are available for this anymore. I think it has a 35 gallon tank. All I've found online for econolines are 22 gallon tanks. I know it is larger than that.
The sending unit for the guage works opposite from the original.(so when the float is all way up gauge reads empty) Easy to fix, he just needs to drill out the rivets on the unit and turned it upside down and over to the other side of mounting plate and put small screws and nuts to replace rivets. He will also have to bend the metal rod (float arm) where it inserts into the hole in the sensor to face opposite direction.
Let me look these are getting pretty old so it might be hard to find a tank
I can't find anyone who makes this tank anymore. Everyone seems to have discontinued them.
Hmm... would the 22 gallon tank work in this vehicle? I've seen those all over online for the E-350. At this point I can only get around that much out of the tank before it starts stalling out and I have to fill the tank anyway.
What is your guess though? You think it just might be the fuel pump in the tank shutting down? It does start running again if I let it sit for a while. As soon as I top off the tank though, it runs fine.
There isn't anyone making these aftermarket?
I don't think you have that much junk in the tank. If it was junk in the tank it wouldn't run right at all because the fuel pump sucks fuel from the bottom of the tank all of the time. Most of the time the fuel pump just gets old and runs hot when the fuel level gets low.
That makes sense.
How hard is it to drop those tanks and replace the unit? Are there any instructions online that you know of if I wanted to do this myself?
Its not to hard to drop the tank if you have the right tools. It will be a lot harder if there is any fuel in the tank. I can't find any instructions on the internet that you could use.
If there is any fuel in the tank i would definitely recommend having some help when trying to lower and lift it if you do this yourself.
Right. It is probably more than I want to get into. I have basic tools but I don't know if I'd have what I need for this. I'll talk to my mechanic and tell him about this part. I also saw a place online that rebuilds and sells rebuilt fuel sending units for old vehicles. I'm waiting to hear back from them to see if they have one for this or if they can rebuild the old one.
How can i tell if it is the fuel pump? I'd just have have it replaced and see if that does it?
you would have to be able to watch the fuel pressure when it is having problems.
What you are describing though sounds most likely the problem. Like you said, if it was crap in the tank I'd think it would run rough all the time and would probably clog up the fuel filter I would think.
Thanks for the advice. I'll talk with my mechanic about it. I just click accept her to pay you right?
Your welcome. Yes it would, that is why i believe it is just the fuel pump getting hot and stopping which isn't unusual with how old the vehicle is. And yes and positive feedback would be much appreciated thank you.
Experience: 2 Years of schooling and have owned a shop for 2 years.