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2000 Fuel pump question

B

Big Al

New CEG'er
Joined
May 21, 2005
Messages
12
Pulled the fuel pump today. Found the round screen and the pump sock plugged up. My questions are about the tub the pump sits in. Mine has three stand pipes. The longest (tallest) one goes into an "O" ring in the top plate. There is some sort of vent there at the pump output. In the bottom there is a restricted passage to the second one. The third one goes to a port about two inches up from the bottom. Seems like it would bypass the round flat screen in the bottom if there was a high level of fuel. Any idea what they are used for? There is a cutout behind the fuel level sender that is lower than the stand pipes.

Cleaned the filters with "409." They look like new. I'm trying to convince myself that they are there for a reason, and should be put back. ??

How do you hold the round screen to the bottom of the pump housing while you put the pump back in? Only thing I can think of is grease.

Last thing: I found a broken rubber ring in the tank. It's about 1 1/8" ID and 1 1/2" OD. Any idea where it came from?

Getting the fuel line off the tank was a bear. Instructions said to pull back on the collar. Well, I pushed the line in and pryed the collar with two screw drivers and finally got it off. I was about to destroy it!

Al

2000 SE Sport
 
Take the @#$% round one and throw it as far as you can. It's the trouble maker. You don't need it since there is still a conventional sock filter inside the pump module as you found out.

Ford used the same @#$% design on the late 99 and newer Cougar as well as the Focus and eventually had a recall over this issue, but didn't extend the recall back to include Contours. The pump installed on the recall was completely different and required modifying the bottom of the tank to install it. Other than getting rid of the round filter that was too small and too fine, the new pump doesn't function any better than the old one with the round filter removed.
 
Big Jim said:
Take the @#$% round one and throw it as far as you can. It's the trouble maker. ...........Ford used the same @#$% design on the late 99 and newer Cougar as well as the Focus and eventually had a recall over this issue, but didn't extend the recall back to include Contours. ...
Click to expand...
Tell us how you really feel, Big Jim, don't hold back! :laugh:
 
2000 Fuel pump

2000 Fuel pump

Been thinking about this. I think the stand pipe system is there to fill the tub to keep the fuel pump cool when the tank is low. Ran my Contour very low on fuel and there is about 3/4" in the tank. The bleed must be to keep the fuel circulating through the pump. The discharge from the second stand pipe must fill the tub so the pump stays submerged.

Any other thoughts?

I'll ditch the round filter, but there is a round rubber bypass in the bottom of the tub. I'm assuming this is to by-pass the round filter??? The sock sits verticle, so the level in the tub has to be higher than the level of the tank or the pump would suck air.

Al
 
Did a lot of looking at that tub today. Tossed the round screen. Went to the 99 cent store and bought a small strainer, cut the screen out, and put it in place of the round filter. Put five gallons of fuel in it and it started right up. Tomorrow I'll take it for a spin. Left the hole in the floor and the rear seat out. I'll finish it IF it runs right:)

Thanks for the help.

Al

2000 SE Sport
 
Been thinking about the tub design. Went on line and looked at other Ford pump modules. Looks like the later Taurus has the pump sock sticking out the side of the tub at the bottom. Wonder if it will fit in a Contour? Wish I could look at one. I'm convinced the stand pipe arrangement is to keep the tub full of fuel. Not convinced it actually works.

Drove mine today. Runs a lot better. With 5 gallons of gas, it has a slight jerk at WFO. With a full tank it runs like it should. Left the seat and the hole to the tank open. Wanted to avoid all the work if I needed to pull it again. Plus, was worried about the green ring in the top of the tank. Mine sort of swelled up, and I was concerned fuel might leak out the top. But it's good. With the hole in the floor I can hear the sway bar bushing is out again. At least it sounds like it is.

After I bend the sheet metal back, what's the best way to seal everything up?

Al
2000 SE Sport
 
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