Fuel Starvation above 6k RPM's? Help.

[ukfan50]

Was looking for some help, searched & found nothing.

I've noticed that my car just started doing this... At high RPM's around 6k & up it almost feels like it's not getting enough fuel? Thats the best way to describe it, like a fuel starvation? My CEL is & has been on since I bought it4-5 months ago. My dad is a Sevice Manager at a Ford dealer & had the CEL checked out at his shop as soon as I bought it. Said needed new MAF sensor and upper intake gaskets. Could that be the culpret?

It's only $150 in parts with his discount and the tech's only charging me $150 in labor to replace both.

Should note the car is OEM/stock in every way.

Thanks in advance for any advice?

 

[gorman]

Hi, a vacuum leak will make your car run lean ... so that ties in with what you are suspecting. Don't know if you are any good with mechanics... being able to fix your own car is very handy. Maybe replace the upper gasket (cleaning out the UIM at the same time) and see if the situation improves. If not, clean the MAF sensor (search) and then if it still feels reluctant up top... replace the MAF sensor..... otherwise stick your hand deep into your pocket and try not to wince as you hand the cash over j/K //lol ...G.

 

[ukfan50]

Hi, a vacuum leak will make your car run lean ... so that ties in with what you are suspecting. Don't know if you are any good with mechanics... being able to fix your own car is very handy. Maybe replace the upper gasket (cleaning out the UIM at the same time) and see if the situation improves. If not, clean the MAF sensor (search) and then if it still feels reluctant up top... replace the MAF sensor..... otherwise stick your hand deep into your pocket and try not to wince as you hand the cash over j/K //lol ...G.

Thanks!

I don't have a garage or means to do it myself but do have the $ to have the Tech in my dads shop do it. If I were a regular customer that job would be more than double or triple $300 (parts & labor). I'd just assume trade cars the night before, give my dad the $ & when he drops it off after work the CEL and whats causing it are no longer a problem.

 

[gorman]

but do have the $ to have the Tech in my dads shop do it.

in that case, it might be worth you paying the tech to get some 'simple green' and wash out the upper and lower manifolds 'cos gauranteed they'll be coked up. That alone makes the car feel much smoother and more responsive ...G.

 

[Rara]

another common problem is the fuel pump pickup inside the tank. There is a screen that gets clogged on the cars with returnless fuel system. It will be worse if the tank has less fuel in it, and it will gradually get worse, occurring at lower and lower rpm, and at higher and higher fuel levels in the tank, and will eventually burn out the fuel pump.
Check the regular fuel filter too of course.

 

[ukfan50]

another common problem is the fuel pump pickup inside the tank. There is a screen that gets clogged on the cars with returnless fuel system. It will be worse if the tank has less fuel in it, and it will gradually get worse, occurring at lower and lower rpm, and at higher and higher fuel levels in the tank, and will eventually burn out the fuel pump.
Check the regular fuel filter too of course.

Thanks for the tip. I'm gonna make sure he does it in that case.

 

[mattsBLK99cSVT]

another common problem is the fuel pump pickup inside the tank. There is a screen that gets clogged on the cars with returnless fuel system. It will be worse if the tank has less fuel in it, and it will gradually get worse, occurring at lower and lower rpm, and at higher and higher fuel levels in the tank, and will eventually burn out the fuel pump.
Check the regular fuel filter too of course.

yep that happened to me, when I had a full tank rpm's would be able to go everywhere, by the time I was down to a quarter tank the secondaries wouldn't even open and the car felt crazy, it was buckin like no other. I got a new sock and pump Fixed

 

[BrApple]

I'm going to have to do this soon myself ...

 

[Tex]

yep that happened to me, when I had a full tank rpm's would be able to go everywhere, by the time I was down to a quarter tank the secondaries wouldn't even open and the car felt crazy, it was buckin like no other. I got a new sock and pump Fixed

That's the way my car was when I bought it. Once it hit 1/4 tank, it was like hitting a wall at 6000. Eventually it progressed into barely being able to maintain 2000-3000 cruising even at a nearly full tank, but I had no clue what it was because I could generally restart the car, and it would work again for a while. New fuel filter, new FSVT pump, and a jumbo size can of carb cleaner on the sock filter, and it was good to go...once I finally decided that was what was wrong.

 

[Big Jim]

Was looking for some help, searched & found nothing.

I've noticed that my car just started doing this... At high RPM's around 6k & up it almost feels like it's not getting enough fuel? Thats the best way to describe it, like a fuel starvation? My CEL is & has been on since I bought it4-5 months ago. My dad is a Sevice Manager at a Ford dealer & had the CEL checked out at his shop as soon as I bought it. Said needed new MAF sensor and upper intake gaskets. Could that be the culpret?

It's only $150 in parts with his discount and the tech's only charging me $150 in labor to replace both.

Should note the car is OEM/stock in every way.

Thanks in advance for any advice?

It would REALLY help us to help you if you would tell us the year, engine, transmission, etc.

I too suspect a fuel starvation issue, which was especially common with late 99 and 00 V6 engines with the returnless fuel system. If you don't have a returnless, the plugged fuel screen on the bottom of the fuel pump module won't apply. Have you changed or checked the fuel filter lately?

 

[ukfan50]

It would REALLY help us to help you if you would tell us the year, engine, transmission, etc.

I too suspect a fuel starvation issue, which was especially common with late 99 and 00 V6 engines with the returnless fuel system. If you don't have a returnless, the plugged fuel screen on the bottom of the fuel pump module won't apply. Have you changed or checked the fuel filter lately?

I want to thank everyone for the awesome experiences, great info, help & replies! My dumbass realized that my gas light had been on for a little while and by trial & error (filling up), I figured out it was fuel starvation because of "lack of fuel" DUH!!! After filling up, the next day after posting here the night b4, problem completley gone! Thanks again!

Sorry for any inconvienence and thanks again for all the great advice.

Just an FYI to answer some of ur all's questions...
MY2000 CSVT bone stock with 95k miles/fuel filter replaced less than 2k miles ago at last oil change.

 

[andreslobo]

Keep track of performance vs fuel level

Keep track of performance vs fuel level

If your 'starvation' issue is gone with a full tank, keep track of your performance as the fuel level drops. If you develop 'starvation' issues at low fuel levels then it is time for a new fuel pump assembly (this replaces EVERYTHING, filters, pump, fuel level sensor). What happens is the filter at the bottom of the cannister that surrounds the fuel pump gets plugged up and does not allow fuel to flow into the cannister quickly enough to keep up with the pump. As it gets worse, rapid acceleration or hard cornering will cause the car to die at low fuel levels, usually in the most inconvienient places. Wait a few minutes and the car will start up.

 

[Big Jim]

Or just pull the pump and throw away the CENSORED filter screen. It is too small, too fine, and isn't needed as there is a conventional sock filter inside the module before the pump anyway.

 

[andreslobo]

The screen performs a couple of functions

The screen performs a couple of functions

The screen filters the big chunks out and controls the rate of fuel outflow from the cannister under hard turns, braking, and acceleration. The cannister acts to hold enough fuel so that the fuel pump does not starve during the above conditions. Removing this filter is probably a moot point given the pathetic acceleration and turning force available with contours. Hehehe

 

[Big Jim]

Whatever that screen is intended to control, it screws up too easily. I have not had any ill effects from any that I have removed (many).

This was a HUGE issue when returnless was first introduced on our cars.

 

[ukfan50]

If your 'starvation' issue is gone with a full tank, keep track of your performance as the fuel level drops. If you develop 'starvation' issues at low fuel levels then it is time for a new fuel pump assembly (this replaces EVERYTHING, filters, pump, fuel level sensor). What happens is the filter at the bottom of the cannister that surrounds the fuel pump gets plugged up and does not allow fuel to flow into the cannister quickly enough to keep up with the pump. As it gets worse, rapid acceleration or hard cornering will cause the car to die at low fuel levels, usually in the most inconvienient places. Wait a few minutes and the car will start up.

Thanks 4 the info. I'm the type that would wanna make sure the entire "fuel pump system", like u mentioned is replaced with new OEM Ford parts. I get a pretty good discount: at cost. Hook-up from my dad. Thanks again & I'll keep an eye out on it...

 

[Big Jim]

The current replacement has its problems too.

The problem with the too easy to plug up screen eventually led to a recall, but not until the design was used on the Focus. From there it spread to the Cougar. But when they did the recall they conveniently left off the Contiques as well as the earliest Cougars.

The current replacement pump is the recall design. It requires a special tool to cut off the pump module locking tanks from the bottom of the tank. Some have succeeded in cutting them off with a pair of dykes but with great difficulty.

There have been reports after all is said and done that the new design doesn't keep up with the fuel demands of the SVT.

Another frequently used option is to use the old pump module and only replace the pump. The pump is not available separately for Contours, but the Focus SVT (only Focus SVT, not normal Focus) pump can be easily adapted. The Focus SVT pump is actually a slight upgrade in that it has a higher pump rate.

So it is your car and you should do what you want, but one of the reasons for hanging out here at CEG is to learn from the mistakes of others so you don't have to repeat them yourself. Learn form the options available and don't assume that the factory is always right.

 

[andreslobo]

I cut my tabs off with a box cutter knife. It took a little while (much less than taking the #%$@ tank out) and it worked very well.

I have a piss ant 4 cyl so I have no experience with the flow rates required for a 6 cyl.

 

[ukfan50]

Just 2 double check my CSVT MY2000 is a "returnless" so there for does or does not have that screen?

 

[Big Jim]

Just 2 double check my CSVT MY2000 is a "returnless" so there for does or does not have that screen?

Yes it does.

There is a how to for pulling the pump without dropping the tank in the old forums, but last I knew you could not open the old forums to hunt for things. The how to includes photos of the job. One of the last photos shows the filter screen in question.

Briefly, before returnless you could pull the pump through an access hole under the rear seat. The access hole is still there, but the pump module is too big to fit through it. The idea is to enlarge the hole using tin snips. Snip the sheet metal in several places radiating out from the center, then turn the tabs up to make the hole bigger. After finishing with the pump, press the tabs back into place and use duct tape and underseal to restore the original size. Many have done it this way. Certainly not Ford approved. Various methods to seal it up after the job have been done.

Of course, you can drop the tank out of the car if you prefer.