Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Gas Tank

Okâ?¦well heres the problem the needle on the gas gage is VERY sensitive for example it could be at 3/4 of a tank full then in like 5 mins it shoots to 1/2 tank then mins later it will go between 1/2 and 3/4 I donâ??t get it and am not drive on any hills â?¦

Plus when it gets hot like 80 or hotter in the summer and I go to pump gas it clicks like its full and it takes me like 10mins just to put 10$ in(3 cents and click). anyone please.

Sometimes the tanks get like that, I guess they kind of vapour lock the pump or however it works. The trick is to put the gas pump in, twist it 90' to the side then pump till it clicks off.
Pull the nozzle out and put it back in again ... presto !!

Usually works for me anyway.

I've driven plenty of cars with this problem. The old pull out-put back is definitely tried and tested.

I've heard of a TSB for the fuel filler where it causes a pump to constantly click off. I don't remember which years it applies to, but I thought the previous owner of my '98 had it done.

This thread from two days ago has more info, including the TSB number.

Linky

As far as you only being able to fill your gas tank 3cents at a time, well it sounds like there is some sort of blockage either in the fill tube or at the base of it in the tank. I am not sure about your gas gauge being screwed up though, sounds like the fuel level sending unit is on the fritz... they may be related though, very possible that maybe the float came appart or something and half or all of it is blocking the fill tube in your tank. Either way I would drop the tank out and check it out myself or have a shop do it.

Thanks guys for all your idea's and help.

could possibly be the pump you are using too, it could be pumping too much too fast although I highly doubt that but sometimes I've been to pumps that pump extremely fast and cause exactly what you said. There is a TSB as previously mentioned that concerns the filler neck not being able to accomodate quick fillups. Oh and the twisting the handle 90 degrees always works for me when I run into this problem. As for the gauge being flakey.... From many experiences w/ other ford vehicles, expecially my ex-boss's expedition, if you continually overfill the tank by trying to cram more gas in after the pump shuts off, overtime, repeatedly doing this causes the float valve to mess up and start to be inaccurate. I've seen 3 vehicles go in for a new float assembly from doing this.

The TSB referenced in the other thread will solve the slow fill-up problem.

As for the fluctuating fuel gauge reading, what you describe sounds normal. I'll even venture to guess the reading decreases following a right turn, and increases during a left turn. It has to do with the shape of the fuel tank and the position of the level-sensing float. Nothing to worry about.

Drop your tank???? on my 96 contour you get to service the
gas tank sending unit/float via removing the rear seat and you get to it there.. it's not like other ford products where you have to drop the tank to get to the fuel pump or float or other things to service the gas tank..... get a hayes manual or a helm manual and save yourself alot of work..