Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting acceleration problems on low tank of fuel

This has been happening for the past few weeks. When I get below 1/4 tank of gas, the car lunges at high RPM's (kind of like it does when you hit the rev limiter).

Last week, after doing a brake job, I took it for a spin (below 1/4 tank of fuel). 2nd and 3rd gear, above 5,000 RPM, the car would lunge and not fully accelerate. I pushed in the clutch, tried to rev the engine and it choked down, almost to a stall. Took it to the gas station, filled it up, and it ran like a champ.

I know it wasn't just a bad tank of gas cause it's been doing this every time my tank gets low.

I've recently changed the fuel filter in an attempt to narrow down the problem. As is typical, the easy replacement didn't fix the problem.

What other ideas might you guys have?

Fuel pump.

That was probably going to be my next replacement, but I was thinking that the pump would present that problem whether it was a full tank or not. True? Not true?

Although, I'm not a fuel pump expert, so perhaps it's design might lend itself to this type of problem.

Had similar problems at the 1/4 tank mark. Went in to the dealership and $675.00 later with a new fuel pump alls good. Well as good as it gets when I'm $675 lighter. How many miles did you have when this prob. started? I was around 62,000 on a Y2k SVT. Good luck.
JPC

I'm at 42,000 with a 2000 SVT.

Guess I'll be replacing a pump soon

Mine just started doing the exact same thing. I thought bad gas at first but the problem goes away after a fillup. Of course, the warranty expired 8000Km ago!

// Chris Root
// '99 SVT

Well said. Changing the fuel filter will help a bit, but eventually you'll have to get down to the pump.

Tiv

I have the same problem. I am still under warenty so might take it to Ford and ask for a new pump. Oh well at least it is not just me with that problem.

on my 87 taurusaurus it would do the same thing...when the tank was low if u gave it moderate throttle or more it would lurch like the it was not getting fuel...but if u drove with a light throttle it would be okay unless really low on gas....there apparently was a problem with the pickup tube (?) in the tank...if i filled the tank before it go too low i didn't have the problem

find out what other parts are to the fuel system as far as picking up the fuel...maybe there's something other than the pump that would be less expensive to replace

although it seems like the fuel pump is a maintainance item to add to the list for these cars along with waterpump etc...

Returnless Fuel Pump Exposed!
Thread on topic...

I would first change the external filter on the side of the tank, if that doesn't cure it...

You might have the same problem (clogged in tank filters...pump is probably just fine!) as I did when two fuel pumps went out on mine (warranty) I fixed it so I could do it the next time!

...Ed