Big Jim,
The bottom screen on the pump has a very fine mesh and was pretty plugged up. Since the screen is so fine, it will plug easily and once the screen plugged the pump suction will be restricted. When I put all the symptoms together, the screen is probably the problem. The first symptoms were at higher RPMs when the engine required more fuel. If the screen were partially plugged, then screen would restrict fuel when engine demanded a high fuel flow rate. This is exactly the initial symptom that I noticed. The first symptom was when the carâ??s RPMs were over 4,000 when I would feel that the car lost fuel. As things progressed it happened more and more frequently but only at high fuel demands, like something was restricting the fuel. Until last Friday the screen was plugged up enough to restrict the fuel flow enough to starve the pump of fuel at low fuel demand and ruin the pump. So, yes Big Jim I am going to take your advice and remove the bottom screen.
My only question why did Ford put such a fine screen on the bottom of the fuel pump? Could the 2000 V-6 Contour fuel pump be more susceptible to fine particulates? I am going to remove the screen on the new pump and find out. I really think the sock filter on the suction of the pump is fine enough.
