I've noticed recently that my Contour doesn't start that well when I am low on gas, under a quarter tank or so. It can take 3 or 4 tries to get it to turn over, it just kinda revs but never totally catches, if you can understand my non-car jibberish. I've been told that; most cars do that and not to worry, there's water in the tank and from my friends at Ford, that I need a new fuel injection system. Gotta love Ford's advice. Anyone have any input on this, it's not really a problem cause I usually keep gas in my tank, but sometimes I forget or go on a trip or something of that nature and the next morning it's kind of annoying when it doesn't start up real well. Thanks guys.
sounds like your fuel pump is on its way out...
Might just be that your fuel gauge is inaccurate. I know when mine has been at 1/4 tank it has sputtered on hills. I now acctually now go by the trip oddometer, whenever I get to the 450km mark I start looking for a place to tank up. I know at 500km it'll take like 50 litres or more in the 55 litre tank, but the gauge is just a little below the quarter. So try dumping a couple of gallons in. Then go to a gas station and fill it and see how much gas it'll take to see if you were just empty.
Alec
In reply to:
sounds like your fuel pump is on its way out...
I concur...
Originally posted by louisw:
sounds like your fuel pump is on its way out...
Werd. Just got mine replaced.
I agree that the fuel pump sounds suspect.
Keep in mind that any "I just replaced my fuel pump" testimonials are only apples to apples on a returnable fuel system. The returnless (late model, ~99 and up) pumps are known to be junk, where the early fuel pumps are much more trouble-free.
So assuming it is the fuel pump, how much will that run me to replace? I'm on a limited budget here, going back to school this weekend and all. And do you think it's something that needs immediate attention or can it wait? I mean, it works fine most of the time, just those rare times that I'm low on gas does it bother me. Should I be real concerned?
I know that you said that you're not low on gas often, but...have you ever run out of gas? Also, when this does happen, do you crank the motor for more than 2 seconds? What I'm getting at is that the fuel pump is lubricated and cooled by the fuel. If there is no fuel present and the engine is trying to draw fuel from it, it can quickly damage the pump, which is indeed a piece o' crap to begin with. I would also concur that your fuel pump is on the way out. Anyway, if you get in the Zone, it will run you about 130-150 ish.. but there is always the bone yard if you're strapped for cash.
My $.02
I have never totally run out of gas, but I have held it for longer than 2 seconds, hoping it will fire up. I suppose that's not good for it. It has been starting right up lately though, so I'm not too worried. Hopefully it will make it through the winter, if not I guess I get a fuel pump for X-mas! Thanks Santa! By the way 00contourse, how do the reverse indiglo gauges look? I saw those on ebay and thought about buying them, you like em?
is fuel filter even a possible answer here,, wouldn't hurt to run injector cleaner through.
I love the indiglo in my car. It goes well with the interior, lit up or not. Two complaints: 1. The odometer and trip odometer, as well as the needles are still the same color as they would be if you left everything alone. 2. The Speedometer has a circle shaped indiglo in the middle that surrounds the odometers and serves no purpose. I used to wish it wasn't there, but now that I have the HVAC panel from bnoon, it matches pretty well.
the good news is that a needle kit is available from importintelligence.com, and if you wanted, you could make the needles light up a different color.
good luck on the fuel pump problem, and drive carefully.