|
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 29
New CEG\'er
|
OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 29 |
Okay all of you Contour buffs, I need advice. Today for the very first time it took 1-Hour to fill my tank with fuel? The pump kept kicking off as if my tank was full - but it wasn't. What is stopping the fuel from getting into the tank freely? My car is a 1998.5 [E1] SVT Contour. Please reply with your suggestions to my direct e-mail address thanna@teleport.com thank you. Thomas 
I Live My Life A Quarter Mile At A Time...
During That 10 Seconds Or Less, I'm Free!
1998.5 SVT Contour
aka: THE TOURMINATOR
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,281
Captain Impound Boy
|
|
Captain Impound Boy
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,281 |
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,810
Hard-core CEG'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,810 |
The fuel tank has a flapper valve at the base of the filler next that is designed to seal the fuel tank against vapors coming back out. This is an OBD II function to pressurize the fuel tank so that the computer can verify that the tank isn't leaking fuel vapors to the atmosphere.
The problem is that 97 and many 98 model contours used a type of rubber on the valve that was sensitive to the alcohol/methanol mix in oxygenated fuels. In the presence of oxygenated fuels the rubber swells on the valve and causes it to stick closed. When you add fuel normally the valve opens with the weight of the fuel. With it stuck it backs up the fuel and cuts off the gas pump. You will need to replace the flapper valve in the tank somehow. Ford may not have done a recall on the valve but in 99 they did come out with a replacement valve for it.
I had the problem and I took a coat hanger along that cut and straightened out in order to stick it down the filler neck and knock open the valve. It worked until I got ford to fix the valve so I didn't have to take 20 minutes to fill the fuel tank.
Former owner of '99 CSVT - Silver #222/2760
356/334 wHP/TQ at 10psi on pump gas!
See My Mods
'05 Volvo S40 Turbo 5 AWD with 6spd, Passion Red
'06 Mazda5 Touring, 5spd,MTX, Black
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 432
CEG\'er
|
|
CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 432 |
I've noticed that some pumps have that problem and others do not. Doesn't the pump shut off when the nozzle pressure gets too low?
Anyway, it takes a LITTLE longer to pump when it's like that but an hour is a bit ridiculous. When this happens again, either try a different pump or squeeze the handle only enough to get the gas moving. Don't try to pull it all the way or even enough to lock it at the lowest setting.
Bill
'00 SVT Black/Tan
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 29
New CEG\'er
|
|
OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 29 |
First... I did try another pump, same outcome. 
Second, the flapper comment seems to be the most likely problem, I didn't know there was such a thing in the tank. I'll try what you did - how far down the filler neck is this flapper?  NEVER MIND, I SEE IT'S AT THE BASE OF THE FILLER NECK.
Thomas
Last edited by Thomas Hanna; 06/30/04 06:11 PM.
I Live My Life A Quarter Mile At A Time...
During That 10 Seconds Or Less, I'm Free!
1998.5 SVT Contour
aka: THE TOURMINATOR
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,810
Hard-core CEG'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,810 |
It's the flapper valve, not the pumps!
It takes about 2.5' of coat hanger and if the valve is really stuck the coat hanger will flex and try to bend. you may need to slide it in until you hit the restriction and then pop it a few times to jar it loose rather than use continuous pressure. Double stranding the coat hanger may be required to make it stiffer. Just bend the tip around so that it is rounded, like a bobby pin top so that you don't damage the valve. If popping it doesn' work then double strand the coat hanger and put on even more pressure in different spots of the valve until it pops free.
Once you free it up it may be a recurring problem. If it does then you need the new valve.
Former owner of '99 CSVT - Silver #222/2760
356/334 wHP/TQ at 10psi on pump gas!
See My Mods
'05 Volvo S40 Turbo 5 AWD with 6spd, Passion Red
'06 Mazda5 Touring, 5spd,MTX, Black
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 29
New CEG\'er
|
|
OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 29 |
Originally posted by warmonger:
It's the flapper valve, not the pumps!
It takes about 2.5' of coat hanger and if the valve is really stuck the coat hanger will flex and try to bend. you may need to slide it in until you hit the restriction and then pop it a few times to jar it loose rather than use continuous pressure. Double stranding the coat hanger may be required to make it stiffer. Just bend the tip around so that it is rounded, like a bobby pin top so that you don't damage the valve. If popping it doesn' work then double strand the coat hanger and put on even more pressure in different spots of the valve until it pops free.
Once you free it up it may be a recurring problem. If it does then you need the new valve.
Many thanks.  I might even try a piece of 1/2 inch nylon tubing if the hanger doesn't work.
Thomas
I Live My Life A Quarter Mile At A Time...
During That 10 Seconds Or Less, I'm Free!
1998.5 SVT Contour
aka: THE TOURMINATOR
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,395
Hard-core CEG\'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,395 |
My car does this all the time... only doesnt take over an hour... just hafta remain repumping... had some douche tell me I am not supposed to top off... i hadta go in my car to prove that its only at 1/2...  Had an argument too with the person there saying that my gas meter is broken I wish i knew how to fix it Oh my car is a 1995, so no OBD-2 [censored]
Former owner of a 1995 Ford Contour GL w/ 2.0L ATX
Proud owner of a 2005 Ford Taurus SE 3.0L V6 Vulcan 
--Looking for Commodore stuff (Drives, Units, Amiga, games, etc)If anyone has any of this laying around and wants it gone, lemme know --
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 423
CEG\'er
|
|
CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 423 |
My 98 Mystique does this a lot, mostly during warmer weather. I just have to stand there filling it manually at a lower rate - even the lowest notch on the auto fill is usually too fast to leave it unattended. It probably takes me 5-6 minutes but nowhere close to an hour.
I know it is the flapper but I just haven't gotten around to fixing the problem. Has anyone replaced theirs on their own or is this something a dealer should tackle? I've replaced my own struts, removed and cleaned out the LIM/UIM, etc., so I'm somewhat mechanically inclinded. Is this something I could do myself without a hoist or special tools that would probably cost as much as the repair done by a shop?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 463
CEG\'er
|
|
CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 463 |
Program 01M04
Slow fill/spit back.
10 year 100k mile warranty extension for the flapper valve.
Have the dealer fix it free.
jeff
have you fixed your ford lately?
|
|
|
|
|
