Stalling XF - confused - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

timbo999 · 07-03-2003, 01:20

heyas

I've got a irriating problem occuring in my '86 XF (auto, EFI).

After going around long, tight left-hand bends, where the car has been doing the turn for over 5 seconds, the car will cough and splutter and eventually grind to a halt. Its also done it once while crawling along in heavy, stop/start traffic up a hill. Restarting is a problem after this with the engine refusing to kick, until after a random amount of time (mainly with the car just sitting there) it starts and runs fine - it's like nothing happened.

I've noticed it only does it when the fuel is low (under a quarter of a tank), and if I keep it full(ish) everything's aok. I've had a couple of people tell me that there's probably water on the fuel and when the car goes around a corner and fuel moves to the rightside of the tank, the pump sucks up water and the engine stalls. Anyone know if this could be the case? Being new to the mechanics of Fords, I'm not sure as to where the internal fuel pump would suck the fuel up from.

If it is water, anyone know a good method for clearing it up? Apart from draining and drying the tank that is?

(apologies for the long post *grin*)

Chad_XF · 07-03-2003, 01:57

The fuel pump sits in top of the tank (bottom of the boot is the access panel) sounds like your friends could be right, best thing would be 2 use your fuel, drop your tank out and clean it out, not 2 sure what you would use

Dellboy999 · 07-03-2003, 05:25

Buy a cheap syphon pump from kmart or alike, and use most your tank then pump out whats left, do it from the access hole in the top of the tank so you can tell its as empty as you can get it, just dont let dirt fall in, check the filter in the tank at the end of pump if there is one while you are there.

Dellboy999

XESpakman · 07-03-2003, 06:37

Yea the pump is slightly to the left of centre. Do what chad XF said, I washed mine (XE EFI) with Washing detergent and let it dry in the sun for a few days (I had gas) and cleaned all the pump bracket, filter etc. with the same. But DO NOT get water in the pump as it will probably sieze (dunno what detergent will do) make sure the filter is really clean and dry then reassemble.

XF Falcon · 07-03-2003, 07:42

That happened to mine on a sharp slight downhill right bend. crap from the low tank clogged up the carby but it wouldnt go away. Had to pay $80 back then to get the carby serviced.

About a year later on the exact same bend it happened again. After that I found out that my xf didnt have a fuel filter on it, and bought an inline fuel filter and fitted it myself. hasnt happened since!

XESpakman · 07-03-2003, 20:00

Yea, replace your fuel filter too. It is located near the rear left wheel (inside the chassis rail), held on with two large hoseclamps. The filter could be stuffed.

timbo999 · 07-03-2003, 20:18

thanks for the comments - very quick!

I've already the replace the filter in my first steps to trying to solve this problem. Guess I'll drop the tank out and clean it that way

This forum is brilliant for the newbie ford fixer/upperer!

yeah right · 07-04-2003, 03:37

If you're too lazy to pull the tank methylated spirits in the tank will mix with the water & pull it through the system & the meths will burn off in the cylinder - the water will go out the exhaust as steam. Probably run a bit rough for a few fills - but nothing like it is now.

85xfo · 07-04-2003, 16:50

by the sounds of it ,it would be water in the fuel ,i think if you go to supercheap or somewhere like that you can actually by something that helps with the water,helps get rid of it by evapouration or by making the water be able to be burnt and emitted as steam.i woould ask a mechanic about metho as it may/or may not do damage to your fuel system with o-rings ,rubbers or something like that .

yeah right · 07-04-2003, 18:00

Methylated spirits is harmless to anything you're going to find in a car - plastic & rubber & paint included. Remember some sad pricks drink the stuff. It's the perfect agent for the job because it's also water soluble. No point in paying for some "specialised" dewaterer when meth's is perfectly suited.