So ok I'm changing out the fuel pump on my 1989 mercury colony park. The manual says to drop the tank; do I really need to do that or can I get to it through the floor pan? Also to syphon out fuel can I take the tube off the fuel filter and turn the ignition on and let the pump pump fuel into a bucket and just watch the fuel gauge?
Yes you have to drop the tank. You can empty the tank with the fuel pump but you have to jump the relay. The fuel pump will only cycle for a couple seconds when you turn the key on. It then turns back on when the computer gets a signal from the distributor that the car is running.
I'm replacing it before it goes... Yes it still works but I'm replacing it cause it is going bad and I rather replace it now before I'm on the side of the road doing it lolz
On these Fords, if the pump is gone, you can disconnect the fuel line at the engine, and the tank will siphon itself just about empty. Dropping the tank is EASY. Only two bolts one the straps, and one small one on the filler tube. Takes about 15 minutes. I did it with hand tools. While the tank is out, get a new rubber seal for the filler tube. The are about $5.00, and a cinch to change while the tank is out anyway. If the tank is showing signs of age, why not slap a new one in at the same time. Brand new, with a lifetime warranty they are only a little over $100.00. I always coat them with about 4 cans of black rubber stone guard before I put them in, and they stay good.
Are you talking about the one 8mm bolt that has a bracket hooked to the driver side of the tank and the filler neck? cause I thought I had to take the four bolts off from the filler cap area...
Those filler cap assemblies don't have to come out. The molded plastic cavity could crack if you disturb it. I kept wondering why I had gasoline fumes after every fill. Mine cracked when I took out the filler tube from the top at the filler door. He's talking about the bolts UNDER the car. That rubber ring dries up after that many years, so replacing it is the best like Mike says. The filler tube has some wiggle room to separate it from the tank when you drop it down. You'll have to disconnect the plastic 'return' line too (comes from the canister at the engine compartment) to recirculate the gas that is fed through the canister back to the tank. Check out the AutoZone Repair Guide online. It should have the procedure for this. http://www.autozone.com/autozone/
Yes, I am talking about that little one from a bracket on the filler tube that attaches to the flange on the tank. You can reach it through the wheel well. Leave the filler tube itself alone in you can. What I did was remove the bolts holding the tube at the top, but did not try to remove it. This just allows that extra wiggle. That little bolt on the tube is there to keep filler tube at the correct angle to the tank, and to stop movement, so the grommet will seal properly. All of the lines disconnect from the tank with the plastic tubes. If any of the pull tab thingies break, replacements are readily available. I replaced all of them as a matter of course. There are two sizes, one is black, the other opaque white. I think they are about 5o cents a piece. By the way, the charcoal canister should never have gas in it. If the element get soaked with gas, it will clog, your tank will not vent, and the resulting vacuum can cause the tank to collapse. It it to capture any gas fumes that are released as air in the tank expands, and the vapours are fed back into the tank as the fuel level drops. There is also a vacuum line from the canister to the intake, and the check valve opens under specific operating conditions to suck the vapours directly into the intake, and so burn them off. Over filling the tank can flood the filter. Just happened on Mom's Volvo this week! The car would not start, and that is why.
Ok sweet. I started to do it while up in Wisconsin but was negotiated to not do it until I was back home lol mostly cold weather and no heater... So I was following all the precautions and taking off the needed equipment then put it all back together. I'll let you all know what happens when I try it this week.
