Fuel Pump Question

[Tubbs]

My 1999 Ford F150 has been sitting in the garage due to bad brakes for over a year. I haven't even started it.

I finally got around to fixing the brakes, now I have no fuel going to the engine/injectors.

Checked to see if the fuel pump is getting power, no troubles there, so I feel it's the fuel pump.

Can they go bad just by sitting?

[StanW]

Sounds like air in the fuel system - you'll have to bleed it ( a la brake lines).

[jazzman]

I wouldn't think so but after all that time and condensation you may have water at the bottom of the tank. I'd add some Stabil, some STP gas treatment and maybe some fuel injector cleaner along with some fresh gas and see if that helps.

[LuckyLarry]

StanW
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Sounds like air in the fuel system - you'll have to bleed it ( a la brake lines).

You do NOT need to bleed electronic efi systems,specifically in the case of his model of truck:they bleed with each injector pulse.
Your pump is seized from sitting, for whatever reason.Have someone crank the engine for you, while you hit the bottom of the fuel tank, in the middle .See if the pump breaks free.Ultimately, it will have to be replaced.Rubber mallet works best if you have one.Verify the fuel pump circuit has power & ground for sure.

[Green Thumb]

How much fuel was in the tank. Internal tank fuel pumps need fuel to cool them (especially ford pumps), if it is an internal tank pump and fuel was low it may have got over heated when trying to start after a long sit. Fuel up above a quarter tank if lower than that and while someone is turning the key use a rubber mallet and bang on the tank from under the truck and it may come back to life.

Best of luck GT

[anyonomus]

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Sounds like air in the fuel system - you'll have to bleed it ( a la brake lines).

You do NOT need to bleed electronic efi systems:they bleed with each injector pulse.
You pump is seized from sitting, for whatever reason.Have someone crank the engine for you, while you hit the bottom of the fuel tank, in the middle .See if the pump breake free.Ultimately, it will have to be replaced.

Electric fuel pumps work without cranking the engine..NO need to crank engine and all that will do is wear the battery down unless the fuel get to the injectors and it starts..
All that is needed is to cycle the key from completely "off" to the "on" position without hitting the "Start" position..
Each time the cycle is done..the person will hear the "fuel" pump run then shut off..
They would then recycle the key again.. ;)

[Night_Predator]

Exactly anyonomus no need to crank the engine. And I would add if you don’t hear or feel the vibration of the pump at the tank you can try the mallet but I would suggest just replacing it.

[Mr Hanky]

Some of the ford pickups its easier to remove the truck bed then remove the shroud,breaking the straps,lines etc etc.I have removed them in 20 minutes and what a piece of cake from there.

[satchick]

How old is the fuel filter? If it hasn't been changed in 30k, or you don't know how old it is, change it. A clogged fuel filter may or may not be the problem, but it's a preventative maintenance item anyways.

Did you check your fuel pressure already?

[noone]

As stated already , once you turn the key to "on" ( without turning it over ) you should hear a humming sound indicating that the fuel pump is running, or have someone unhook the fuel line from both sides of the fuel filter and see if gas is pumping when the key is turned...

[satchick]

or have someone unhook the fuel line from both sides of the fuel filter and see if gas is pumping when the key is turned...
This is a very unsafe way to test fuel pump operation. Get yourself a fuel pressure gauge and connect it to the valve on the fuel rail, if you haven't done this already. Just having fuel flow won't really tell you much, you need sufficient pressure as well.