Problems With Gas Gage / Hesitation on start

SRMobile · May 5, 2005

Im taking my car in next tuesday, but I thought Id get some input so I dont get the run around at the dealership.

Basicaly, every other time I fill up, the needle will go to full... Normal. But after driving for about 10 mins, the gas guage drops to empty and the low feul light comes on. After driving abit longer the CEL comes on. Hummm. Eventualy the needles swings back up to full and the low feul light turns off but the CEL stays.

I brought my car in for this last year, all connections are good, they cleared the CEL and told me to try and fill up somewhere else for a while I just went along with it but obviously thats not the problem. (I can see what they're saying but none of my other cars have ever done this)

2nd Problem, I'm thinking it maybe related

If I run my car for about 20 mins(warmed up), turn it off (like going into the store or something) and come back to start it, it hesitates / has trouble starting.

Other than the tranny tbs and this stupidity this car has been the best Ford ive owned

Kilgore Trout · May 5, 2005

How many miles? If it is over 30k it could be the fuel filter...

SRMobile · May 5, 2005

Its only got 6k miles on it...

Kilgore Trout · May 5, 2005

Ah well in that case, its Ford's problem isn't it

SRMobile · May 5, 2005

Indeed

But still, Just getting a few feelers to see if anyone else has had this and sucsesfully had the problem(s) fixed. I dont want to leave them the car for too long.

ToplessStang · May 5, 2005

Well, being a Ford tech, I can tell you that the "try a diffrent brand of fuel" really is a message from Ford. I doubt that it will solve anything but your dealer was just passing the message along. The fact that your Cel is on is a good thing. They will most likely replace your fuel sending unit in the tank so bring it with low fuel. As for the trouble starting, for some reason the 4.6 does that sometimes. I don't think Ford even knows why. My friend has a 2 week old 05 and it has also done it. Doesn't happen often but when it does, it's pretty annoying. I'm talking about your hard start problem not the hesitation. Hopefully they'll be a few codes to help them solve everything. Good luck.

SRMobile · May 5, 2005

Thanks dude Do you work in the west island ?? Im in ile perrot, so if your not to far, maybee I'll swing it by your work.

Now when you say fuel sending unit, are you talking about the pump itself ?

As for the starting issue, id say its a hard start problem. I was embarrased one day cuz a guy in a nice truck said nice wheels, and then I said nice truck... Had trouble starting it To avoid this, I just leave it running now when I run into the store.

SRMobile · May 5, 2005

Any other ideas ??

ToplessStang · May 5, 2005

When I say sending unit I mean the float that is attached to the fuel pump which can replaced on most models. On cars like the Focus, it's cheaper to replace the complete fuel pump ,which come with the sending unit, rather than the sending unit alone. I think on your car they'll just change the sending unit but your fuel guage problem is quite rare on a Mustang so I could be wrong.

turboscrew · May 6, 2005

If I run my car for about 20 mins(warmed up), turn it off (like going into the store or something) and come back to start it, it hesitates / has trouble starting.

I have an 02 GT and have the same problem sometimes. I've found that if you turn the key on for about 2-3 seconds and then start the car I rarely have the hard start anymore. And don't leave your car running when you go in because you may come back out and your car is gone. This happened to a buddy of mine. Not a good feeling.

SRMobile · May 6, 2005

turboscrew said:
I have an 02 GT and have the same problem sometimes. I've found that if you turn the key on for about 2-3 seconds and then start the car I rarely have the hard start anymore. And don't leave your car running when you go in because you may come back out and your car is gone. This happened to a buddy of mine. Not a good feeling.

Ill give that a try

And personaly yeah it would suck if my car got stolen, but I took the replacement deal thing so Im covered for 5 years

bham_gt · May 6, 2005

SRMobile said:
If I run my car for about 20 mins(warmed up), turn it off (like going into the store or something) and come back to start it, it hesitates / has trouble starting.

Yep, my car also does this on occasion. I've heard of numerous people having this hard start problem. I'm still not sure what causes it. I also do the trick of turning the ignition on for 2-3 seconds before cranking. This seems to at least reduce the occurence of the problem.

merc123 · May 6, 2005

Mine hesitates to start sometimes as well. I just give 'er a little bit of gas on startup and it works. Plus, it gives a nice 3k rev from the exhaust when it cranks.

xseler8 · May 7, 2005

The sending unit was replaced on my 02. (fuel gauge problems)

sgarlic · May 7, 2005

About 2 weeks after I bought my '04 (brand new,) I filled up with gas after having it down to about 1/4. I drove home, shut car off, then remebered I needed to run by the grocery store, turned the car back on, and the needle stayed at empty. I shut the car off, started it again, did the same thing. The 3rd time, it went back to full.. how retarded is that. Never happened since, but damn, common Ford.

Mike97gt · May 8, 2005

SRMobile said:
Im taking my car in next tuesday, but I thought Id get some input so I dont get the run around at the dealership.

Basicaly, every other time I fill up, the needle will go to full... Normal. But after driving for about 10 mins, the gas guage drops to empty and the low feul light comes on. After driving abit longer the CEL comes on. Hummm. Eventualy the needles swings back up to full and the low feul light turns off but the CEL stays.

I brought my car in for this last year, all connections are good, they cleared the CEL and told me to try and fill up somewhere else for a while I just went along with it but obviously thats not the problem. (I can see what they're saying but none of my other cars have ever done this)

2nd Problem, I'm thinking it maybe related

If I run my car for about 20 mins(warmed up), turn it off (like going into the store or something) and come back to start it, it hesitates / has trouble starting.

Other than the tranny tbs and this stupidity this car has been the best Ford ive owned

i bet the fuel pump is the problem. for one the pump is built in with the sending unit. and your already having sending unit problems.

and the hard starting could be drainback of the lines. the pump has a anti drainback feature built in for easier starts ( attempts too keep fuel presuure somewhat normal)

well anyways next time this happens cycle the key a few times and see if it will fire up.

Mike97gt · May 8, 2005

ToplessStang said:
Well, being a Ford tech, I can tell you that the "try a diffrent brand of fuel" really is a message from Ford. I doubt that it will solve anything but your dealer was just passing the message along.

yeah i remember that too. it was due too bad shell gas up in eastern canada. i don't think it applied too cars outside of eastern canada. and that problem was for the most part with the focus.

but we did replace a bunch of focus fuel pumps where i work ( eastern massachusetts)

never had any mustang fuel sending units go bad. but if i was the tech on this with the info provided here i would take a good look at that sending unit/fuel pump

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