Runs out of gas on turns, below 1/2 tank

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iapexl8r

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Apr 1, 2005

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Sep 24, 2007

#1

• Sep 24, 2007

• #1

I have a 1989 lx 5.0 vert bone stock. My problem is :With 1/2 tank or less of fuel when I go around a corner (right or left) the engine sputters and almost dies, like its running out of gas. What do you guys think it is. I have a new pump, as soon as I get to empty the tank will come out to change the pump any ideas would be greatly appriciated. chris

 

5spd GT

"the 5.0 owns all"

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Aug 7, 2002

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Arkansas

Sep 24, 2007

#2

• Sep 24, 2007

• #2

Is your gas guage accurate? The needle could be off, or your fuel sending unit could be on it's way out, not giving you the correct signal on how full your engine is.

I'm assuming the pump is located properly in the tank, it is kind of hard to mess it up really.

Good Luck!

 

P

PRO50SC

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Dec 28, 2003

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Olney, Maryland

Sep 24, 2007

#3

• Sep 24, 2007

• #3

Check the baffle in the tank. They are known for coming loose and causing problems.

 

I

iapexl8r

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Apr 1, 2005

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Sep 24, 2007

#4

• Sep 24, 2007

• #4

gas guage is pretty accurate. havent ran it out of gas but have taken it down to the line on E.

pro5osc Is there a fix for that??? or do I need a new tank????


chris

 

S

speedytang

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Jul 28, 1999

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Marengo,Ohio,US

Sep 24, 2007

#5

• Sep 24, 2007

• #5

I would guess the Fuel Screen Sock came off the pump.

 

jrichker

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Dublin GA

Sep 25, 2007

#6

• Sep 25, 2007

• #6

The baffle is normally spot welded in place. Some JB Weld epoxy might do the trick to secure the baffle. You will have to make sure that all the gas is out of the tank and it is clean and dry inside before applying the JB Weld.

 

ttop88

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Mar 12, 2007

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indiana

Sep 25, 2007

#7

• Sep 25, 2007

• #7

speedytang said:

I would guess the Fuel Screen Sock came off the pump.

Click to expand...

Im with him. Had it happen to me.

 

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bditty50

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Jun 20, 2005

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Tampa, Florida

Sep 25, 2007

#8

• Sep 25, 2007

• #8

Hey it could be the emergency fuel shut off switch thats located in the trunk. When they get old the plastic ball inside tends to move freely and could cause it to sputter or shut off.

 

T

Threeo2

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Jul 6, 2005

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Sep 25, 2007

#9

• Sep 25, 2007

• #9

my car did almost the same, except it only did this on right hand turns. It was pretty obvious the baffle broke loose. I could actually hear thumping around inside the tank. Got a new tank and fixed the problem.
When you installed the new pump , did you hear anything thumping around in the tank?

 

W

WQRed50

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May 21, 2004

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Burnham, IL

Sep 26, 2007

#10

• Sep 26, 2007

• #10

Just got done replacing the tank in mine because of the same problems as Threeo2 above.... Fixed the problem.

Got a used tank, pump and sending unit from MPS Auto Salvage (http://www.mpsautosalvage.com/) for about $125. It was in pretty good shape, needed only a good cleaning. Took me about 3 hours to remove the old one and install the new one.

The baffle on the old tank was rolling around in the tank and the sending unit was rust-welded in place.

Now I get to do it all over again as I didn't chek the vacuum check valve on top of the tank and it is bad. Should have replaced it with the one from my old tank.

 

Mikey1968

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Nov 1, 2003

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Kommiefornia

Sep 27, 2007

#11

• Sep 27, 2007

• #11

Same problem for my 89, needed new tank. Fixed that problem and you could hear the baffle thumping around.....

 

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bstrd86

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Oct 17, 2003

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DFW tx

Sep 28, 2007

#12

• Sep 28, 2007

• #12

That happened to my '89 and the bafflehad wedged itself under the sending unit causint it to read full all the time. $40 at the junkyard got me another tank with pump and sender.

 

Efifty

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Feb 15, 2009

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Jan 23, 2010

#13

• Jan 23, 2010

• #13

does anyone have a picture or can explain to me what a baffle is because my car is doing the exact same thing on right hand turns only.

Thanks in advance

 

Vinnietbird

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Jun 2, 2005

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Jan 23, 2010

#14

• Jan 23, 2010

• #14

PRO50SC said:

Check the baffle in the tank. They are known for coming loose and causing problems.

Click to expand...

That's what happened to mine a few months ago.I had no idea what it was until I knocked really hard on the bottom of the tank and could here the baffle bouncing around....new tank installed now.No issues.

The baffle is in the tank and somewhat "surrounds" the fuel pump to keep gas at the pump inturning situations and keeps gas from sloshing away from the pump.With the pump more on the passenger side,it makes sense that right turns would mess it up.

 

90mustangGT

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Dallas, GA

Jan 23, 2010

#15

• Jan 23, 2010

• #15

The pump is on the right side of the tank, so if it is just doing it on right hand turns then it is most likely that baffle but going both ways it is doing it I would really check the intertia switch (fuel pump cut off).

Drive it and listen (might need a buddy to ride in the back and listen) to see if the fuel pump is shutting off, or is it pumping even with it off.

 

Efifty

New Member

Feb 15, 2009

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Jan 24, 2010

#16

• Jan 24, 2010

• #16

great information. looks like i will be heading to the junk yard tomorrow. thanks guys