Fuel Sender cleanup?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 119
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque NM
Fuel Sender cleanup?
My '96 has been stored for a few years while I was stationed overseas. It has been started occaisionally while I've been gone but a few months ago (just as I got back) it would not start anymore. I checked codes, changed fuel filter, checked plugs, checked for spark...nothing would explain why it wasn't starting. I noticed my fuel was sitting on reserve so I opened up the gas tank to take a look at everything and when I pulled out the fuel sender it was COVERED in rust. There was so much rust that it had been falling into the gas tank and I thought my tank was rusting. Anyway, it seems that this rust has clogged the strainer and possibly killed my fuel pump.
My question is how likely is it that I could clean up the sender and replace the pump and strainer and get my baby running again? I'd upload pics but unfortunately the car is in OK and I'm in FL.
As a follow up, how to I keep this from happening in the future.
My question is how likely is it that I could clean up the sender and replace the pump and strainer and get my baby running again? I'd upload pics but unfortunately the car is in OK and I'm in FL.
As a follow up, how to I keep this from happening in the future.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,753
Likes: 9
From: Louisiana
The fuel gauge sender and possibly the whole fuel pump assembly got rusty from moisture build up in the tank. Was the gas tank full when the car was sitting? If it sits for longer than a year, fill the tank full of fuel and add some fuel stabalizer (sp?) should take care of the rust problem.
Cleaning the fuel gauge sender won't help for the no start problem. It is only for the gauge on the dash. The fuel pump is most likely froze from sitting so long. Do you hear it running when you turn the key "on"? Have you checked fuel pressure?
If you have the fuel gauge sender out, you can clean the contact, but becarful because you can also damage it.
Cleaning the fuel gauge sender won't help for the no start problem. It is only for the gauge on the dash. The fuel pump is most likely froze from sitting so long. Do you hear it running when you turn the key "on"? Have you checked fuel pressure?
If you have the fuel gauge sender out, you can clean the contact, but becarful because you can also damage it.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,845
Likes: 30
My '96 has been stored for a few years while I was stationed overseas. It has been started occaisionally while I've been gone but a few months ago (just as I got back) it would not start anymore. I checked codes, changed fuel filter, checked plugs, checked for spark...nothing would explain why it wasn't starting. I noticed my fuel was sitting on reserve so I opened up the gas tank to take a look at everything and when I pulled out the fuel sender it was COVERED in rust. There was so much rust that it had been falling into the gas tank and I thought my tank was rusting. Anyway, it seems that this rust has clogged the strainer and possibly killed my fuel pump.
My question is how likely is it that I could clean up the sender and replace the pump and strainer and get my baby running again? I'd upload pics but unfortunately the car is in OK and I'm in FL.
As a follow up, how to I keep this from happening in the future.
My question is how likely is it that I could clean up the sender and replace the pump and strainer and get my baby running again? I'd upload pics but unfortunately the car is in OK and I'm in FL.
As a follow up, how to I keep this from happening in the future.
