My truck will not crank after putting in bad gas

CLINTCOSTON

MEMBER
1993 FORD F-150
5.0L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
268,183 MILES

Last night I was pulling my boat, I got gas at a little run down convenience store, did not like it but I was going be walking if not. Drove about four miles and all of a sudden truck starts spitting and sputtering and quit. I only put about three dollars in gas so about a gallon and a half. Well when it quit I had my wife bring me five gallons of good gas. Now the truck will crank but only for five or six seconds and shut off. When I depress the valve stem at the fuel rail I have some pressure, but only because I have engaged the pump three or four times with the key. And it smells like good gas. So what the heck? Can you guys help me out?

4 Replies

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Check fuel pressure with a gauge might be the pump went bad. you can try smacking bottom of tank with flat of hand or rubber mallet and see if it starts if it does then the pump is probably shot. hard telling how long it will last if it starts. auto parts rent gauge. See link.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-reset-a-security-system
you might scan for codes as well and get back with the codes if any.

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Sunday, January 1st, 2017 AT 11:16 AM

CLINTCOSTON

MEMBER
32 POSTS

Finding a scanner is tough it has the obd1 under the hood. I got it to crank but ran really badly. Now it has quit again on side of road. The battery keeps draining out in attempts to crank it. Fun days.

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Sunday, January 1st, 2017 AT 2:50 PM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

You do not need a scanner for OBD1. See picture on how to do it with a jumper wire. See pictures and get back with the codes. Shows what to look for and how to hook up system so you can read codes.

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Sunday, January 1st, 2017 AT 3:47 PM

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
11,004 POSTS

You mentioned almost being afoot.

Was that way all through Ranger School (started at Benning in 1983)

You are about 200 miles south of me now!

In some cases with an in tank pump, running low on fuel might also rob Mr. Fuel Pump of its cooling liquid (gas), which might make it fail.

I am a "Real Jeep" kind of guy and mainly deal with carbureted vehicles.

I too have received bad gas in mine.

Well sort of, (the gas was fine, the filler would not burn!)

I usually can detect and get rid of water on this Jeep by dumping out the glass bowl on top of the mechanical fuel pump. This time, it continued to fill with water every time I dumped it and cranked it again.

Five tries was about enough.

When my pal pulled my once wonderfully running 1946 Willys Jeep back to my house from the gas station two miles away,

I evacuated the tank, Pretty easy the suction (feed) line to fuel pump comes off of the bottom of the fuel tank.

I did have about seven gallons of usable fuel, but I also had bought a about a half gallon of water. (sucking right out of the bottom).

No need to flush my tank, the water came out first and the fuel right behind it.

Sad thing was I had about five feet of fuel line on board and I could have used my Jerry Can as a temporary tank to get me home. I just got too wound up in the moment!

Maybe you have some water?

If you do replace the pump, a fuel filter might be a good idea also.

As far as code retrieval, here's one of many from YouTube (I do best with monkey see, monkey do, instead of boring text!) Other hits may show this better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dwCpcfWqqQ

You are going have to send the kids away, gag your pal who is helping you, at first, counting the sweeps/ beeps/ etc will sort of test your mind! You will soon get the hang of it!

Keep us posted

The Medic

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