Here’s a weird one for you on my 2005 XLT 4x4 with a 5.4. The other day, my Low Fuel warning came on and I pulled into a local gas station and shut the truck off. I filled the tank with 22 gallons of fuel – which kind of surprised me. Normally the Low Fuel warning comes on when I need about 19 gallons. Oh well.

So I start the truck and notice that the fuel gage still reads empty and the Low Fuel warning is still on in the Information Center. I then pulled over to the side of the station and shut the truck off, then re-started it. The gage moved up just enough to shut off the Low Fuel warning. Over the next few days – only driving the truck on short trips - the fuel gage slowly rose each time I started the truck until it now reads full.

Here’s what I’m looking for. First, I need some decent technical advice on what may be wrong. Second – and maybe related to the first – I need some information on where the sender is (Is it part of the Fuel Pump assembly?) and what is involved in replacing it since I’m capable of doing this kind of work. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

Sender is in the tank. To replace it, you will have to undo the fuel and power lines and drop the tank. Do you still have the factory warranty, or the extended? If so, you are better off just taking it in.

 

sounds like the float is stuck. it happens occasionally if you run your tank nearly empty a lot.

get under the truck with a rubber mallet, take any skid plates off. hit the tank a few times while the truck is on and see what happens.

 

I didn't know that was a reason. I always heard not to run it low because it will suck all the junk up out of the bottom of the tank.

 

Unfortunately, the truck is out of any kind of warranty, so this one comes out of my hide. That's why I'm trying to find out what's wrong so I can fix it myself. Yes, it does sound like the sender float is hanging up. Based on how much gas I put in last time after the Low Fuel warning came on, I'd say it's hanging up going both up and down too. I'll give the old rubber mallet technique a try, but I have this feeling that the tank is coming down and the pump assembly is coming out. Thanks.

 

no codes on the pcm are there? egr valve on mine went out a few thousand miles back, caused the same trouble.

 

Now there's one I never thought of. I'll run it over to the shop and have our mechanic plug in our Snap-on reader. I don't have a CEL, but there still might be something in there. I'm still struggling with how a bad EGR Valve would show up as a Fule Sender problem though. Got any details?

 

sounds like the sending unit. those things are succeptible to damage from sulfur in the fuel. i have had a bad one for over a year. however, if you run a bottle of techron through your gas, that should help. and it hasnt given me any probs since i starrted using midgrade bp gas.

 

Oddly enough, the problem popped up right after a tank with Techron added. Might not be related though. I can't wait to see what that assembly costs!

 

$380 from World Ford in Pensacola . . . I just did this a couple of weeks ago. Seemed to help for about a week, and now my problem is back . . .

Very interesting that your problem popped up after running a tank w/Techron added. My problems seemed to start shortly after I switched to Chevron 93 (w/Techron of course). Previously I was running all Shell gas.

Best wishes,
Matt

 

 

2stroke
. Please lemme no how u come out on this. I had the same thing happen on my 07 F150 Lariat Supercrew. I pulled one from my old wrecked 07, and the wires from the float/potentiometer goes thru what I think may be a "slosh" switch. I get low resistance (15 ohms) with float up (full) and high resistance (130 ohms) with float down position (empty), but I can't get a reading out of this small black box that continues on to the plug/wiring harness). I can't seem to find the diagram for this, but...
The part number is IL2U-14A069-AB. It was made in Mexico (I think), but it looks like you have to get a whole fuel pump assembly to get this part, as it lists as NLA.
I'm going to pull the bed tomorrow, so I can get to it for testing. I really don't know whether to pull the bed or the tank, but I assume I'll have to pull the wiring harness cables and fill hose either way.


Amazon....

Thanks for any future updates
Joe

 

When I first looked at the post. I thought it was the model of your truck.
. sorry...I'm a newbie.

 

When I first looked at the post. I thought it was the model of your truck.
. sorry...I'm a newbie.