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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Focus / May 2005

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Focus won't start after running out of gas

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mykul_71@yahoo.com - 25 May 2005 15:18 GMT
My friend's Focus ran out of gas yesterday. She put about two gallons
of gas in the take but the car won't start. It acts like it wants to
start but won't. I have read that these cars have fuel pumps that have
a tendency to die at the drop of a hat. Could it be that the fuel pump
died after running out of gas? Thanks for your help!

Michael
Dave Gower - 25 May 2005 16:06 GMT
> My friend's Focus ran out of gas yesterday. She put about two gallons
> of gas in the take but the car won't start. It acts like it wants to
> start but won't. I have read that these cars have fuel pumps that have
> a tendency to die at the drop of a hat. Could it be that the fuel pump
> died after running out of gas?

You don't give the year, but early model Focuses did have some fuel pump
problems, although this often manifested itself as stalling rather than
completely dying. My guess is that this one is weak and getting air in it
may have been the "straw that broke the camel's back". Chances are if your
friend goes to a dealer, he/she will find that Ford's 10-year warrantee
extension applies.
mykul_71@yahoo.com - 25 May 2005 16:32 GMT
It's a 2001.

Michael
Ron Joiner - 25 May 2005 19:48 GMT
> It's a 2001.
>
> Michael

Fuel pump warranty applies to 2001 as well.

Ron
Alan - 25 May 2005 17:53 GMT
>My friend's Focus ran out of gas yesterday. She put about two gallons
>of gas in the take but the car won't start. It acts like it wants to
>start but won't. I have read that these cars have fuel pumps that have
>a tendency to die at the drop of a hat. Could it be that the fuel pump
>died after running out of gas?

Or could all the crud in the bottom of the tank now be distributed
around the rest of the fuel system?

Signature

Alan
mailto:news2me_a_2003@amacleod.clara.co.uk

Dave Gower - 25 May 2005 20:03 GMT
> Or could all the crud in the bottom of the tank now be distributed around
> the rest of the fuel system?

That's a good point. It may be plugging up the filter.
Mark Olson - 26 May 2005 00:16 GMT
> > Or could all the crud in the bottom of the tank now be distributed around
> > the rest of the fuel system?
>
> That's a good point. It may be plugging up the filter.

My guess is the pump overheated- since it has no return line, the pump
must remain immersed in order to cool itself, unlike typical fuel
injection systems that recycle the unused fuel from the fuel rail back
to the tank.  This is why the manual so strongly recommends against
running out, and the low fuel warning light and 'E' indication on the
gauge occur with a couple of gallons remaining in the tank.

Hopefully you'll get it replaced free under the 10-year extended fuel
pump warranty...
Roarmeister - 26 May 2005 01:59 GMT
>My friend's Focus ran out of gas yesterday. She put about two gallons
>of gas in the take but the car won't start. It acts like it wants to
>start but won't. I have read that these cars have fuel pumps that have
>a tendency to die at the drop of a hat. Could it be that the fuel pump
>died after running out of gas? Thanks for your help!

In the passenger footwell there is a switch that resets the fuel pump after
the car has been in an accident.  No promises but try pushing that button
after running out of gas.
mykul_71@yahoo.com - 26 May 2005 15:11 GMT
The first thing I tried was the fuel reset switch but that didn't work.
I had my friend call the local Ford dealer and tell them what was going
on with the car. The dealership said the fuel pump was covered by the
warranty so they are going to replace it. Thanks for every ones help.

Michael
Oh No! - 26 May 2005 03:15 GMT
F*cking funny
Most cars won't start when they're out of gas.
The Real Tom - 27 May 2005 14:00 GMT
>My friend's Focus ran out of gas yesterday. She put about two gallons
>of gas in the take but the car won't start. It acts like it wants to
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
>Michael

I've heard that some electric fuel pumps(since they are in the tank)
can become crapped out when you run the tank dry.  Emptying the tank
allows all the sediment to hit the pump at once.  You can imagine now
what the problem could be.

Now I would check for a blown fuse if having any problems first.

later,

tom @ www.CarFleaMarket.com
 
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