jeep xj ran empty, wont start now.

[krany]

couldn't make it to the gas station and ran out of gas on the way there, filled it up a quarter tank hoping it would start. no go. just sits and cranks and cranks. i put a small amount of gas down the intake to maybe give it life and maybe restart the fuel pump. it will start and it will work till it burns off all the gas i poured down. any suggestions on how i can fix this. i hope i don't have to replace a fuel pump now.....

 

[DaveB]

Sounds to me like the pump is bad. I may have one.

 

[4x4addiction]

i think it would be the pump also

 

[DOSS]

I would think it is the pump too unless you plugged the fuel filter with all the junk at the bottom of the tank.. I don't know what year your XJ is but some had a fuel filter along the "frame" rail and others in tank.. if you have one along the rail then pull it and see if you have fuel pressure behind it.. if so your pump is good and replace the filter.. if not you are looking at a fuel pump.. again don't know what year you are so it could be a 15 minute job or a 4 hour job that includes dropping the tank.

 

[krany]

I would think it is the pump too unless you plugged the fuel filter with all the junk at the bottom of the tank.. I don't know what year your XJ is but some had a fuel filter along the "frame" rail and others in tank.. if you have one along the rail then pull it and see if you have fuel pressure behind it.. if so your pump is good and replace the filter.. if not you are looking at a fuel pump.. again don't know what year you are so it could be a 15 minute job or a 4 hour job that includes dropping the tank.

its an 89, i6. it has an external fuel filter( on "frame") i will have to go look at it when i get back over to where i left it.. do i just unhook the hozes and put a finger on it and feel if it has pressure?

 

[DOSS]

its an 89, i6. it has an external fuel filter( on "frame") i will have to go look at it when i get back over to where i left it.. do i just unhook the hozes and put a finger on it and feel if it has pressure?

if it were me... I would just unhook it and have someone turn the ignition on while I watched the hoses (in a area that they couldn't spray me).. the answer should be rather obvious ...

Note: any fire, personal or property damage is not my fault it may be what I would do but I don't always do things the "right" way.. just the way that works for me

 

[STAG]

And if its not a fuel pump problem, check out your Crankshaft Position Sensor (CPK) it's located on the top of your transmission bellhousing, a little bit towards the drivers side. That is notorious for failing on the 4.0 and it will cause that exact problem; Cranky crank, no start. But do check the fuel pump first. because it seems to be more closely related to the issue with running out of fuel.

 

[Kiel]

Burnt the pump out, nice going. Don't run outta gas, lesson learned

 

[krany]

Burnt the pump out, nice going. Don't run outta gas, lesson learned

didnt burn it up so HAH!!
i think the jeep was telling me to replace the filter cause it was fine them it died.

Iyou plugged the fuel filter with all the junk at the bottom of the tank..

this was the issue. i pulled out the filter and watched brown gas come out. replaced it and it works way better now, throttle is smoother too.

 

[Tacoma]

You just dodged a bullet. put gas in your truck.

 

[iamsparticus]

yeah thats a luccky call there, matience is way cheaper than repairs, especially when your car dies in the middle of nowhere, but sounds like you were close to home

 

[74highboy]

Best way to prolong a fuel pump is to never let it get below a 1/4 tank that way the gas keeps the pump cool

 

[DOSS]

Best way to prolong a fuel pump is to never let it get below a 1/4 tank that way the gas keeps the pump cool

that is unless you have a manual fuel pump, or a fuel pump that is at the top of the tank and just has a drop tube, or a fully external fuel pump.

 

[STAG]

Best way to prolong a fuel pump is to never let it get below a 1/4 tank that way the gas keeps the pump cool

that is unless you have a manual fuel pump, or a fuel pump that is at the top of the tank and just has a drop tube, or a fully external fuel pump.

Even the fuel that runs through the pump will help keep it cool, if the tank gets low and the pump pumps air then it will burn up no matter what kind or location of the pump you have.

 

[DOSS]

Even the fuel that runs through the pump will help keep it cool, if the tank gets low and the pump pumps air then it will burn up no matter what kind or location of the pump you have.

that just means don't run it empty, not keep a 1/4 tank in there.. fuel pumping through it is all that maters, how about a 1/8th or a 1/16th of a tank as a rule? :greg: