[goatmanmitch]

I am posting this for my former father in law. He got nailed with an $1161 fuel pump bill about five months out of warranty. The truck was in the dealer for warranty work three times for fuel gauge/fuel issues. One of those times he was told that the fuel gauge was off by almost half a tank and basically they told him to no fill it up all the way?? Maybe to reflect the difference in fuel?? I don't understand that part.

Well, his fuel pump went out on the highway and they told him that it was because he was sucking crap off the bottom of the tank. His gauge read half full (I'm an optimist) or half empty at the time. Over five hundred for the part(s) and over five for labor. Truck runs now but his gauge still doesn't work right. They want almost five hundred more to fix that.

I have heard that GM has something like a district rep that can help with these problems. Does Ford have something like that or is he just screwed? Do all these costs seem inline? Sounds really out of wack to me. Mitch

[78 GHOST]

My Dad just had to pony up big money $800+ to change the fuel pump on a late nineties GMC p/u. I know the in-tank pumps are expensive, but the $$$ part is having to drop the tank to change the pump.

Based upon what you've said, I don't think there is any issue with getting Ford to cover the fuel gauge sending unit, as it had been warrantied before without effect.

Thus, they never really fixed the problem.

Telling you to run 1/2 a tank of fuel is rediculous, and were a mechanic (or more likely the Service Manager) try to get me to buy off on that, I'd ask for it in writing, then contact the District Magager with that info. Talk about heads rolling.

However, if your operating off of what someone said, without written proof you are fighting an uphill battle.

The service records are your friend at this point. Off hand, I'd have to say the fuel level sending gauge is belly up and Ford needs to cover both the parts and labor.

As far as the fuel pump goes, I don't think you're going to get much traction on that issue. We all know debris can kill a pump, however there will be a lot of obstacles to overcome to prove this practice is the responsibility of FORD.

If the FORD mechanics had dropped the tank to work on the sending unit for the gauge, you might have an argument.

Good luck on this. -Matt

[mike nixon]

To get any results you'll need hard copies, in writing that this issue has been addressed before the warranty expired.

Ford uses a similar system of manager as GM but I c an't think of the position's proper name at the moment.

Look in the owners manual and call customer service.

Mike

[mechanickeith]

PM sent.

[sleepy]

Yep. SAVE every scrap of paper you get from the dealer for warranty AND recall work. Then you have proof that there was an issue BEFORE the warranty expired. Just in case you HAVE to take them to court or use the lemon law.

[goatmanmitch]

I just got more clarification from my father in law. All three times when it was in for warranty work, it was because of the fuel gauge not working properly. Not sure if that makes a difference or not, he was told by the ford garage that the pump burned out because it wasn't pumping fuel? At least that is my understanding. If so, perhaps it was the indirect result of the fuel gauge never being properly repaired causing it to pump dry?