fuel pump question

[82 GT]

On my '88GT, sometimes during hard acceleration the car seems to hit a flat spot for a second or two and then start pulling again.
Could this be a symptom of a fuel pump starting to go bad?
It's like it's not pumping enough gas sometimes.
The car has 95K miles so does that mean it's life is about up soon?

[Falcons Talon]

As far as the mileage, my pump just went out with about 170,000 miles.

[Comatose]

It doesn't sound like a bad fuel pump to me.

As far as mileage goes, I just replaced mine at 165k. It was noisy as hell, but it still worked fine.

[stang_racer20]

Ford had occassional problems with their pumps in the 5.0L motors. Some would last to 200,000, while some might make it to 50,000 if lucky. Hows the fuel filter?

[Ieatcamaros]

The flat spot, is it like a jerk? Almost like the fire quit for a split second? If it is, it could be a number of things. Fuel filter is always the first place to start. But usually when the pump starts to go, it will whine pretty loud. Loud as in you can hear in the drivers seat with the radio off. Does it prime and shut off like it is supposed to? I have pretty bad hearing (Loud pipes i guess) and I could never hear the pump running until right before it went bad. Also, I could hear my pump running over the 2 chamber flows about a week before it took a crap on me. If it is not fuel, it is fire and most likely the ignition module or pick up coil. Oh yeah, and the pump quit at 149,000.

[82 GT]

Yeah, it is almost like the fire quit but it's only for maybe a split second or so. The filter was replaced last summer.
I guess it could be the module since it's the original one.
Silly question....but where is the pick up coil? Inside the cap?

I only ever had trouble with the module once and that was about 3 years ago. I was on my way home from Indiana on a hot day and it would quit on me until it cooled off but it never did that again.

As far as being able to hear the pump whine in the driver's seat..... it does that now.(but my hearing is excellent)

I guess my first step should be to replace that module and then move on to the pick up coil if that's not it....huh?

[Ieatcamaros]

Well, it's hard to say change this and if that's not it, change that. Especially on fuelies. It could be a loose ground somewhere and only when you get on it, it loses its contact for a split second. But, for what it's worth, I would buy a new ignition module, change it, and keep the old for a spare. And especially if you get a wells unit from like autozone. The pick up coil is under the distributor cap. To change it, you have to pull the gear off the distributor and slide it off the bottom. PITA! You haven't menitoned this 88gt in awhile, has it been sitting all winter? Could be just shitty gas too, but I doubt it.

Originally posted by 82 GT
I guess my first step should be to replace that module and then move on to the pick up coil if that's not it....huh?

Seriously...I'd replace the fuel filter first. It's cheap...and it could easily have gotten clogged over the last 9 months. Then start your process of elimination from there.

[82 GT]

Actually, it's ben doing this for some time now. Even before last year when I replaced the filter. I just at the point where I'm sick of it.
Earlier, I described it as the "fire quitting" but the more I think of it, it feels more like fuel starvation...almost like vapor lock but I know fuelies don't do that.

I'd guess clogged injectors or your fuel pump is going. When is the last time you did a full tune up? Plugs, wires, cap/rotor, recheck timing & fuel filter again, maybe.

[Hozer 88GTConv]

When exactly does this hesitation occur?
Is it under load?
Is the engine at operating temperature?
If you free rev it, does it miss?


Sounds to me like ignition related. With the limited information given. The fact that it misses or has a flat spot means ignition/plugs/coil/TFI to me.

Good luck.

[82 GT]

Originally posted by Hozer 88GTConv
When exactly does this hesitation occur?
Is it under load?
Is the engine at operating temperature?
If you free rev it, does it miss?


Sounds to me like ignition related. With the limited information given. The fact that it misses or has a flat spot means ignition/plugs/coil/TFI to me.

Good luck.

It's under load at operating temp and usually when I'm at full throttle. It does not miss when I free rev it.
It's going to get a full tune up very soon(plugs, cap, rotor etc). After that, then the TFI because it's the original and should be replaced just for cheap insurance.

I'm going to Etown in June for an NHRA event and I don't want to be stranded on the Jersey turnpike.
So if anyone sees a black '88GT along the Jersey turnpike in June(Fathers Day) and sees a guy scratching his head with the hood up.......STOP!!.....because that's me!!