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tsmith403 · 06-10-2011, 11:44 AM

Hello, I recently purchased a 1996 Fleetwood Bounder with a Ford Chassis - 460 CID Engine. I am having trouble getting it started on its own. When I use starter fluid down the carb throat it fires but then shuts down as soon as the starter fluid is gone. From what I read online so far it seems it is a fuel or carb problem but I have no idea what to try next. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Dixieray53 · 06-10-2011, 06:13 PM

Welcome to the forum

Sounds like a carb problem...Are you doing your own mech. work ? I would find a Ford dealer and have them check it out. Good Luck..Hopefully some really smart RV Tech's will jump in.. Good Luck...D

Hillbilly2 · 06-10-2011, 06:55 PM

Sounds like you are not getting fuel, I would have to look it up, but I think a 96 model is new enough to be fuel injected, either case, probable fuel pump failure. If it is carbed, you should be able to see gas squirt down the carb when you manually turn the throttle butterfly.

justimagination · 06-11-2011, 01:30 AM

........It would be a Fuel Injected engine rather than Carbeurator. There is a fuel rail on top of the engine where you can check fuel pressure. You will find a valve that looks just like a valve stem on the tire which will have pressure if the fuel pump system is working. One way of checking is to stand to the rear of the motorhome while someone turns the ignition key on, you will hear a buzz sound from the fuel pump mounted inside the fuel tank, if it's actually working. JMHO and good luck. A good Ford mechanic would be in order @ this stage.
David G.

blackf3504dr · 06-11-2011, 05:39 AM

It sounds like the fuel is draining back into the tank (mine did the same thing), The in tank fuel pump has a one way valve that is suppose to maintain fuel pressure. Have you tried cycling the key on and off a few times ? That will run the fuel pump for a second each time the key is cycled and allow it to build up pressure, that's what I had to do to get ours started before I replaced the fuel pump.

Mike Canter · 06-11-2011, 07:55 AM

Well I think you nailed it on the head with the starting fluid as being a fuel delivery problem. I would go with the fuel pump being bad. On my 96 Ford pickup it failed and did the same thing. My pump was in the tank and I had to drop the whole thing down.

allynne · 06-11-2011, 10:42 AM

Most likely a failed fuel pump. I had a '95 Bounder on a Ford chassis and was towed to a Ford dealer, the first thought they had was fuel pump. Seems Ford had problems with fuel pumps in that time frame. Dropping the tank and replaceing the pump fixed the problem and also my wallet.

Al Sawyer
'05 MADP

tsmith403 · 06-11-2011, 05:27 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions I will be trying a few of your tips tomorrow but by the sounds of things a good mechanic may be in order!

TXiceman · 06-11-2011, 08:29 PM

I believe it has a TBI, throttle Body Injection system. sounds like you have a fuel delivery system. Start by tracking down the fuel pump and check the fuel pressure and delivery rate. Also check the fuel filter(s).

Let us know what you find.

Using a starting fluid or gas is not a good idea. You can mess up an engine with too much of the stuff.

Ken

blackf3504dr · 06-12-2011, 04:54 AM

When mine did that the fuel pump worked great once the darn thing started, it was the same problem tsmith403 is having that's what makes me think the fuel is draining back into the tank... The pump will have to be changed to fix it anyway. I looked the situation over and decided it was easier to cut an access hole in the floor then drop a nearly full tank. It worked out great and now if I ever have another problem with the fuel pump the access door is there, just peel back the carpet and remove the screws !

gary peterso · 06-12-2011, 08:16 AM

x2 that what i did. gen gas hose need changing.

subford · 06-12-2011, 09:37 AM

You do not have a Carb or Throttle Body Injection system.
You have a Multiport Fuel Injection system (MFI) in any of the 1990's F53 Fords.

As justimagination said above in post #4 see if you hear the fuel pump run for one second when the key is turned on.
If you do not hear it then try resetting the fuel shut-off switch by pushing the button down on top. It is located under the dash near the brake pedal.
If that does not do it put you hand on the Fuel Pump relay and again have someone turn on the key. Does the fuel pump relay click on and drop back out one second later?
If so check for power at the fuel shutoff switch with a test light, again you should have power for one second and and then it should go dead. Check both wires, they should both do this.
If they both have power and you do not hear the pump then the pump is more than likely bad.

Let us know what you find and we will try to help you some more.