Community Forums

NewbieOwner · 06-25-2022, 02:04 PM

I just inherited a 1995 Fleetwood Bounder 34P I believe. Has the Ford 460 in it I believe as well. Ofcourse I can’t find a maintenance manual or anything definitive to help understand more. The RV won’t start, however it will turn over. It’s been sitting for several years, so my first thought is to remove the gas and replace with fresh gas. Oil change, spark plugs, filters next. After that I’m lost as to what to do. I know it could be a fuel pump and I’ve read online that it can be a chore to replace those. What should be my first steps to at least get it running?

donr103 · 06-25-2022, 03:16 PM

See if you can get it to run on starting fluid.. that will rule out.. if electrical or fuel.. do that 1st.. use all safety precautions.. and report back..
Good luck and keep us posted

Jim_HiTek · 06-25-2022, 03:22 PM

Follow the fuel hose back to the tank, than replace that hose with a new one and put an external fuel pump that race car teams use and draw from a 5 gallon jug of gas. That would be one of the tests you can use.

Then if that works and it runs without problems, you can lower the RV tank just a couple inches and verify that the fuel suction and return hoses are in good condition because a lot of them develop small leaks that cause all sorts of problems, mostly due to drawing air.

We're not done yet...

If the hoses are fine or you replace them, and there's still a problem, than just permanently attach the external fuel pump and forget replacing the internal pump. You can suck fuel through a bad pump nearly 100% of the time.

If your first test still gives problems, than look for an air leak between the external fuel pump and the fuel rail on the engine. Pretty sure your engine will be injected so the injectors need to be checked too.

And of course first of all, you've already listed the regular stuff to work at, replacing the filters, oil, plugs so that's good. Also check out this

video...

Oh, forgot to mention...I owned a '94 Bounder with a diesel engine for 12 years so I fixed a lot of stuff on it. And I wrote articles about it on my ad free blog...check it out:RV Repair '94 Bounder

GypsyR · 06-25-2022, 08:27 PM

A number of us here have older F53's and have had fuel pump issues. Here's a thread I started that a number of others were kind enough to also contribute to.
https://www.irv2.com/forums/f23/rela...es-508562.html

There are some more good threads with even more info scattered in this section but a little harder to find.

Soppy · 06-26-2022, 07:16 AM

Check your fuel pressure on the fuel rail. If you don't have pressure check for voltage to the fuel pump. If you have voltage, then it's likely the pump.

Lt46 · 06-26-2022, 08:34 AM

When the ignition key is turned on, the fuel pump energizes for a second or two to send fuel up to the engine. Have someone turn the key to on while you listen closely at the tank to hear the pump run. No sound = electrical problem to pump and/or dead pump.

NewbieOwner · 07-01-2022, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soppy

Check your fuel pressure on the fuel rail. If you don't have pressure check for voltage to the fuel pump. If you have voltage, then it's likely the pump.

Where is the fuel rail located. I’m sure your not talking about the fuel gage, but like the name says I’m a newbie at best.

Skip426 · 07-01-2022, 09:15 AM

Fuel rail , runs around the intake manifold to distribute fuel to each injector and has a Schrader valve on it to attach a shop pressure gauge .

Note that if the gas has been in the tank , sitting for years , it might not be volatile enough to run the engine , so if you do have pressure to the fuel rail , replacing the gas in the tank is next .

GypsyR · 07-01-2022, 12:21 PM

If you consider the picture a clock, the fuel rail valve is right about 11 O'clock. It's a little black cap that looks exactly like one you have on your car's tire valves. Unfortunately you can't quite use a tire pressure checker on it. But if you don't want to buy a fuel pressure gauge most chain parts stores have them in their loaner program. Pay a deposit to borrow one and when you return it you get your money back. So, free. To use one, unscrew the little black cap (unless someone already removed and lost it) and screw the tester's fitting onto the threads. Easy. Before doing too much make sure the connector is on good so you don't have some fuel leaking on your engine while you are busy looking at the gauge. (Been there, done that.)

95f5334j · 07-02-2022, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewbieOwner

I just inherited a 1995 Fleetwood Bounder 34P I believe. Has the Ford 460 in it I believe as well. Ofcourse I can’t find a maintenance manual or anything definitive to help understand more. The RV won’t start, however it will turn over. It’s been sitting for several years, so my first thought is to remove the gas and replace with fresh gas. Oil change, spark plugs, filters next. After that I’m lost as to what to do. I know it could be a fuel pump and I’ve read online that it can be a chore to replace those. What should be my first steps to at least get it running?

Attached is a 60 page owners manual for the '95 Bounder and 224 page '95 F53 owners manual in pdf format. I think I have a few other Bounder documents, including a shop manual for the '95 F53, from when I had a '95 34J. If I can find more, I'll post them.

NewbieOwner · 07-30-2022, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donr103

See if you can get it to run on starting fluid.. that will rule out.. if electrical or fuel.. do that 1st.. use all safety precautions.. and report back..
Good luck and keep us posted

It will start on starter fluid. However it won’t stay running. I’ve had my assumptions it was a fuel problem. I have checked fuel pressure at the rails yet. But I did change the fuel filter. I also crawled under the tank and could here the fuel pump when the key was turned. I know I need fresh Gas because it’s atleast 5yr old. But 3/4 of a tank is a lot to drain out…

NewbieOwner · 06-17-2023, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewbieOwner

I just inherited a 1995 Fleetwood Bounder 34P I believe. Has the Ford 460 in it I believe as well. Ofcourse I can’t find a maintenance manual or anything definitive to help understand more. The RV won’t start, however it will turn over. It’s been sitting for several years, so my first thought is to remove the gas and replace with fresh gas. Oil change, spark plugs, filters next. After that I’m lost as to what to do. I know it could be a fuel pump and I’ve read online that it can be a chore to replace those. What should be my first steps to at least get it running?

Just replaced the fuel pump and got it started up. Dropping the tank was tough but I got it done!

Jim_HiTek · 06-17-2023, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewbieOwner

Just replaced the fuel pump and got it started up. Dropping the tank was tough but I got it done!

Wow, you work fast. I didn't have time to suggest buying an EXTERNAL fuel pump. Negates the need to drop the tank. Oh, wait, I did suggest that earlier. Never mind, guess you decided against it. Sure would have saved a lot of effort and money though.

My mistake, I thought this was a recent posting...should have scrolled back and checked the dates.

GypsyR · 06-18-2023, 10:10 AM

I tried an external pump on mine at one point. Waste of time as the internal tank filters were clogging and the tank had to come down anyway. I thought it worth a shot.