Episode 148 - Fuel Tank Selector Valve Replacement 1989 Ford F350 7.3L IDI Diesel

Welcome! In this video I go over how to replace a failed fuel tank selector valve. On older Ford (and other) vehicles, they didn't use one large tank. Instead, they would use two smaller ones with the driver having a switch to go between them. The valve that actually does the work though has a nasty habit of getting stuck... then you are down to one tank. I go over where the valve is, how to get it out and how to replace it. I also go over how there are two variants for this year of Ford and how to check which one you are going to need.
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WARNING! This video is for entertainment purposes only. Do the actions outlined in this video at home at your own risk.
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[@michaeldancy990]

Thanks Great video

[@MazdaB3K]

You are most welcome.

[@TIREDOFEVIL]

I wish I had my 1993 F350 wide hip girl IDI back, very simple to work on and while it doesn't have the power of my new 7.3 gasser, I also did not owe anything on it.

[@MazdaB3K]

Bertha has quite a bit broken but she's coming around. The only thing driving me crazy is a transmission issue. E4OD in an '89 is not a winning combination.

[@zerogearedfilms397]

Thank you for a great video to help me with this.

[@MazdaB3K]

Happy that I was able to help save you some money.

[@user-rr4fo5ml2m]

I wish you had shown how the lines come off, clips and the next step in removing the lines.

[@MazdaB3K]

I didn't show it because there's not really much to it. The fuel lines are held by the clips. Remove the clips, then start pulling. If it's been awhile since it was apart it may fight a bit but treat it like you would a coolant hose. Wiggle, twist and pull and it should come out.

[@jaydee8337]

Can you show the way you wired it up. I have one on a 1985 ford E350 gasoline truck, and it wont show how much gas is in one of the tanks when switched, but will on the other when switched. Thanks

[@MazdaB3K]

I can probably find a wire diagram of that area, but all of that wiring is in the connector that is plugged into the selector switch. If you have one sender working and one not, it could be your sender is bad as well. I can tell you that both senders use a common ground, at least on the diesel so if one sender is working and one is not a ground is probably not your culprit.

[@jaydee8337]

@MazdaB3K my switch has always done that,even after replacing with the new Chinese copy. Only one wire out to the guage registers on the guage, when I switched each tank wire to that wire it registered what was in each tank. I'm thinking I might need to connect both of those tank wires up to a switch that separates both wires connected to that switch I can switch when I switch tanks labeled the same as the tank switch ( front & back) and when switching switch them both when switching tanks. Nobody seems to be able to figure this out, so,I thinkI will try that. Now just need to buy the right switch. The new plug and switch were wired differently, and I tested how it wired up to get tthem right. I believe.i drew a diagram when I did it, but I can figure it out again later. Right n9w I run the tank that doesn't show on the guage first, by mileage per gallon knowing by the odometer when it will run out, and then listen for it to crap out, then I switch to the tank that shows the level and run till I need more gas, to be sure not to run out. Sometimes I need an extra 5 gallon tank in cases where I'm not near a filling station Just in case. Thanks for trying anyway, I'll figure it out, as this seems not very complicated.

[@MazdaB3K]

All Data didn't have a diagram of the fueling system for an 85 unfortunately. It did note that Ford issued a TSB for the sender connector failing and then having to be spliced to get it working again. Ford all issued a TSB that the sender connector itself should be heavily packed in dielectric grease to prevent failures. I'm guessing issues with senders was something that was common on that era of Ford Econoline van.