2000 Windstar: Replace fuel pump, drop tank, Jacking Instructions

[MrCreosote]

Jack up the front or the rear or a side?

I may have to push van around and what end gets jacked determines how I orient it in the garage (I have limited headspace.)

Thanks
Tom

[olopezm]

When I did mine, I jacked only one of the rear wheels but jacking both will surely give more space to move under there as well as the possibility to take the tank from under the van using either side.

Be careful when removing the ring that keeps the pump in place, it's made of plastic and breaking it is the last thin you want to.

Oscar.

[12Ounce]

No matter how much space you provide underneath, it will not be enough....LOL! I drive the front up on two 10" ranps. I then jack up both rear sides as high as I can, resting the wheels on a solid stack of wood planks.

I know the plastic ring Olopezem speaks of. I've accumulated several of them as most pumps use the same ring and I've replaced several pumps. Be sure to notice exacty which side of the pump metal it goes on ... on the wrong side will create a gas smell forever, 'til you go back and correct!

[Windstartled]

Originally Posted by 12Ounce

No matter how much space you provide underneath, it will not be enough....LOL!

You got that right. I am toying with the idea of using my front-end loader to lift the van and other vehicles then lower it on blocks for periodic maintenance. First I need to ensure I can do this without damaging the van, it's not as simple as I had thought.

[scubacat]

How much trouble is it to remove the bolts that hold the straps in place? Ours lived in Chicago until 2009 and has the usual level of rust. When I went to remove the passenger seat once, the bolt heads just snapped right off! (that was just a ton of fun to fix.)

[12Ounce]

I think I would plan to replace straps, bolts, and "nuts" if rust has had its chance.

My Windstar has been lent out for some weeks now to SS, who tells me its having symtoms of a failing fuel pump ... again!! If this is so, I will surely cut an access hole and fashion a removable door for the .... next failure. I'm getting a bit tired of dropping this tank!

EDIT UPDATE: My Windstar problem turned out to be a failing ignition coil pack and old (150k miles) spark plugs ... not a fuel pump! Easy fix, Happy times!

[Windstartled]

Originally Posted by scubacat

How much trouble is it to remove the bolts that hold the straps in place? Ours lived in Chicago until 2009 and has the usual level of rust. When I went to remove the passenger seat once, the bolt heads just snapped right off! (that was just a ton of fun to fix.)

On any 10+ yo vehicle that's been copiously salted 4 months of the year every year I actually expect the anchor bolts to snap if I touch them and I get slightly annoyed when they don't because it's quicker and more pleasant to drill out a bolt stump than to tear muscles pulling on a breaker bar socket while lying underneath the vehicle with the stubborn nut refusing to neither budge nor break.

[MrCreosote]

...or bashing knuckles into sharp metal edges as the breaker bar flies off when the bolt snaps!

Come to think of it, I remember I was using a screwdriver on a really stuck fastener and when I was in the midst of "full grunt" something went "twang" in my wrist - not totally unlike the plucking of a guitar string. I had to stop and got some wrist support straps. I eventually recovered without any discernible losses to wrist function.

Wouldn't it be nice to just go out and buy an Aventador and take it to the shop whenever it needed anything????

Yeah, that would be nice!

Only that they gave you a Windstar loaner(!)

HaHaHaaa