Author Topic: Electric fuel pump safety! (Read 17808 times)

78pinto · « **on:** May 30, 2005, 02:30:29 PM »

The more cruises and car shows i go to, the more i see people running electric fuel pumps without an ENERTIA switch to shut the pump off in the event of a crash. My fuel pump will pump 340liters per hour at well over 70psi , if i'm involved in an accident i want the pump to shut off BEFORE IT EMPTIES MY FUEL CELL all over me and the wrecked car! They are cheap and easy to install (get them out of any EFI Ford vehicle at an autowrecker) I have a dragracing clip of a car rolling over against the guardrail, squished down so both doors won't open, the fuelpump just keeps on spraying racing gas all over the car.....it bursts into flames and the guy BURNS to death because the fuel just kept spraying out of a -12 hose with a 1000lph pump. Take the time and do it right....the life you save could be your own!

P.S. My car has had one since i converted it to EFI.....it also make a great antitheft device, just smack the button, it pops the contacts open and you have no power to the pump. When you get in, reach over (mine is in the passenger side foot well behind the kick panel) and depress the button down to get power to the pump again.

Sorry for the rant, but i feel strongly about this safety issue. Jeff

CHEAPRACER · « **Reply #1 on:** May 30, 2005, 11:24:46 PM »

Definitely something I've ignored. Thanks for the push. I'll get one at the next JY trip.

turbopinto72 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 03, 2005, 05:03:23 PM »

My fuel pump safty is based on oil pressure. Under 7 lbs and it shuts off the pump.

78pinto · « **Reply #3 on:** June 05, 2005, 05:03:29 PM »

Quote from: turbopinto72 on June 03, 2005, 05:03:23 PM

My fuel pump safty is based on oil pressure. Under 7 lbs and it shuts off the pump.

Yes a hobb's switch works too!

71pintok · « **Reply #4 on:** June 07, 2005, 02:03:49 PM »

I have an electric Holly fuel pump that goes into a fuel regulator. Will that shut off the gas?
Henry

78pinto · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2005, 02:11:53 PM »

no it won't Henry. You need a Hobbs pressure switch like Brad or an enertia switch like mine.

crazyhorse · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2005, 12:09:38 PM »

I never considered an inertia switch on my '74 StangII till one day it sprung a power steering leak... on the exhaust... setting the isolator around my 45PSI 80lph fuel pump alight. At those specs a fire that burns thru a fuel line would engulf the car, incinerating it's occupants almost before they knew it was on fire! I put an inertia switch in, then moved the (industrial style) fuel pump relay inside the console, so I could pull it out in a hurry.

Glassman · « **Reply #7 on:** June 13, 2005, 06:40:02 PM »

I grabbed the switch from the Turbo Coupe. I didnt think about installing it up front , though. Good idea.

BlueGoldPinto · « **Reply #8 on:** June 25, 2005, 06:10:42 PM »

yes, that is very good advice. i just installed a new electronic fuel pump on a simplicity pow'r max tractor that i'm restoring with somebody else and we thought that it would be a good idea to install a safety emergency inline shut-off valve with the flow coming from the carb through the return line. the pump we got is an automotive pump ranging from 4-7psi /the smallest we could find/ and it is constant running. i think manufacters should make it a safety issue regulation to make all fuel pumps with a built-in shut-off. your right. it is dangerous and is a great concern.

dirt track demon · « **Reply #9 on:** September 26, 2005, 01:13:44 PM »

Yup those factory ford switches are really touchy. I picked up an 86 tuarus for 50 bucks one time because the guy was mad and slammed the trunk lid as hard as he could, and the car never ran again. I bought it for parts for my car, and was rooting thru the garbage in the trunk when i noticed the little red thing seemed to be sticking up too high. Car ran great, ended up stripping my car to fix that one.

BTW, I also rescued some guy in a ranger one night, he hit a pothole hard and tripped the shut off. when i pulled up he was pouring pepsi over the battery terminals to clean them. Must not have been too mechanically minded. He didnt understand that the battery was connected if the thing was turning over. But i guess if everyone understood their cars the way i feel they should, then i wouldn't make any money fixing them.

Anyway the point is if you are going to be using your vehicle for anything that will result in minor impacts or rough roads you might want to consider the hobbs switch instead of the factory ford inertia jobbies. Nothing like pulling the front wheels off the ground for an impressive show, and having the impact from coming back down trip your inertia switch right in front of everybody. :embarrassed:

abadecals · « **Reply #10 on:** November 30, 2005, 01:26:27 PM »

this has almost nothing to do with this but close. i have a kit car (1929 gazelle) with all the things from a 1972 ford pinto 2000 cc motor. last week i went down to get it inspected, it was smoking from setting for a month. well i went down the road to get it to stop smoking and it did. when he got in to drive it it started to die over and over. i brought it home and it ran real rough. i got a kit fro the carb (5200 holly weber or d22f ac) well i put the carb back on and it ran good again but when i went down the road and back it keeps dieing on me so i looked at the fuel filter and it had bubbles in it so i changed the fuel pump and it will not fill the filter now and it runs rough. do i need to just get a rebuilt carb and try that is is it something else. my email is abadecals@alltel.net any help would be nice and God bless all of you guys. also there is 2 pintos complete for sale in wisky flats just sout of fort worth texas.

turbowagonman · « **Reply #11 on:** October 05, 2006, 05:24:48 AM »

After reading this post I've installed one in my car, the second one that is. On my first Wagon I wasn't even thinking of doing this. It was rather easy, I used one out of a '91' Mustang I believe it was a 4cyl car.

Just my 2¢.

r4pinto · « **Reply #12 on:** October 05, 2006, 06:14:22 AM »

abadecals, put a post in the help section, or even better do a search for your problem. Someone can help you that way, or you might even be able to help yourself.

map351 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 29, 2007, 09:28:44 AM »

I used a enertia switch from a 95 Windstar van in my 73 pinto, There easy to remove in the right rear next to the jack...

Mike/Map

FlyerPinto · « **Reply #14 on:** May 10, 2007, 08:18:37 PM »

If I am correct my Pintos/Bobcat (77/78 with 2.3L engines) all have mechanical fuel pumps. As such, I don't need to be concerned about this issue do I, since mine run off the cam?

oldkayaker · « **Reply #15 on:** May 10, 2007, 08:47:54 PM »

If it stock, that is correct. The inertia switch is designed to turn off electric fuel pumps in case of an accident. If you were ambitious, I guess you could install one to kill the engine ignition in case of an accident (which may improve safety).

MikeSVO · « **Reply #16 on:** August 23, 2007, 10:54:54 PM »

I think that if you put in the EFI stuff the way the factory did, the relay for the fuel pump will open if the engine stops.

hellfirejim · « **Reply #17 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:04:06 AM »

I am putting in an oil pressure cut off to my electric fuel pump. This works for me as I have a carb.

jim

Original74 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 29, 2008, 06:19:12 PM »

Does anyone know of a generic inertia switch? Somehting from a parts house? Or do you have to pick one up specific to a make and model of car like everyone above has mentioned? I would hope to find something generic,you know, like 4 bucks at Wal-Mart, LOL, unless someone can tell me of an inexpensive something for a specific car.

Any help would be appreciated.

Dave

77turbopinto · « **Reply #19 on:** February 29, 2008, 07:11:11 PM »

I would think ones from the mid 80's Fords would be the ones to use. I have no idea what a boneyard would charge for one, but they are not that big and they WORK.

BTW: They fit very nicely behind the rear light access covers. I have never had one 'pop' from a pothole or any other 'event'.

Just be sure if you use one that you wire it to the RELAY side.

Bill

Original74 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 29, 2008, 08:00:11 PM »

Thanks Bill. if anyone knew, I knew it would be you. You've been there a few times!

Thanks,

Dave

entropy · « **Reply #21 on:** February 14, 2009, 08:24:15 PM »

Quote from: 77turbopinto on February 29, 2008, 07:11:11 PM

I would think ones from the mid 80's Fords would be the ones to use. I have no idea what a boneyard would charge for one, but they are not that big and they WORK.

BTW: They fit very nicely behind the rear light access covers. I have never had one 'pop' from a pothole or any other 'event'.

Just be sure if you use one that you wire it to the RELAY side.

Bill

I just grabbed one out of a junkyard SN95 Mustang for $4.75 this afternoon. They're smaller and seemed better made than the ones in the Fox bodies. On a side note....yikes. ..I can't believe I never considered this issue for the years I was driving around in a 2110 powered Bug with no safety switch on it at all. Thanks to 78pinto for the original post!

hellfirejim · « **Reply #22 on:** June 01, 2009, 08:49:56 PM »

i made mine up and installed it. It is in my project thread. I love it.
jim

http://www.fordpinto.com/smf/index.php/topic,7726.140.html POST 152.

infl858 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 17, 2009, 02:20:45 PM »

Just new to this,, But in reading all of the replys, I am on the hunt for the switch to install on my 74 wagon,,just for safety and the theft security! Hopefully I can wire in a couple of led's to indicate weather its on or off also. Victor

hellfirejim · « **Reply #24 on:** June 17, 2009, 07:48:28 PM »

Actually you don't need the LEDs. The fuel pump will either run or not. If the button is down then it should work. if it doesn't then it is time to trouble shoot. I have you given thought to placement? Since my pinto is a 2 seater now i put it right in front of the battery below the roll barr. It is within reach from the drivers seatin case I hit a really bad bump and shuts off i can reach over and push in the button.

jim

infl858 · « **Reply #25 on:** June 17, 2009, 10:58:57 PM »

Ah,, Mine doesnt have the electric fuel pump, I am using it to shut off the ignition should I have a wreck,, and the option of shutting off the ignition for theft prevention. So I hope the led will let me know the status before I crank it over,, saves some time and major embarrasment. Victor

pintowagon77 · « **Reply #26 on:** January 23, 2010, 10:51:49 PM »

Now you all got my worried, and pondering. I have a Mr. Gasket high flow fuel pump with regulator @ 5-5.5 but no inertia switch or Hobb's device. I like the Hobb's idea cuz Oregon roads stink and I could forsee setting off an inertia switch.
I know with my pump hooked up to my ignition it kicks on, so with a Hobbs device will it not kick on untill the oil pressure has reached a certain psi? Or will the psi be obtained when you turn it over with the starter?

Nwstal · « **Reply #27 on:** February 25, 2010, 12:18:44 AM »

The rant was required often overlooked because its an afterthought ie. after an accident. I dont reccomend a ford explorer one they tend to get set off in hard braking or acceleration had a few. I think the hobbs has a starting overide like a tractor murphy switch without having to hold the button...Not entirely sure

carbomb · « **Reply #28 on:** January 31, 2011, 07:29:40 PM »

i did this to mine after i read this. Its way easy to do and i feel better now that its done

72Turbo · « **Reply #29 on:** August 14, 2012, 10:00:09 PM »

Quote from: MikeSVO on August 23, 2007, 10:54:54 PM

I think that if you put in the EFI stuff the way the factory did, the relay for the fuel pump will open if the engine stops.

Seems to me, the fuel pump relay stays closed as long as you have accessory power on through the ignition switch, in which case it would only open if you could turn the key off after an accident occured.

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Author Topic: Electric fuel pump safety! (Read 17808 times)

Glassman