Hello, New to this forum and hope to get useful information and help here.

Recently got, for free, a 97, 4 cyl. XLT with 198K. Truck had been sitting for better part of a year so it’s in need of some TLC.

Body and interior are clean, engine has no knocking although stutters and hesitates when you first press the gas pedal. Replaced the serpentine belt, idler pully, power steering pump, A/C compressor, hose and drier. Still need to sort out the A/C due to no cold air coming out just yet. I also found gasoline gushing out when trying to fuel up and upon further inspection found that the filler neck was dry rotted and cracked so I have that on order now. Do I need to remove the tank to replace it, or can it be replaced with the tank in place?

I know that with 198k on the engine I should consider replacing the timing belt but wonder if there’s a vacuum line disconnected somewhere that’s causing the engine to stutter when I press the gas. Hoping it’s just year old gas.

One of the other forums I’m a member of will provide you with a free data card for your vehicle, Can I get that here?

Is there anything else I should know about this year and engine?

Thanks in advance.

 

Cricket,,,, Cricket,,,,
You sure do know how to make a girl welcome.

 

Hey MAVXLT! I've just joined. I've got a '94 2.3 as well, with 195k. It had been sitting for awhile before I bought it, too. Just like yours, gas gushed out when I filled it for the first time. I'm hoping that the stutter when I press the gas is due to poor fuel pressure, what with the filler neck being shot. I'm also hoping that I can just drop the tank and replace the neck; I doubt I'll find a decent one at a junkyard.

Alas, I have no real answers for you. Best of luck!

 

Welcome but I can't help you out with the engine thing... sorry !

I am sure someone will pop in, Ince they see postings.

 

Welcome to the forum. Can't help with the sputtering issue but can offer advice on filler hose. IMO the easiest option would be to pull the bed to replace it. It's pretty simple: 6 bed bolts, 3 filler neck bolts, and 1 wiring harness for the tail lights. Have a buddy help you lift it off. Check the steel filler neck for rust, check the leaf spring hangers, check for any other major rust/damage while the bed is off.

 

I agree with bigdavyp, if there re no other problems with the tank... pull the bed.

Six bolts and some electrical connections at the back end, no problems though; and even if there is a problem you can fix it now and get it over with.
By pulling the bed you gain easy access to replace the Filler Tube and it allows you to clean up all of the built up dirt... that will cause your tank to rust out and maybe other frame parts. It also allows you to see what the straps and brackets look like, what the Tank looks like, wha the frame in the area looks like.

It is NOT fun laying on your back trying to loosen the tank and having a lot of bolt up dirt fall on you, in your face, down your shirt... NOT ! If you have a lift, well could be easier but usually most of us use the driveway !

If you pull the bed, make sure to clean between the tank and the frame, no need to leave dirt build up there.

 

Thank you all for your input but I’ve already resolved the filler neck issue with the help of YouTube. Love YouTube.

Yes, as suggested by many of you it was easier to remove the bed to replace the hose and yes with the bed off it gave me a chance to look things over, only bad thing I found was a dry rotted spare tire which looks to be the original. I filled her up with fresh fuel and added some injector cleaner for good measure. Drove her around and all worked fine with minimal stuttering,,,, guess/hope it was just year-old fuel, low fuel pressure from the bad filler neck and lack of use from just sitting around for a year.

As I was looking into the A/C problem I pulled off the relay to check it and noticed that when I was plugging it back in the compressor came on but only when the relay was cocked to one side meaning that one of the 5 prongs was not inserted, so I just bent it out of the way and now the A/C compressor kicks on and off normally. Not sure if the correct relay was in there to begin with???

Also had a persistent oil leak and after giving the engine bay a good cleaning found it to be the power steering pressure switch that was leaking at electrical connection.

All seems to be working fine now, cold A/C, engine running and no oil leaks.

Looks like it’s going to be a good little truck which will be my youngest sons first car.

 

Good to hear you got it straightened out !

Did you take off the bed ?

That's how you found the rotted spare... see it worked !

 

Yes as stated above I removed the bed and yes that's how I noticed the dry rotted spare.

Thank you all for your input.

 

I didn't get that from your post so I asked... ! I reread and I see what I missed.

Good thing you took the bed off then, how's everything else look under there,pile up of dirt ?

Some people replace all of the bolts at this time and again, make sure to use an Anti-Seize on all of the threads.

 

Oh yeah! caked on mud everywhere. I washed everything off before I removed and replaced the old filler neck so not to get any dirt inside the tank. As for the bed bolts all came off without any trouble so I saw no need to replace. Thanks