How To Replace A Ford F-150 Fuel Pump

Are you an F-150 owner with a bad fuel pump? You can skip the shop and replace it right at home with this easy-to-follow tutorial.

Why You Should Replace Your Fuel Pump Right Away

Ford truck F150

If you experience the symptoms of a failing fuel pump (including hard starts and a loss of power while towing or driving uphill), it’s important to confirm the issue. If the pump is bad, you will need to replace it right away. With a failed or malfunctioning fuel pump, an inadequate amount of fuel is being pushed to the engine. When you need power, you won't be able to get as much as you should. Eventually, the pump will fail and could leave you stranded.

Getting Ready For The Project

Before starting the project, be sure to get the following items in order:

Tools

  • Car lift
  • Clear hose
  • Air pump
  • Flathead screwdriver
  • Impact wrench
  • ¼” hex socket
  • Plastic brush

An OEM Replacement Fuel Pump

If you’re going to replace your Ford F150 fuel pump at home, you need to buy one yourself. You could visit your nearest Ford dealership and buy an OEM replacement there. But, expect to pay quite a bit of money for it. Dealers tend to mark up the prices of their parts, oftentimes as much as 30%.

Authorized online sellers of OEM Ford parts (like us) sell the exact same OEM parts found at Ford dealerships at much lower prices. To find the right pump, just look up your F-150 in our catalog or refer to this list of our top-selling fuel pumps for F-150s:

The Replacement Process (9 Steps)

Ford fuel pump replacement

Image Credit: Ford-Trucks.com

This list of steps is specifically for 1999-2014 F-150s, but they’re still easy to follow if you own an older or newer model.

1. Lift Your Truck

You’ll be spending a lot of time underneath your truck to remove your Ford F-150’s fuel tank, so be sure to use a safe lift.

2. Siphon The Fuel Out Of The Fuel Tank

Using the clear hose and air pump, siphon the gas out of the tank. This step is absolutely necessary before removing your fuel tank. Be sure to store the fuel in a safe container.

3. Remove The Heat Shield

Do this with the impact wrench. There are two sets of bolts. One set holds the heat shield in place, and one set holds the fuel tank in place. Unfasten only the set that holds the heat shield in place and then remove the heat shield.

4. Place Two Floor Jacks Underneath The Fuel Tank

This is to support the fuel tank when it drops. You can also add padding on top of the floor jacks to prevent damage to the tank.

5. Drop The Fuel Tank

Now, unfasten the set of bolts holding the fuel tank in place. There are two straps, too. Gently twist them off to avoid damaging the mounting point. Now, carefully lower the floor jacks while holding the fuel tank. It’s much easier to have a friend help you with this. About halfway through, disconnect the fuel fill line with the hex socket.

6. Disconnect The Fuel Pump Lines From The Fuel Pump Module

There’s a fuel pump module bolted to the top of the fuel tank. The fuel lines are connected to the module by safety clips. You can pull and release them or use an aluminum 3/8” Ford fuel line disconnect tool.

7. Clean The Fuel Pump Module

Use the plastic brush to clean off the dust and dirt from the top of the fuel pump module. This will help prevent the fuel tank from getting contaminated when you remove the old fuel pump assembly in the next step.

8. Remove The Old Fuel Pump Assembly

Unfasten the six bolts holding the module onto the fuel tank. Twist the old fuel pump assembly out of the tank. If it gets stuck, use a flathead screwdriver to pry it up.

9. Install The New Fuel Pump Assembly

Do it in the reverse order listed above. Be sure to reconnect the fuel lines correctly. Make sure to turn the ignition on so the fuel pump runs, and check for leaks before driving.