Not enought fuel

[IrmoDog]

I have just gotten a 80 CJ5 with the AMC 304 V8. It has a 3in lift in the front and a 2 in in the rear. If the tank gets below half then it starts to cut out and acts starved for fuel. If I fill it up then it runs good. What could be causing this? Bad fuel pump seals? lift? tanks?

 

[coldwater]

Sounds like a bad pickup tube in the tank. You will have to pull the tank and replace the unit. And possibly the tank. Be sure to do a good inspection of it.

 

[CJ]

Hello IrmoDog and welcome to our site!

I'm pretty much in agreement with CW but would like to add, check your fuel line connections to the pickup very well. We had a CJ that had a pin hole in the fuel line at the tank. It would only run well when there was a full tank of fuel. The pump could over come the bleeding of air when the tank was full but when the level dropped it sucked more air.

 

[Old Dog]

X2 on what CW & CJ said.

Are you sure the gauge is working and you are not running out of gas when the gauge says 1/2.?

 

[IrmoDog]

I have filled it up, then ran it until I get the "cutting out" and then refilled and it will hold about 3-5 gallons at most.

 

[coldwater]

I'm still thinking pick up tube. When you drop it you can gain access to all the worn lines to replace as well. That will cover all your bases.

 

[CJ]

Yep - sounds like a pick-up tube...

 

[BrockGrimes]

Had one doing the same and it was trash in the tank.
Doubled up on the fuel filters, 1 before pump and 1 before carb.
Problem fixed, but had to change filters a couple times.