Fueling and the A/C

[tellicorick]

First off, when I'm close to empty (warning light comes on) and I fill up, upon start-up the engine acts like it's sucking air and runs rough for a short period of time. What gives? It was running fine when I pulled into the station, is the fuel being put into the engine foaming so bad it's causing air bubbles? Should I re-fuel sooner? Stumped! Like I said, after a rough start it smooths out pretty quick.

And secondly, sometimes when I start the vehicle the A/C unit display will not come on. I'll usually have to shut down and re-start (sometimes more than once) to get the A/C unit to work. What it is?

Oh, one more thing about the fueling; a new FICM last year (old one died), new fuel regulator body and innards and fuel filter change not too long ago.

Help anyone?

[Razorsedge]

As for the climate control display not coming on, I've had that happen with my truck a few times. Strangely enough flipping the headlight switch on and off again will make it come on, at least in my case.

[ParkCity.PSD]

I've had the same thing with the display twice...I'll have to try the headlight trick if it happens again.

Not sure on the other questions...

[jesilvas]

The pickup tubes aren't the most reliable. Either keep the tank fairly full, or drop the tank and fix.

[howell_jd]

I second the vote for a faulty pickup tube - specifically the bypass valve - in the fuel tank.

In this photo, the middle tube is the pickup. The small orange nipple is the bypass valve.

Occasionally this valve falls off and allows air to enter the fuel line when the tank is below 1/4 full. As you indicate the rough running occurs after fill up I presume that an air bubble is moving through the line when sufficient fuel volume is restored. Once the bubble passes, the rough running is eliminated.

Yes, fuel up sooner but also address the underlying cause before one of those bubbles pops a false sense of security with the fuel injection system.

Jonathan

[tellicorick]

Guys, thanks for your knowledge on the fuel pickup tube. Is there a reliable replacement for this or should I just fix the original one; vehicle only has 75K miles on it but now a lot of little problems are starting to arise. I was thinking about a larger fuel tank and this would be the right time to pull the pickup and work it or replace it.