Sounds like your tank isn't vented, or the vent is plugged. Or your gas cap is supposed to be vented. As gas level goes down it creates a vacuum in the tank, to a point fuel won't come out. As for coming out near the cap, it probably was coming from the cap. Cold gas warms up, vapourizes, and pressurizes the tank, forcing gas out the cap.

Also, a plugged fuel filter or fuel line will prevent gas from reaching the pump, but with the gas leaking at the cap, the above sounds more plausible.

 

okay, i will check to see, so how would you overcome that vent gas problem?

 

I would guess your line or pickup filter is plugged. You can disconnect the line that goes from the pump to the tank and blow some air through it. You may also want to check if there is another inline filter somewhere in the line. You didnt say what kind of vehicle it is.

 

okay, i will check to see, so how would you overcome that vent gas problem?

Ayuh,... Clear the crud outa the Vent line would be a Good start...

 

no gas

it would be good to know what year and model you have there, is it a car or truck, single or dual tanks, smog stuff still hooked up or not? hot or cold climate, did you just fill up with fuel? is the pump lower than the tank?
-when you swapped out the fuel pump, did gas dribble out of the line or was it pretty much dry?
-do a quick check for an inline fuel filter. just follow the fuel line from front to rear. also check for damage to the line, possibly from some road debris that has hit and pinched off the line.
-do you have an air compressor? if so, take the gas cap off and the fuel line on the inlet side of the inline fuel filter. if you don't have an inline fuel filter then take the fuel line off at the inlet to the fuel pump. either way, stick a piece of hose on the fuel line and put the end of the hose into a empty jug, like a windshield washer jug that you can sort of see into. have an old bolt or something ready to plug the fuel line in case it starts to siphon fuel from the tank once it clears (if it is plugged). get out the blow gun and a rag. if you have a air pressure regulator, put it on the air line and set it to 15 psi (so you don't blow up your fuel tank with too much pressure). put the end of the blow gun into the gas filler hole and sort of stuff the rag in to take up the extra space. apply some pressure to the tank ( you may have to just do this in spurts so you don't over pressure) and have a flunky keep check on the outcome in the jug where the fuel line is. you should have a good steady stream of nice clean fuel there once the tank gets a little pressure in it and the gas has had time to find it's way to the end of the fuel line. if not, start looking for what is plugged. if you live in a cold climate and just filled with gas, it could just be ice in the fuel line. get it inside to warm up and try the pressure in the tank thing again (with all sources of ignition off of course). you may have a plugged outlet in the tank, could be somebody was trying to jack your gas and the siphon equipment damaged something inside the tank, could be a collapsed rubber hose from the tank outlet to the fuel line on the frame, could be a hidden inline filter that you didn't see, could be a collapsed rubber line from the frame line to the fuel pump, could be a plugged fuel filter at the carb or a stuck carb inlet valve. if it is a truck with dual tanks it could be the tank switch or valve. if all you get is air in the jug when you pressure the tank, maybe there is a problem inside the fuel tank, like the pickup tube fell off or was bent from those guys with the siphon equipment.
-if you still have nothing, disconnect the fuel line at the tank and blow through the line toward the front, where it is still plugged into that jug. there should be something coming out the other end into your jug. if not, the fuel line is plugged. you could then try blowing backwards from the front and see if it clears. either unplug it or replace it. also, you can blow back into the tank while the line is off. gently and with the cap off. you should hear some bubles. if air goes in but no bubbles are heard, just air hissing in the tank, maybe the pick up tube is broken so it doesn't go down into the fuel. you would just be sucking air. then you would need to take the tank out and check. unless you can get at the sending unit through an access hole.
good luck, and wear safety glasses, and have an extinguisher at hand, just in case.

 

my car is a 1968 falcon with a 1965 galaxie 289 small block engine 4.7L v8

 

no gas

that's the one with the square tail lights right? is the fuel tank underneath or in the trunk? if memory serves me right it is in the trunk floor and the outlet is on the front side of the tank, behind the rear axle. there is a rubber line to connect it from the tank fiting to the frame tube. like an old mustang set up. check there to see if the tube got bent or the rubber hose is in good shape. that tube is pretty small diameter so it could just be rusty on the inside and necked down/plugged
well. if that's not it, all that stuff from the previous post is still relevant I guess. the quick way to tell if your fuel line is plugged is to just disconnect it at the pump, connect a length of rubber line and blow back through it. take the gas cap off first. you should hear bubbles in the tank. the only problem is you push stuff back into the tank from the filter, and then you will re-filter it again later. use an air compressor if you have one, but be carefull of the pressure, you can blow of one of those rubber flex lines easily enough with too much pressure in the line.
you didn't just change fuel caps or anything else right? it is all status quo? never had this problem before? not just out of a tire shop or somewhere it was on a hoist (possibly flattened fuel line from the hoist pad positioning)?
do you have an inline filter? sometimes on older cars you never know what has been done over the years. it wouldn't hurt to follow that fuel line from the pump back to the tank and just see what you are working with. then you will know if there is another filter tucked away somewhere and if anything is funky with the steel line.
good luck, keep us posted if you find a problem.

 

Check the rubber hoses that connect the tank to the metal lines on the underside of the car. These deteriorate over time and crack. The cracks cause air leaks and since that's on the suction side of the pump, you won't see a fuel leak. The pump is sucking air and won't prime from the tank. Also check the rubber lines leading from the metal lines to the pump.

 

thanks guys for all the help, after i did all the above suggestions, i came to find that the damn cam lobe is not turning so its not pushing on to the lever of the fuel pump... will have to unbolt the front of the engine to see if thats really the problem... we'll see how it goes...

 

Sounds like a broken timing chain....

 

problem solved... the screw on the cam lobe broke, had to replace the screw, and wahlaaaah! the blue beast is back on the streeet smoking tires

 

problem solved... the screw on the cam lobe broke, had to replace the screw, and wahlaaaah! the blue beast is back on the streeet smoking tires

Until the oil pump picks up the pieces....

 

the screw on the cam lobe???

 

the screw on the cam lobe???

Prolly trying to describe the 1- or 2- piece fuel pump eccentric used on Fords:

 

lol ... yes you're right, it is the eccentric...