Hot Rods Safety shutoff for electric fuel pump

I know cars with electric fuel pumps have a safety shutoff that cuts power to the fuel pump in an accident. I've heard that the one on Ford Taurus/Merc Sable is cheap and readily available at the u-pull-it. Where is this safety shutoff located on the donor vehicle?

 

I had a 97 Taurus, it was in the trunk, right side behind a panel. My nephews ‘94 Ranger was in the cab somewhere, but I don’t recall where it was at.

 

Thanks! Going out to Yarbrough's this morning, he has a boatload of Tauruses and Sables.

 

Well, should be a quick trip. You won’t be spending time looking the rest of the car over for parts

 

This is GREAT. How does it work ?? What triggers it to stop sending power to the Electric Fuel Pump ?? How do we wire it into our HotRods ??
thnx,
NaCifan

 

I went to the Ford dealer (they do have them on other brand vehicles, too, eh?) and just got a new one at the parts counter. The last one I got cost about 30 bucks. And it came with instructions, to prevent improper installation. Sorry I don't have that part number handy. If you are going to be safe, why not get a new one? Would you install take-out seat belts?

 

Ah, come on man! A chance to get out of the house, go to a salvage yard, look around and maybe find something really cool buried way back in the back. What's not to like? Besides, it's traditional. And yes, I did install 20+ year old take-out seat belts from salvaged WWII aircraft in my '60s racecars and never had one break.

 

All traditional hot rods use a good many junkyard parts. Too many shiny new parts can turn it into a street rod. As for the seat belts, the ones in my truck are junkyard items. My OT daily driver is an '05 Chrysler Sebring. I still use the 16 year old seat belts in that car when I drive it. How are those 16 yo seat belts any different from undamaged seat belts from a car of the same vintage in the junkyard?

 

Come on man, pt 2. I don't use old gas or dirty oil, old tires, used brake pads, used fan belts, used plugs, used filters, used fuel pumps, used electrical components, or used starters either when building, modifying or just tuning up my project cars. Just trying to be safe and keep the unknown variables at bay. To each his own...

Related side bar... when I sold my 37 Fordor awhile back, the owner couldn't figure out what my fuel cut-off switch was there for under the left rear fender. So guess what happened when he removed it and some of the related wiring? Luckily, the cut-off's instructions were in the paperwork provided when I sold the car and we talked thru the re-installation. And since he didn't toss the gizmo... and has a "used" part on the car.

 

It’s behind the right kick panel in the cab on Ford trucks.


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Ford Escort Wagons have the kill switch in the left rear there is a small pop out cover in the left interior panel in the just inside the hatch on the wagons

 

Let me get this straight. You sold another person a car and didn't actually tell him about the modification you made. He doesn't know what that modification was for and removed it. Then, you talked him through the re-installation of a " used " part. Hmmm? Nice of you to help him educate himself about the cut-off but had you thought about it when he purchased the car, the problem would never arisen. Just saying!

 

To all who have replied with information about where to look for used salvage yard cut-off switches, Thanks

 

It's called a safety inirta switch. Ford used them on pretty much everything, either in the trunk or pass side kick panel. It's a black box with a red button on the top IIRC.

It has a pendulum inside and if the car is jarred it will trip and disable the fuel pump. The red button resets it.

I'm my mechanic days they would trip on occasion and cause a no start. Never really had much issue with then otherwise. It would be a good thing to add for electric fuel pumps, but like most safety devices....adds a layer of unreliability vs nothing at all.

I may put one in my 59 actually....

 

Same on Ford vans, be forewarned that these cut off switches have a mind of their own, our deliver van get us down twice, sometimes something as simple as hitting the railroad tracks can activate the switch. HRP

 

I used to pop them prior to changing fuel filters ( use a small screwdriver). Pop the inertia switch, start the engine which will run shortly until it’s out of fuel. Now the fuel system is depressurized, swap the fuel filter, press the button down and your good to go.


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I used a different junkyard part. A switch mounted on the engine on a mid 80's GM rear wheel drive car. It open circuits upon sensing low oil pressure. Have no idea what it was used for on the donor car.

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Take out seatbelts & most anything else "used" , I buy used vehicles too & I live in a used house ..

 

They were behind the passenger side kick panel in Ford pickups too

 

They were used on the Chevy Monza’s and the GM clones of the same.


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If it had a carburetor it may be for the eclectic choke.

 

Those cars came with mechanical fuel pumps which is why I didn't know their application.

 

I sold the car to a dealer, with all the related pubs documenting parts and pieces as best I could (3 x 3 ring binders of instructions, part numbers, tips, etc.). He sold it to another dealer. The first guy to buy it for personal use was the fellow I helped. He had the books, thankfully. I've always leaned to the safe side, and help those I can. Simple as that. I don't think I'm the bad guy here, or why you think so. I was joking about the used part reinstallation. It was the same part, as used as ever since I put it on new. And the owner is still a friend and nice guy, also.

 

Vega oil pressure switch.

 

Mandatory in the SCTA on a vehicle with an electric fuel pump. Location not specified as we are not expected to be rear ended.

 

The Monza’s had an in tank electric fuel pump, it used an oil pressure sensor switch on the engine.


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Got our oil pressure fuel cut off switch at local auto parts store for son's off topic circle track mini truck. Required when running electric fuel pump. Occasionally after sitting for a very long time have needed to bypass circuit to pump fuel before oil pressure came up but rarely. It shuts off fuel pump in case of roll over or whatever when engine quits and pressure drops.

Dave

 

Where do I wire one in for my mechanical fuel pumps? How will that work?

I’ve never had the need to use an electric pump on an old car.


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Well, you could put a solenoid in the fuel line...