Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Another FASS problem this week

[AFoulk]

went to start my truck after work today, and normally I can hear the FASS pump ( I have the full system with filters) run for like a second before I start the truck, and its normally pretty loud. This time I couldn't hear it. turned the key off and back on, did this several times and everytime I either couldn't hear it or it was just barely audible, sounded very weak. Now it hasn't done it since. I did have a slight bit of corrosion on the neg. battery terminal that I have the FASS grounded too, so i cleaned that off, but I'm talking only slight corrosion on the surface, not a huge mound of "fuzz. " I sprayed them up with some of that terminal protector (the red looking stuff). Could anything else have caused this? all connections were tight. Also, had a problem last week, where while the truck was idling, if I shook the truck or even just slammed my door shut, I could hear the sound of the pump change pitch. I had half a tank, so i know it wasn't to low. I did install a vulcan draw straw, but I have my tank down to 1/8 of a tank right now and its still running fine. Havn't experienced that problem since that one time last week. So far no one has been able to help me on that one.

 

[rkressg]

Check the Voltage at the FASS, verify that you have 12vDC to ground and to the internal ground on the wire harness.



Depening on how old your FASS is, if it has brushes, one could have burned up.



You can jump the relays out of the equation and just power the FASS directly from the battery to see if it will run correctly (with the engine off).



I would clean all Electrical connections.

 

[AFoulk]

I have a feeling it is one of the older models with brushes cause when I got it, the box looked like it had been sitting around for awhile, and it is noisy. The noise doesn't bother me, I'm just worried about this thing working right cause I have a new VP on the way and I don't wanna burn it up cause the FASS isn't working right. I'm hoping to get my gauges on this weekend and run the truck a bit to see what my fp is like... if my old VP holds out till then. I don't know if a brush burnt out or not though, cause its working fine now since I cleaned the connections at the battery terminals, but they really weren't all that bad. Once I get my fp gauge on, will I notice a significan't drop in fuel pressure if a brush does burn out? How reliable are the models with the brushes?

 

[LowFly]

I have a feeling it is one of the older models with brushes cause when I got it, the box looked like it had been sitting around for awhile, and it is noisy. The noise doesn't bother me, I'm just worried about this thing working right cause I have a new VP on the way and I don't wanna burn it up cause the FASS isn't working right. I'm hoping to get my gauges on this weekend and run the truck a bit to see what my fp is like... if my old VP holds out till then. I don't know if a brush burnt out or not though, cause its working fine now since I cleaned the connections at the battery terminals, but they really weren't all that bad. Once I get my fp gauge on, will I notice a significan't drop in fuel pressure if a brush does burn out? How reliable are the models with the brushes?

Get me your SN and I will tell you what you have to the date.



ALSO these 98. 5-02 truck ECM's do funny things some times with the lift pump operations. They will just pulse the pump instead of running a full 20 second run cycle. I dont know why... but i have personaly run into this several times. When you get your fuel gauge... as long as you have fuel pressure when the engine is running, you are fine.



Can you check for power when you know the FASS is not running? We need to know which way to look to figure out the issue. In the mean time:



Do me a fave and eye the connections at the bottom for the relay pig tail on our harness. We have had a small amt of harnesses that some of the crimps were not very tight and the wires were making intermittent contact. You can usually wiggle test these to check for a good connection. The can be fixed (Recrimped) very easily, but i can also send another harness if needed if this is the issue. We have identified this issue and updates were made a few months back... . but there were a few that hit the streets we are finding out. Not saying this is your issue…but from what you are saying…. . this would be a good place to start.



The noise you are hearing is normal. This is what you are hearing:



You drive the truck. Fuel gets sloshed around and it foams up. It gets pulled into our pump and the air collects at the top of the water separator. Once it builds up enough, it will overcome the water separator nipple and get drawn into the Gerotor pump. This makes a whooshing or gurgling noise. Then the aerated fuel gets passed into the fuel filter where the air is separated and filtered and sent back to the tank.



The reason you heard noise when you slammed the door and shook the truck is because this disturbed the air at the top of the water separator and it dislodged some to get sucked up into the pump. This will not hurt a thing…. . and is normal.



Let me know what you find... ...

 

[AFoulk]

I'll try and get the serial # for you tomorrow if I have time, and try and check the relay conection as well. It seem to run fine once the truck is running, sounds same as it normally does, even when I can't hear it when I turn the key on. havn't had any codes pop up since I got the dead pedal 2weeks ago. I'm gonna try and get the gauges on this weekend as well. I'm just glad to hear that noise I noticed last week is normal. But anyways, usually, if it acts up and I can't hear the pump for that 20sec. time period (I don't think its ever actually run that long before I start the engine), it'll do it everytime I cycle the key between off and the run postion, so next time it does that I'll try and get a voltage reading. Oh, and today, when it acted up, I tryed just bumping the key to start, and the pump ran for 20-30sec. like its supposed to and sounded fine. It did this everytime I bumped the starter, but if I just turned the key to run (as you would when your waiting for the wait to start light to go out) I couldn't hear the FASS pump run for that quick 1 or 2 sec. like normal. Other times I could hear it, but it wasn't as loud as usual

 

[LowFly]

I'll try and get the serial # for you tomorrow if I have time, and try and check the relay conection as well. It seem to run fine once the truck is running, sounds same as it normally does, even when I can't hear it when I turn the key on. havn't had any codes pop up since I got the dead pedal 2weeks ago. I'm gonna try and get the gauges on this weekend as well. I'm just glad to hear that noise I noticed last week is normal. But anyways, usually, if it acts up and I can't hear the pump for that 20sec. time period (I don't think its ever actually run that long before I start the engine), it'll do it everytime I cycle the key between off and the run postion, so next time it does that I'll try and get a voltage reading. Oh, and today, when it acted up, I tryed just bumping the key to start, and the pump ran for 20-30sec. like its supposed to and sounded fine. It did this everytime I bumped the starter, but if I just turned the key to run (as you would when your waiting for the wait to start light to go out) I couldn't hear the FASS pump run for that quick 1 or 2 sec. like normal. Other times I could hear it, but it wasn't as loud as usual

AHHH... . well you have to bump the enigne to get the pump to run the 20 seconds. Just turning the key to "Run" and leaving it will just get a 1 second bump. If you do that again, it might not do anything. So what you have going on it normal.

 

[AFoulk]

no but ever since I put the pump on, if I just turned the key on, it would run for that one second and it would be pretty loud. But the past few days, when I just turn the key on, I either can't hear it or its just barely audible. I was just worried somethings not right cause don't have a fuel pressure gauge installed yet (so I have no idea if everything is working like it should) and I have a new IP that I wanna install this week or the next, and I don't wanna risk burning that one up.

 

[PRout]

The gauge needs to be installed first otherwise you're just guessing. Its kinda like adding a 220 circuit to your garage but not having a voltmeter or circuit tester.

 

[AFoulk]

yeah, I know. I'm gonna get my gauges installed this weekend.

 

[TDIdog]

Hi Diesel- Dan,

I seem to have a noisy pump, it is a FASS 95. How do I get a hold of you to send the pump back. My truck is a 2001 with 65000 km on it. The FASS is been in about a year, & is starting to get quite noisy( I can hear it while driving & I'm deaf in one ear). It is pumping 12-14 psi after the factory filter(I have a gauge installed in cab & connected at inlet of VP44). I appreciate any help you can provide. I will get the serial # and model # of the unit. Thanks in advance for your help.

jack

 

[TDIdog]

I am a little disappointed. I spent a lot of money on this FASS, and now I don't know if it's going to calf or keep going. Can't get a response from Diesel Dan. I'm getting ready to go on a two week trip towing my 5th wheel & am not happy with the situation. I wish someone from FASS would contact me. I may have to hook up the stock LP again#@$%!

jack

 

[PRout]

Mine has always been a bit noisy, but keeps pumping a lot of fuel.

 

[LowFly]

I am a little disappointed. I spent a lot of money on this FASS, and now I don't know if it's going to calf or keep going. Can't get a response from Diesel Dan. I'm getting ready to go on a two week trip towing my 5th wheel & am not happy with the situation. I wish someone from FASS would contact me. I may have to hook up the stock LP again#@$%!

jack

Sir, with all due respect, you posted this up on Sat, on a 3 day weekend. I yet to have internet at my house and honestly, its my personal time at that point. I do make every effort to catch every thread as soon as i can, but sometimes the phone and the shop pulls me away from my computer. Which happened yesterday. I have a dealer in BC (PDR) that could help you get the ball rolling if you wanted to send the pump back into me if time was that tight. Posting up on the internet IS NOT the best way to get time sensitive issues taken care of. ALWAYS call one of my dealers and see what can be done if you need immediate assistance.



With that being said, check you PM's... ...

 

[TDIdog]

Hi Diesel-Dan,

Sorry I got a little hostile. I guess I over reacted. I'm just under a lot of pressure to get everything ready to go away & I thought I had the LP issue dealt with when I bought the FASS. Your right about the long weekend, I wasn't sure that it was along weekend in the US. Please accept my appology. I will PM you with my details.

Thank you for your response.

jack

 

[LowFly]

Hi Diesel-Dan,

Sorry I got a little hostile. I guess I over reacted. I'm just under a lot of pressure to get everything ready to go away & I thought I had the LP issue dealt with when I bought the FASS. Your right about the long weekend, I wasn't sure that it was along weekend in the US. Please accept my appology. I will PM you with my details.

Thank you for your response.

jack

No prob... ... water off a ducks back my friend... . now lets see what we can get done... ...

 

[AFoulk]

Diesel Dan, just wanted to let you know, I got my fp gauge installed, and have 21-21. 5lbs. at idle, and 19. 5-20 at WOT. Even when I don't hear or can barely hear the pump when I turn the key to the "run" position, I still have normal pressure once the engine is started and running. So, everything seems to be ok. sorry i got a little worried there at first. Man its nice finally having a fp gauge though... . no more worries, I finally know what the truck is doing.

 

[LowFly]

Diesel Dan, just wanted to let you know, I got my fp gauge installed, and have 21-21. 5lbs. at idle, and 19. 5-20 at WOT. Even when I don't hear or can barely hear the pump when I turn the key to the "run" position, I still have normal pressure once the engine is started and running. So, everything seems to be ok. sorry i got a little worried there at first. Man its nice finally having a fp gauge though... . no more worries, I finally know what the truck is doing.

Good to hear! Let me know if i can help any more.....