2003 Dodge diesel 3500 won't start after lift pump change

[Winter11]

Title said it all- Truck died a block form the house on the way home at 1AM. Tried cranking it after it died and no dice. Called the wife and towed it home.
Plenty of fuel, has 120k miles on it and figured it probably crapped the pump. In hind sight that was incredibly ignorant - zero- troubleshooting I know. Usually I can hear the pump buzzing so I figured that was it and defaulted to the easy way out..
Installed an in-line lift pump from NAPA. Flip the switch and can hear it running.
I called around to several shops and surfed the web for information. Bleeding the system sounded like the right thing to do but not necessary to get er running.
Regardless I attempted to break lines with the lift pump running and never did really get what I would call a satisfactory bleed. Very little pressure it seemed.
Said to hell with it and cranked it over - still won't fire off. Crap.

So now I am stuck working the weekend and driving my wife's rig until I figure out my next move.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Bob4x4]

The 03 does not need to be bled,the old failed lift pump must be removed.There will be some plumbing needed to accomplish this.It is available from aftermarket vendors but the most durable way is to buy the oem conversion kit that includes all the parts and instructions to get you up and running.

 

[Winter11]

Have the new lift pump in and changed the filter. Still won't start.
Tomorrow I may trailer it to a shop if I can't get this figured out.

 

[Winter11]

Have the new lift pump in and changed the filter. Still won't start.
Tomorrow I may trailer it to a shop if I can't get this figured out.

Updated- Gave it a rest for a day - new filter installed yesterday morning - Today it started up and ran fine.
In retrospect I had run it low (lower than ever) on fuel. Below 'E' and it hiccuped a few times going to the station. Didn't think anything of it.
I drove it a week after the refuel before it quit.
I had ran a bunch of fuel additive in it during a trip to Oregon last month. Was down to +5 at night.
I am thinking it may have emulsified the sludge some then when I quit adding it and ran the tank low it sucked it up.
The filter appeared dark. Now I believe it was probably covered with that tank scum and took a bit to pass through.
Today I did the key-on 4 or 5 times to really prime it. May have been all that was needed.

Satisfactory outcome.
Now I will run additive and change filters more until they stay clean and I am sure the majority of the sludge is gone.

 

[sag2]

If the weather is warm enough to work on it you really should drop the tank or raise the bed and clean the tank out. You can also look at the filter sock in the sending unit to make sure it isn't plugged.

 

[Bill Stockard]

The 03 does not need to be bled,the old failed lift pump must be removed.There will be some plumbing needed to accomplish this.It is available from aftermarket vendors but the most durable way is to buy the oem conversion kit that includes all the parts and instructions to get you up and running.

Yep, that's what I did to my '03 3500 years ago before the OEM lift pump on the fuel filter died. Never a problem since without an add-on aftermarket pump, a jumble of wiring, and an array of leaking hoses and connections.

Bill