Archived 01 won't start

[RGutierrez]

I need some help with my 2001. A few days ago the water in fuel light came on so I drained the fuel filter reservoir. THe light went off a few minutes later. The truck ran fine for 200 hundred miles or so with several start and stops then I shut it off and when I tried to restart, she wouldn't start. The starter turned real good but the engine wouldn't fire up and the water in fuel light would come on for a few seconds then go off again. What should I do next?

 

[Real Fast Bug]

The last time I drained some "water" out of the fuel filter I lost prime in the fuel system and the truck wouldn't start. However once I reprimed it by opening the banjo with the schrader valve in it while bumping the starter to run the LP then the truck would start. However this weekend I found that my LP is bad which I think explains why it needed to be reprimed before starting since the LP was too weak. Since you made it 200 miles before it died, maybe I'm way off. I'd at least look into the LP pressure.



Good luck

 

[csutton7]

change your lift pump and get a fuel pressure guage installed--chris

 

[Sticks]

Originally posted by csutton7

change your lift pump and get a fuel pressure guage installed--chris

Check your pressure first, then change the pump if needed.



Just bump the starter (do not start) and listen for the LP. You should be able to hear it in the cab, but pop the hood and listen for it as well. It should be fairly loud. If you do not hear anything, then yes, your LP is deadsky.



If you do hear it, then now would be a good time to hook up a tester to the schrader valve on the VP. If you have low pressure (below 7 psi) change the filter then check it again. If it is still low, change the LP.



If you get good pressure during any of the steps, take a 19mm wrench and crack open the # 1, 3, 4, and maybe 5 injector lines about two turns, wiggle the lines a little, then bump the starter to cycle the LP to bleed the air from the lines. When fuel starts dripping out of the injector lines around the nut, then tighten them back down. You need at least three lines puking fuel to get the truck started. Once it starts, let it idle until it runs smooth, don't try to help it with the throttle.

 

[RGutierrez]

Last night I checked for error codes and cleared them. I tried to start the truck and it turned over for about two seconds and died again. No new error codes. I broke loose two injectors then bumped the starter. I didn't get any fuel but I also didn't wiggle the lines to see if they were loose or at least not seated. I could also hear the LP running real good. Tonight I'll check the pressure and try to bleed the lines again. I do appreciate the advice.

 

[csutton7]

the lift pump can still run and be bad, so just hearing it run isn't always a sure sign that it's operating right---crack the drain line on the lift pump and have someone crank the truck over while you watch the fuel come out of drain line the fuel should be flowing at an extreme rate, have a catch can--if it's not flowing out of there at a good clip it's the lift pump----if it is flowing and you can't get fuel to come out of the cracked injector lines--then I believe your VP44 may be toast--chris

 

[RGutierrez]

I went home last night and opened the drain on the fuel filter and turned the ignition on and the lift pump made no noise and no fuel came out of the drain. I think you guys are right about a dead lift pump. It is weird that it died in my driveway and that it came back to life a couple of times. I read the warranty last night and with 56,000 miles, it looks like it's covered. What do you think? Will the dealer replace it with a better lift pump or can I expect this every so many thousand miles?

 

[Sticks]

Fuel pumps fail... period. There are a lot of things that can impact the life of a LP. Fuel quality, electrical connections, location...



You can and should have this one replaced under the warranty, have the dealer check out the VP44 THOROUGHLY, install a fuel pressure gauge, and either relocate the LP to the frame rail after it is replaced, or wait until your warranty expires and install an aftermarket system. The OEM LP is a perfectly good pump, it is just in the wrong location.



Fuel pumps are made to push fuel, not suck it. . Where it is now, it has to pull the fuel up to 8 feet and up on, then push it up 1 and forward 1.



IMO I would move it to the frame rail, install larger lines and of course the fuel pressure gauge and be done with it.



The relocation can be done for under $100 and a couple hours of your time.



An after market kit can be installed for between $250 and $500.



Some people will install the larger banjo bolts to increase the available fuel pressure, but this does not address the fact that you are still pulling the fuel from the tank which is still a bad thing.





EDIT - VP44's do not like to supply their own fuel (dead LP, and like water even less. Depending on how long your LP has been out, severe damage may or may not have occurred to your VP. I would recommend that you leave the fuel system alone (at least 10k miles) after the LP has been replaced to see if your VP is going to make it. If you alter the fuel system (relocate the VP, after market system) the warranty on the VP will be null and void even though the failure was caused by the first dead LP.

 

[RGutierrez]

The Auge boys in Belen New Mexico made good on the warranty. They replaced the lift pump and the VP44. The truck is ready this afternoon. Thanks for all your help.

 

[Real Fast Bug]

I just got both of my pumps replaced under warranty too(as seen in a couple other threads) but I noticed the connector to the new pump doesn't have a new void sticker on it. Did they replace the void sticker on yours? I wonder if I should get them to put it on there or if its a good opportunity to beable to hook to the inj pump someday.