Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) 12v Lift pump

[btanner]

well today my truck wouldn't start. It is cranking hard. I at first thought maybe my fuel gauge is wrong so i added 5 gallons of diesel. Truck still cranked hard and not start. next i cracked the #1 injector line and had some one crank the truck for 10 seconds. no fuel came out of the line. Then I thought maybe it wasn't primed so i pumped the prime pump for about ten minutes straight and never got a drop of fuel out. Then i cranked it again and still no fuel from the line. Is there any reason that I should get a new lift pump (fuel transfer pump) or is there something that I missed? Also where is the best place to purchase one? Does anyone online have good prices for these? I think the dealer wanted 250 bucks. Thanks



-ben

 

[WDixon27]

is the fuel solenoid is pulling up with the starter? if not hold it up with something and see if it starts

 

[bighammer]

There is a bleeder screw on top of the filter housing. Open that and either crank it or push the plunger to see if it's really pumping. Should make a big mess in a short time.

My pump (actually a check valve within the pump)went bad and would move the fuel back & forth. (a lot of bubbles, gurgling, with a little bit of fuel spilling out.

(I also agree, you should doublecheck that your shutoff is lifting up before you replace something)

 

[The patriot]

There is a bleeder screw on top of the filter housing. Open that and either crank it or push the plunger to see if it's really pumping. Should make a big mess in a short time.



My pump (actually a check valve within the pump)went bad and would move the fuel back & forth. (a lot of bubbles, gurgling, with a little bit of fuel spilling out.



(I also agree, you should doublecheck that your shutoff is lifting up before you replace something)

If you have access to an air compressor, crack this valve then put 2-3 PSI to the fuel tank. I find this way much easier than pushing that dam plunger.

FWIW whan my LP went, it would start and run, just not as good as it was.

 

[EKlem]

Checking the fuel solenoid first is definitely a good idea. If that is operating correctly, crack the bleader valve as mentioned above and see whether there is fuel there. If nothing is coming out of there, it is probably one of two things. Either your lift pump did actually go bad, or there is a large air leak in the fuel line before the pump. A lot of people have found that they can't get the lift pump to prime because of a small air leak.



Good luck getting it running again.

 

[Joe G.]

The most likely cause of the problem if the fuel solenoid is pulling up is bad fuel hoses.



Check the fuel solenoid by twist the key to start. Then leave the key on and see if the fuel solenoid rod has pulled up. If it has, not then pull it up. Twist the key to start again and see if it starts. If it does then check the relay and the blue wire to the postitive post of the driver's side battery.



However, if you are not getting fuel out of the bleed screw then the solenoid is probably not the problem. Remember you can't see an air leak. If the fuel hoses have never been changed or have been changed to normal parts store fuel hoses, get good diesel rated hoses and replace them.



The lift pump is the least likely cause of the problem.