Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 3rd Lift Pump Fails

[RobbyRam]

At 89K miles I'm ready to get my 4th lift pump. My 3rd lasted about 6 months. It was going strong with 15 psi @ idle and 11 psi WOT. Yesterday, it all of a sudden dropped to 10 psi @ idle and 7 psi @ 65mph.

Today it again dropped to 5 psi @ idle and 1 psi @ 65mph, and 0 psi @ WOT. (I double checked the readings with a mechanical guage)I stopped by Cummins West last night and bought, what I was told, was a "new and improved" lift pump with a newer wiring harness added.

Tomorrow, (Friday),after work, I'll try to install it myself even though I'm under warranty. I'm done with Dodge dealer service. I plan to drive my truck for work tomorrow using very light throttle.

Question:? Do I have to remove the starter to replace the lift pump as the factory manual states?

Bob in Sacramento

 

[HeberRam]

No.....

You can get at it with long arms from the top.



Steve

 

[JTeague]

You can change it from the top pretty easy. Here's a tip for you that I use. Remove the 2 bolts that hold the fuel filter housing to the head and lay the filter housing towards the inner fenderwell out of your way. To me it makes the pump alot more accessable. The biggest PITA with the pumps is that the studs loosen from the pump when trying to remove the 3 nuts that hold it to the bracket. It happens on every pump I've changed. Good luck, don't loose the sealing washers cause the new pump don't come with them.



Jason

 

[Ncostello]

I think it takes longer arms to do it from the bottom. I took my starter out when I did mine some time ago. After a while, I went up top and thought... man this is sure easier from the top! I just stood on a 1' tall stand and put a soft blanket over the fender. I'm 6'-1" and the reach wasn't hard at all to me. Plus you dont get a shirt full of diesel when you take the banjos off from the top.

 

[JCyrbok]

quick LP question

Mine LP is boarder line and dealer wont replace it yet. I want to do it myself. It seems pretty straight forward. I'm pretty good at mechanical stuff and have quite a few CUmmins and DC manuals.



When you guys do the LP are u removing the banjo on the inlet of the Fuel Filter housing, then removing pump and pulling it up, or are u just removing the inlet and outlet to the LP? Seems like it would be easier, when done from the top that u remove the inlet to the FF and pull the pump up that way. One more set of banjo washers and maybe 2 minutes more work but seems easier to me.



Anyone do it this way or is this the only way to do it from the top?



J-

 

[WestTN]

3 times

That has to be stressful! I'm curious about something. Do you normally run your tank very low before re-fueling? I've wondered if that might be a concern for long pump life.

 

[Whitmore]

Try to keep you tank above hal if you can.



cheers, Kevin

 

[CFAR]

I have a rubber line from the output of the lp to the fuel filter canister, I remove the rubber line from the fuel filter canister and the banjo off the input to the lp. Then when I have the lp out I take the banjo with attached rubber hose off the old lp and put it on the new lp.



takes about 7 min to r/r a lp, #3 lp for me.