Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Another Lift Pump Question

[Lube Man]

What are the symptoms of a failing lift pump?



Do they fail gradually or catastrophically?



It would be nice to hear from those who have actually experienced an LP failure.

 

[JPLB22]

I am on my second pump at 44,500 miles. My first pump died gradually. I replaced it myself when I was getting 9 psi while cruising at 70 mph. When I replaced the pump I also changed the banjo bolts out with a Wildcat Max Flow Kit.



Just a few days ago I thought I had lost my second pump. I was sitting in the parking lot at work, idleing, and all of a sudden I look down and saw the FP was at 8 psi . So I watched it for a bit and it bounced right back up to 14. 5 psi. I shut the truck off and did the starter bump, it started off at 15 psi and then suddenly droped to 8 psi again. So I thought it was time to replace another pump. But I had just recently moved the pump straight down to the fraim rail, and I had a feeling that the pig tail wireing harness I used could be cauising the problem, because it was barely long enough and pulled pretty tight. So I moved the pump back to the OEM location and removed the pig tail and my pressures are back to normal.



But the short answer to your question is..... Some pumps die instantly, pressure one second then dead the next. Some die slowly and gradually like my original pump. Some will start giving eratic pressures.



Jeff

 

[truckstom]

Parked my truck one day... pressure was fine... 2 days later when I got back in and started it... 0 pressure. Instant failure.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

I am on my third pump and have 48k on the truck. First one died a slow agonizing death and was replaced when it would only hold 10 psi at idle. Second one leaked. The third one was installed last December and is dieing the slow death. Originally it would put out 15. 5 psi. Now it is only holding 13 psi at idle and will only hold 9 psi under heavy load.



DC is going to replace every one until I reach 100K and then I will fix it properly.

 

[BobD]

My truck is a 2000 with a little over 146,K and this is my first bad LP.

My truck started acting like a gasser that lost two spark plugs.

First noticed problem at around 65 mph and started getting worse.

Truck always started and idled fine.

After the truck started acting up I got it to the dealer ASAP that was about 140 miles, as I was out of town.

Had it replaced at the dodge dealer, showed a code of 0203 I think which suggested a lift pump.

Runs great again!!

 

[dresslered]

Do they fail gradually or catastrophically?

Both! First one died slowly over about 10,000 miles (replaced it when I could hit 1-psi at WOT). The second was intermittant loss of pressure like a sticking vane or something. Third one seems a little weak out of the box, but maintaining pressures above 7-psi at WOT (14-psi at idle). I'm currently at 66,000 miles.