Broke Down Far From Home - Fuel Problem?

[DBabbitt]

Broke down tonight in Houston, TX far from home (colorado). Was running low on fuel (have run it lower before), trying to get to the Flying j and it died. I coasted into the wal mart parking lot and walked to get some diesel. put in 5 gal and it cranked right up then quit after about 1 min. of idleing. I pulled the fuel filter, filled the bowl and it ran fine for 3-4 min. ideling and reving the throttle. Got back on the road and got about 1 mile started feeling power losses and it died again leaving me on a bridge on I-10 with almost no shoulder, truck sticking out into the lane of traffic. Scarry!!! got a tow to the Flying J and it sits there dead. I tried filling the filter bowl again and that doesn't work. It cranks but does not fire. I will probably try a new filter in the morning. I'm thinking that it could be the fuel pump though. Does anyone know where the fuel pump is located on this truck 2004. 5 (has cats) 3500 ho 48re.



Any other suggestions??



Thanks in advance, Dan.

 

[KWentling]

I believe the fuel pump is mounted to the back of the filter canister. You should be able to hear the pump run if you just bump the starter and leave the switch on.

That doesn't always mean it is pumping fuel though. You need to crack open a line to confirm fuel flow. Hope this helps. Sounds like you'rs is dead.



Kim

 

[bighammer]

I think the old "crack a line" is a big NO NO on the common rail engines.

 

[BK]

Gonna need to find the bleeding procedure for your fuel system.

For my 99 I know what it is.

I had the same problem once when I didn't refill the fuel filter after changing it.

I tried to just do a closed prime with the LP and I similar, start and dies.

I had to prime the lines into the VP44 and then after some running it was ok.

It was a messy thing.

 

[llotton]

Fuel filter Bleeding proceedure

There is a yellow lever on the front of the filter housing. By opening that lever you should be able to turn the key on,(not start) and hear the pump pumping fuel out or through the filter to an exit tube under the engine on the drivers side . I would guess it it your lift pump that died. Larry

 

[PatrickCampbell]

I would think if the truck ran for 4 minutes after you got it started, the problem is most likely NOT because of air in the system. That is plenty of time to clear the air out of the lines...



Maybe try bumping the starter? I think this basically turns the pump on for 20 or 30 seconds... you should heare the pump going wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh trying to prime the system. If not maybe the pump is dead? Also with an 04. 5 this should be covered by the warranty right?

 

[RustyJC]

Broke down tonight in Houston, TX far from home (colorado). I coasted into the wal mart parking lot and walked to get some diesel. put in 5 gal and it cranked right up then quit after about 1 min. of idleing. I pulled the fuel filter, filled the bowl and it ran fine for 3-4 min. ideling and reving the throttle. Got back on the road and got about 1 mile started feeling power losses and it died again leaving me on a bridge on I-10 with almost no shoulder, truck sticking out into the lane of traffic. Scarry!!! got a tow to the Flying J and it sits there dead.

Please don't take offense, but are you SURE you put diesel in the tank?? You'd be surprised who among us has been bitten by this!!



Rusty

 

[TowPro]

Maybe try bumping the starter? I think this basically turns the pump on for 20 or 30 seconds... you should heare the pump going wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh trying to prime the system. If not maybe the pump is dead? Also with an 04. 5 this should be covered by the warranty right?

All the pumps I have had go bad still made noise, but did not pump fuel.

 

[DBabbitt]

Hi guys, I am dead sure I put diesel in the tank, not gas. I have tried the lever to drain the filter housing and also a new filter. The housing is not filling and I am too close to the interstate to hear anything but trucks going by. I just had it towed to the local dealership. I will post later what they find out.



Thanks to all.....

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Good luck - hopefully they fix it quickly and give you no problems. Are you towing your car hauler? If so how is that treating you other than this...

 

[DBabbitt]

Patrick, yes I have the 48' wedge with me. Just talked to the tech he confirmed he got a low voltage signal from the pump and is doing the 05+ style conversion to move the new style pump to the tank. The dealer had 3 conversion kits in stock. The tech said this is a common problem. He says they should have it done today At least now I don't have to worry about the inferior old style pump!



BTW, I have been meaing to respond to your pm that you sent oh about a month ago or so! I haven't forgotten it but since I got my authority it's been busy busy busy all day long. I will PM you back this weekend... promise!



Are you hauling yet? - Dan.

 

[KWentling]

I think the old "crack a line" is a big NO NO on the common rail engines.

I should have been more specific. You do not want to crack an injection line because of the very high pressure. You can still loosen a banjo at the CP3 and check for fuel. These are also self priming systems so there is no bleeding. Just cycle the key a couple of times.



Kim

 

[jjordan1]

I had the same problem. Lost fuel pump twice. They then replaced w\ in tank pump. That one lasted about8500 miles then it went out. It was at least all covered under warranty. Still a pain to deal with.

 

[DBabbitt]

Hi, thanks everybody for the help on this one. Turns out it was the electric fuel pump located on the back of the fuel filter housing. The Dealership fix is to nix that pump and install the MoPar conversion kit that relocates the pump to the tank like the 05+ trucks. Dealership in Baytown, TX had it in stock and installed it in about 4 hours and it was covered by the 100,000 mile cummins side of the warranty. The technition said he had done 6 or 7 of the same fix in the last 6 months !!! Any way I'm back on the road and running. BTW, this is the first problem I have had with my truck (2004. 5 3500 DRW) after 75,000 not bad.....



Thanks again to all who helped, Dan.