Clicking noise from Engine area

[drawson]

TOday while waiting from my EGTs to cool before going into a hardware store I got out and could hear a clicking noising coming from the engine compartment. It wasn't constent, tow or three clicks then a couple of seconds of just normal Cummin music then two or three clicks. I ran home after getting my hardware grabbed a long screw drive to listen to things and no noise.
It kind of sounded like a a slicky lifter on a gasser or a relay clicking. At the store I grabbed every relay I could get my hands on and now of them where the cause. The sound is coming out of the drives side down by the lift pump.

Anyone had this noise?????

 

[HEMI®Dart]

drawson,

I wonder if your lift pump is getting tired. Could the tranfer pump plunger be sticking, or not returning fully after its stroke from the pushrod off the camshaft eccentric? This gap between the plunger & pushrod could be the click you hear. Is there fuel coming out of the weep hole on the side of the lift pump?

 

[illflem]

Dee, it sounds like the lever on the transfer pump isn't retracting fully as Bill said. I wouldn't blame it entirely on the pump though, I've heard that back pressure from the injection pump can cause the transfer pump to not go though it's full cycle, hence the clicking when the cam lobe hits the pump lever. This may also have something to do with the overflow valve, what's your fuel pressure?

 

[CumminsPower98]

I also have this "ticking" sound. It is intermitant and sounds just about like what drawson discribed. I can hear it pretty good reflecting off the ground when I have my driver window open. I am guessing that it's the lift pump as others have suggested. I have no fuel leaks. My idle fuel pressure is 21 PSI and no load high speed pressure is 28 PSI. The noise annoys me but as long as the pump is not going out I will live with it for now. I have 69k plus on the truck. Are there any other signs that the pump may be tired other than leaks or low fuel pressure?

Thanks,
Mark

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Red '98 12valve 2500 4X4 Quad Cab, Long Bed, SLT, 5-spd Manual, 3. 54, Dana 80 Rear,Camper/Tow pkg, 33x12. 50x16. 5, Rancho RS9000 shocks, straight piped, silencer ring hanging in shop, Yet to be Bombed, 69K+ miles.

 

[drawson]

No leaks from the lift pump. I'll put a pressure guage on it in the AM. I had just a week ago built my own overflow vlave spring using some gunsmith spring stock. When I was done I was getting 23 PSI at idle and 29 at high speed. There was no change in drivability, so the pressure did fluxulate(sp) like it did before.

 

[drawson]

I checked my fuel pressure today both cold and up to operating temp. Cold the pressure is unchanged 21-23 @idle and 27-29 at 2000 RPMs. I left the gauge taped up on the windshield and took it out for a drive. The pressure dropped as the temp came up. Hot it was 18-20 @idle and 22-24 at 2000. My guess is my custom overflow valve spring doesn't like the heat. Back to the drawing boards I guess.

There has been no more noise so far.