Archived Cummins just quit running. 2004.5 Dodge Ram 2500.

[Kamper Dave]

Are we on the correct path?

Cerberusiam: It me with the smoking diesel that has been running well. Up until today.

We warmed up the Dodge Ram 2500 and drove 2 hours to get to Costco at 45-75 mph; all was well.
We purchased 20 gallons of Cenex Diesel and took the same route back home.
The next morning I washed and waxed the truck. Then we warmed up the Dodge and drove 5 miles at 45mph and the Cummins QUIT.
We managed to pull off the roadway.
I removed the air cleaner and the Cummins started for 8 seconds or so and quit. It would not re-start.
I dumped a quart of diesel from the filter; no water to be seen.
I waited 5 minutes and the Cummins started for 8 seconds or so and quit. It would not restart.
I couldn't hear any fuel pumps running so I beat on the tank and the Cummins started for 8 seconds or so and quit. It would not restart.
I got towed to a generic repair shop. They will attempt to check out the fueling system.
The fuel filter was changed weeks ago when the oil was changed. Last year: new ECM and new Injectors were installed.
Are we on the correct path?
It's a 1. 5 hour tow to the nearest Dodge Dealer.
Thank you in advance for your help... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Unless the dealer converted your Ram to the in-tank lift pump, the pump is on the side of the filter canister, and would be the usual suspect.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Unless the dealer converted your Ram to the in-tank lift pump, the pump is on the side of the filter canister, and would be the usual suspect.

Ditto. I have seen this happen a number of times, including my own '03, shortly after I got it. It was a crash course to the HPCR engine... . What you are describing are the typical symptoms. Pull your filter housing lid and see if it will fill up with diesel..... If not, the pump no workee... .

 

[JWiegel]

If it is a 04. 5 it has the in tank pump they switched to the in tank pumps in 04. 5 and all warranties were converted to intank. Drain the filter and see if it fills up with a key cycle. 04. 5 have throttle mounted APPS its not on the block.

 

[p-Bar]

If it is a 04. 5 it has the in tank pump they switched to the in tank pumps in 04. 5 and all warranties were converted to intank. Drain the filter and see if it fills up with a key cycle. 04. 5 have throttle mounted APPS its not on the block.

04. 5 came cannister mounted and mine failed at 70k . 05 was the switch to intank

 

[cerberusiam]

Yep, first thing to do is check pressure at the CP-3 to see if you have fuel. An easy way is check how fast the filter cannister will fill to make sure it is pumping any at all.

In-tank pump started in 05 and has been retro-fitted by dealer into every thing since. Just another thing to check.

 

[Kamper Dave]

Thank you all!!
The pump is located on the filter housing and a new aftermarket unit is on order. The local Dodge dealer said that these are pumps are no longer available. The shop where the truck was towed to is a NAPA shop so the part and work will be under warranty.
Thanks again.
Kamper Dave

 

[p-Bar]

Dave,
Those pumps aren't to reliable you should go to the intank. Chrysler makes a retrofit . If you go the other route then you should buy a back up

 

[cerberusiam]

If you go the other route then you should buy a back up

Definitely, a back is a good idea if you stay with the factory mounted pump. Another pump in series on the frame rail is a cheap way to provide backup.

 

[wyosteve]

Kamper Dave, I believe I still have 2 pumps for my former 04. 5 that I kept as spares. If you want them, I'll send them to you if you pay shipping. Thanks, Steve

 

[HHhuntitall]

I just carried a spare, and I never had another failure until I upgraded...

 

[DieselLady]

Dang, don't let them put it in the tank. I would order an aftermarket like Airdog. Costs a lot to bring those out of the tank when you finally decide to go aftermarket. Much better to do one now, or you will have to drop the tank again and do a draw straw.

 

[MLee]

My son and I changed his last nite and it was the filter mounted one. Replaced with a Airtex, looked just like the OEM. His is a 4. 5 less than 100k miles. Gone on a ride with the family in tow, 25 miles from home luckily Autozone had one. GET A SPARE and keep it on hand, and tools to do the job with, a magnetic based light thats 12 volt is a must also.

Its been preached here over and over and the Injector fuel lines also.

 

[Kamper Dave]

All is well that ends well.
Breaking Down in a National Park has been a real learning experience:

1. TDR 911 Is a god send. THANK YOU ALL!

2. There is NO CELL service here. You will need to wait roadside for an official to stop and radio for a tow truck.

3. Break down on a National Park and you can be towed to the entrance or to an on park repair station. A commercial towing service cannot enter the park but they can meet you at the entrance gate to reload your vehicle and tow you to an in town repair facility. We were lucky and broke down within 5 miles of our camp-site and the on-park repair station was within ¼ mile.

4. We chose to be towed to an on park repair station. The personnel were very helpful and their work is warranted for 12 months or 12K miles. The pump was identified as the problem and with your help at TDR we located the not in tank pump. The pump arrived the very next morning. We are VERY satisfied but repairs take time in that when multiple tow calls are received there is no one left to do the work.

5. Contacting the nearest in town Dodge dealership via their computer website proved useless. We still haven't heard back from them.

Thank you again for your very helpful replies. I will be getting a spare pump ASAP. ……………………. . Kamper Dave.

 

[DieselLady]

Glad you got your truck up and running again.

 

[Kamper Dave]

Thanks DieselLady, One of the younger men at the shop wanted to modify my truck and install the in tank pump by removing the truck bed. I figured that the time involved would be high as would the labor rate here on a National Park.

 

[DieselLady]

Yes, and when that pump failed you would be stuck pulling the tank again. If your going to mod your truck, it would be better to do an airdog pump on the frame rail. LOL

 

[jhenderson]

As far as I know, aftermarket lift pumps, no matter which mfg, have a much higher rate of failure than a factory in tank replacement on a stock truck.

 

[cerberusiam]

As far as I know, aftermarket lift pumps, no matter which mfg, have a much higher rate of failure than a factory in tank replacement on a stock truck.

That is about as close a reason to NOT buy a FASS\AD as there is. Aside from the fact that installing wrong is too easy to do, an external non-fueled pump is not going to have as long a life expectancy as a fuel cooled one. Thats has been proven too often. The in-tank pumps are tough and since they are fuel cooled and lubed last much longer. A backup system is a good idea since they are a pain to change but it is all about $$ at times.

 

[HHhuntitall]

As far as I know, aftermarket lift pumps, no matter which mfg, have a much higher rate of failure than a factory in tank replacement on a stock truck.

That's a valid point. But my argument to the AirDog or aftermarket pumps is the filtration the units also offer. THAT's the main reason behind my use of them. For just a pump, I use the Holley Black or Racing pumps... . They seem to me much more reliable, but then, I don't have that many in use. The extra filtration the AirDogs or FASS (which I don't like due to warranty issues) offer is critical to the common rail trucks and their lack of tolerances for fuel contamination. Combine that with the ease the frame mounted pumps offer in changing the filters, and you have a winning combination, IMO.

FWIW, I've got two trucks right now that need to come in and have the tanks cleaned, as the pre filters are stopped up and the in tank pumps have to be pulled and cleaned... . or the pumps are getting weak. They'll maintain 7psi at idle, but give them any demand for fuel and they don't keep up. Low pressure light on the dash keeps coming on under any throttle conditions except idle, even after a fuel filter change..... Neither have over 50k miles on them... .