Archived Did my lift pump die?

[Cowboy Medic]

Changed oil, coolant, and shocks yesterday. afterward truck wouldn't start. I noticed that the drain valve for fuel?water was open, so I closed that, went through trying to start again. no luck. tried cycling the key to see if I could hear the pump and it will run but only for about 5 to 10 seconds and then nothing, still not getting fuel to fill up in the fuel seperator. can't think of what else it could be.

 

[Cowboy Medic]

yep it did, now just looking for a good place for warranty work around Blue Earth MN

 

[Shovelhead]

Jon,

My '99 is a bear to restart after changing the fuel filter too, but my lift pump is working fine.

Try turning the key to the on position then "Bumping" it to the start position. You're not trying to start the truck, but the "Bump" makes the lift pump cycle for approx 30 sec.

I do this about two or three times with the Filter lever in the "Dump" position (place a drain pan under the truck or you'll really make a mess ) until I see fuel flowing out of the drain hose.

Then close the drain, and crank the engine for no more than 20-30 sec. at a time.

This will usually get mine running again.

If still no luck do a search for bleeding fuel lines and you should find instructions to get it fired up again.



Hope this helped.

 

[Loren]

Jon,



I drained my separator when I changed the filter recently. It is a bear to get the fuel system primed after that, but it eventually will happen. A couple of weeks after that change (the truck finally started), I learned that my fuel pump pressure was zero at idle. The mechanic couldn't understand how the truck could run, yet it still worked well enough to prime my system just two weeks earlier.



The procedure from Ed (Shovelhead) will work; it just takes several tries.



Both my '95 and my '00 trucks had fuel bleeding instructions in the owners manual. Use that as a last resort.



I doubt that your lift pump has failed at just this moment, and even if it has, it may still pump enough fuel to get you started.



Good luck.



Loren

 

[WyoJim]

You guys '99's are the same as my 98. 5 and I have no problems starting after a filter change. Starts like it does any other time.



There are two 1/8 inch plugs on top of the filter. Loosen the one closest to the front of the truck and cycle the pump by bumping the starter. One bump is all it should take to squirt fuel out the loose plug. Tighten the plug then start the truck. Leave the damn lever on the bottom closed.

 

[WyoJim]

Also jon... If fuel won't squirt out this loose plug, your lift pump probably needs replaced.



Every one should be carrying a spare. Just take the hour it requires to change it and put on the spare. If you don't have a spare, find a Cummins shop and get one for about $150 and then change it.



By the time you tow it to a dealer and fight with him and lose a day or a week while he has it. It just ain't worth it.



There are instructions on this forum for changing it. Search under TowPro for the thread he started about changing it.

 

[Shovelhead]

Good tip WyoJim.



The "Dump Tube" method keeps the fuel in my drain pan. ,

not all over the engine.

Different strokes... ... ... . yadda, yadda yadda.