Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) FASS Installed = Hard start

[fyrescott]

A buddy just installed a FASS and now it tends to start a little hard. Anyone having priming issues?

 

[jerrethomas]

he might want to check his fuel pressure. anything over 20 psi will be hard to start usually. just an idea

 

[PRout]

Also check to make sure the large fuel filter on the FASS is not leaking around the seal. That issue has come up a couple times now. Including on mine. After re-tightening, the hard start problem seems to be gone.

 

[Uncle Jack]

I have a FASS I installed a couple of months ago. It took a while to get the air out of the system initially, but I the engine now cranks right away.



I have heard though, that too much pressure will cause starting problems. Mine runs at 17 PSI. I read a post where someone was running 21 PSI and had a starting problem. They resolved it by compressing the regulator spring (which I believe is behind the return outlet on the FASS) to lower the pressure to 15 PSI.



BTW. . I checked my pressure initially with a cheap oil pressure gauge (@$12) form the local auto parts store. The scale was 0-100, but it gave me a pretty good idea of where I stood (which was in VERY DEEP stuff with the old lift pump!)

 

[rfielding]

I had the same problem... look to see where the relay supplying power to the pump is... normally, it won't send power to the FASS until after the starter is activated... and only then providing power to the FASS once the truck is running... mine would start hard and turn over for a few seconds like it was starved of fuel until was finely primed.



After I changed the relay power wire to the ACC position so it begins cycling the FASS before trying to start, when waiting for the glo plugs fo warm... she fires right up every time without delay.



Hope this helps... solved my problem just by changing the power source and adding a relay.

 

[Marinas]

Thanks for the tips... I will give these ideas a try.

 

[SConklin]

the engine does not use glow plugs.