Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Fuel Pressure guage a MUST have

[RWatson]

People ask what they should install first before BOMBing... . well I would have to say install a fuel pressure guage before you do ANYTHING!!!



Over the years I have read all the threads regarding lift pump and VP's going bad and am a strong believer in guages and not waiting for idiots lights to tell you that it is too late, but having a lift pump or even worse a VP go bad... well that could never happen to me... Right?



Well, for the past couple of months I have been noticing that truck has been experiencing extremely strange behavior simular to fuel system problem. Surging, ticking noise under the hood, lack of power when you hammer it and having to prime the system several times when changing fuel filters.



So a few weeks back I decided to add one more guage to the cockpit (as the wife calls it) and ordered me a fuel pressure guage so I could see what is really going on. I took my time and fabricated a beautiful mount for the sensor that attaches to the master cylinder bracket and fitted the guage in the cubby hole like it was came from the factory. Everything was now ready to put it to the test and guess what, 0 lbs of pressure. I looked at everything, and came to the conclusion that I must have screwed up the hose.



Ordered another hose and yesterday installed it, but still no presuure. OK so what did I do wrong? No fuel comming from the port through the hose. Schrader valve. . not likley, but.



Well while driving into work this morning, I had one of those bad gut feelings that maybe the lift pump was the answer so on the way home, stopped off at the local Cummins shop and bought a new lift pump. Not much of a project though, only took two beers to complete it .



Holy crap bat man, 15lbs of pressure, no more ticking and she has power again!!! Not sure how long the lift pump was going bad, but definitly was riding on borrowed time. I consider myself extremely lucky that I caught it before I had to tell the wfe that I had to spend another $1500 plus on my toy because of... .



So the moral of the story... . install a Fuel Pressure guage before you do anything to your truck!!



Randy

 

[TMWeber]

I have wanted to get guages for a while now, especially for fuel pressure. Some of the symptoms in paragraph three sound like my truck. I think this just got bumped up to my rfn list!Thanks.

 

[Hohn]

EVERY 24V should have a FP gauge-- even 3rd gen trucks. They're critical even on a stock truck.



Pyro and Boost are only really necessary when bombed above stock.

 

[gonehuntingagain]

Start saving for a new VP44 now. You will eventually need it since there was no fuel pressure. Seems like everyone here has had to replace the VP44 sometime after the fuel pump failure. My pump didn't die like yours; it still had 7 psi at idle and 5 psi cruising (bought the truck used, instantly installed FP gauge) - ended up replacing VP44 20,000 miles later. Thankfully it was still under warranty. Tech said the one he pulled off was a remanufactured pump so it must have been changed once before.



I'll have to tell my brother to get a FP gauge for his 3rd gen; uncle is too bull-headed to put one in this 2nd gen (at least until he has to replace the VP44 and the wife kicks his rear).

 

[Bob4x4]

I have changed out over 80 VP-44's. It is not a question of if,but of when.



Bob

 

[RWatson]

gonehuntingagain,

Yeah I have already started priming the wife that it is a matter of time before I have to fork out the cash for a Vp44. I sure hope it is not for a while though, as she does not have the same passion for the truck as I do. With the transmission, front rotors and now pump problems I have had, her perception of my CTD is not good