Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Fuel pressure problem?

[SHuber]

Hi, I am fairly computer illiterate so I apologize if this issue has already been addressed on here. 98. 5 with banks ottomind and exhaust and gauges with electric isolated fuel pressure gauge and stock lift pump (until yesterday). Last week I shut it off one evening after pulling a car home, It sat for 2 hours and I went to start it and no fire at all. After I realized I had 2 lb. fuel press. I simply decide the lift pump crapped. After an hour I looked at it again, still wouldn't fire but realized that if I let the lift pump cycle for about 20 sec. it would presure up to 12 lb. & then it started right up and ran great & held press. , I still wrote it off that the lift pump was going bad so I haven't drove it anymore. I ordered up a new FASS 95 & installed it yesterday. Still no start so this morning I got the hose I needed to hook up a new mechanical accutech fuel press. gauge and discovered that I still only have 2-2. 5 lbs. of fuel press, at least I know why it won't start, what I don't know is what's going on with it. I clamped off the return line about 75% and the pressure came up, the more I pinch the return the higher the pressure but it still won't start even with 12 lbs. , Is there something in the VP44 that is letting it bypass the fuel without letting it come up to press? Please help if you can, I'm getting frustrated. Thanks Steve

 

[darkhorse]

It's possible that the fuel return valve on the VP44 is crapped out. It's the fitting that screws into the injection pump that the return line is attached to. Have you checked your fuel filter?

 

[SHuber]

I will check the fuel return valve, I didn't know if there was one or where it was, Thanks. I bypassed the oem filter and the fass unit w/filters is brand new. I have lots of fuel returning to the tank via the Y that was installed in the filler neck. Thanks

 

[SHuber]

OK the return valve is fine, what I did just try was clamping off the return line about 90% so it raised the pressure to about 15 or so, that made it sart right up. I then shut it off and took the cap off, when I would release the clamp it sounded like 90% air was returning to tank, I think what I heard returning before was mostly air. Now I'm thinking the transfer pump never was bad and that I may have a problem inside the tank with the draw lin? My next question is what's in there that could be letting it suck more air then fuel? Thanks

 

[JKinney]

My next question is what's in there that could be letting it suck more air then fuel? Thanks[/QUOTE]



low or Out of fuel? Or your sender is lying. put 5 gallons in and see how she runs? see what the guage does.

 

[SHuber]

Well right about now I'd like to meet the SOB#@$%! at FASS that assmebled my unit, the nearest I can tell there is supposed to be a spring and a ball inside the port marked "R", there is nothing. I think this is supposed to not let fuel return to the tank until it reaches the set psi. , I discovered this AFTER I dropped the tank and disassembled the pickup assembly and found nothing wrong, then I disconnected the suction line and stuck it in a can of fuel and still no pressure, it just returns it all back to the tank. And yes of course it was above 3/4 full when I did this, The crazy thing is what started all this was I thought a failing lift pump... Wrong... , turned out to be a suction fuel line had a hole rubbed in it between the tank and frame, The FASS should have still cured this problem because it has it's own fuel line, but wrong again, I would have to get the only one in existance that this has probly happened to. Thanks for the ideas and the help.

 

[darkhorse]

What a burn!

 

[Bob Cochran]

Oh a major bummer I think we have all had something like that happen to us at one time or another. I know it don't help but you are not alone and sometimes it just seems the WHOLE world is against you!!!! I bet a lot of us will check for the spring and ball before dropping the tank, etc. You have saved a lot of other people a major headache and that is really what TDR is all about really.

 

[SHuber]

Update, Kudos to my dealer that I bought the FASS unit from, He was very apologetic on FASS's behalf and overnighted me the parts. They showed up yesterday and 2 minutes later I'm up and running flawlessly now with 17 psi. Chalk it up as another schooling. Thanks again guys & happy truckin. Steve

 

[JBoring]

What were the parts you needed to fix your FASS? I can't get pressure to start my truck unless I bump the ignition to get the FASS to cycle. After the FASS has cycled fuel I can start my truck. I recently replaced both Filters on my FASS thinking they might be the culprit.



It seems like I need a check valve between my FASS and the injector pump.

 

[SHuber]

My unit was just missing the ball that sits behind the spring inside the return line fitting, You might check the return check valve coming off your VP44. I'm not sure but I don't think the FASS unit will hold press. in the line after you shut it off. My gauge drops immediately after I shut my truck off.