Fuel sending unit is TOES UP

[Guest00]

Fuel gauge showed 1/4+ when the engine shut down at 55 on the freeway. #ad
It cranked but no smoke. Got a ride to a fuel depot and went back w / 6 gal. could not get it to prime. filter would fill but no smoke. Had it towed in ( no codes and lift pump 13. 5 lbs cranking ) They had to crack the injector lines to get it to start. New sending unit on order. truck has 17k miles. Drove to nearest diesel fuel and another 2k Cummins Ram was sharing the pump. Got to talking and He has been through 3-6 spds,1 Dana 80, 2 fuel sending units, 2 steering boxes ( 2nd was a Delphi ) and 1 front brake calaper and rotor in 12k miles. He said it was still better than his 99 PSD.

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2K, 2500,Laramie,Quad,4x4,3:54LSD,auto,reese 15k 5th slider, EISLEY BULL BAR,WESTIN NERFS, TA's,9000's, DD1's,PE-EZ & elbow, ISSPRO pyro & boost, Turbo Lifesaver, JARDINE 4", DTT VB,TC and COOLER, PAC BRAKE, MAG HYTECH TP& DC, onboard.
pullee #1 26' Arctic Fox 5th
#2 22' car hauler w/ 76 Pinto 392cid or 68 Cyclone GT Cobra Jet FB
NRA,VFW,SASS

 

[DieselB59]

Join the club. It's almost worth buying a low slung transmission jack just to use to lower the fuel tank and change your sender. It's really easy to do. I've done a few already.

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Chris Timochko
1997 5sp 4X4, HX40, BD 4" Brake, Marine Compression, Custom Tuned Injection Pump, 370B Injection Nozzles, Delivery Valves, Governor & AFC Spring Kit, Psychotty Air, Water Injection, NOS Diesel Kit, 6" Chrome Exhaust System, No Smoke Valet Switch, McLeod Dual Disc Clutch, Mag-Hytec Rear Cover, Cummins Chrome Kit, Optima Red Tops, Hadley Bully Horns, Hurst Line Loc, Goodyear Wrangler AT/S 305/70/16s. Test mule for Auto Wurks Diesel race program

 

[lschultz]

Same thing happened to me on my 2000. Gage showed 1/4 but it run out. But if I would of been paying attention to the mileage on that tank I would of figured out it wasn't getting that good of mileage. I guess light bulb did not come on in my head. If I remember right it had around 20000 on it. So far no problems.

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2000 Dodge 4x4 Quad Cab SWB 5-SP

 

[Blue Thunder]

This all sounds too familiar. Mine went out about a month ago. That's the only time I've been stranded. My experiance was exactly the same as JNUTTER's. I guess I should count myself lucky because mine lasted about 40K. Still, I'm not at all pleased that a $40k truck would have such a simple problem. Thanks DC.

BTW, how do you go about changing out the unit?

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Y2K 2500 4x4 QC LWB auto, Intence Blue Pearlcoat, Sport Pkg with no mouldings exept "CumminsPower" cab plate and '5. 9 R/T', all options exept SRW, Hot Power Edge with brass elbow, PE EZ, DDIII, Bill K. 's TC & VB, K&N, Custom 4in exaust, Autometer EGT & 50lb Boost Gauges, Amsoil Dual Remote Bypass, Silencer ring removed, Mag-Hytec diff & trans pan covers, 305/70/16 ProComp MT's on 16x10 Weld Scorpio's.

 

[John]

Not to be the bearer of (possible) bad news but.....

I read in a previous issue of the TDR that running out of fuel with a 24v Ram will often times grenade the Bosch VP44 injection pump. I believe Chip (of Blue Chip Blue Box fame) stated this. I would imagine that even if the incident didn't produce immediate damage, pump longevity could be drastically reduced.

 

[John]

TOES UP? What the he!! is that? #ad
He!!, back when I was growing up it was t*ts up.

 

[Guest00]

Originally posted by John:
Not to be the bearer of (possible) bad news but.....

I read in a previous issue of the TDR that running out of fuel with a 24v Ram will often times grenade the Bosch VP44 injection pump.

That is the first thing I thought when I realized it was out of fuel ""s^%*&$@&& there goes the vp44. ""

 

[John]

JNutter, let's hope not!

... as they say, hope for the best but expect the worst

 

[Steve]

I guess all these fuel sending units go bad in short time,mine lasted 65,000 . this has been an on going problem sence at least 1994. Seems that DC is not going to fix the problem. MY 1988 slill works fine.

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95,2500,auto,410;2-WD
Gear Vender Overdrive
tst #5

 

[PJ]

Im now on my 10th fuel sender, yet Ive never had my truck quit running. The low fuel ding ding is enough to make you head to Dodge with your shotgun tho. I just hope they finally get a real fix to the problem before im out of warranty... ... ... ... ... .

 

[Champane Flight]

Heres one for the books. On my truck I started to notice the fuel gauge running down early. At 200 miles I would only have a quarter tank left. When fueling up however it would only take 5-10 gals before filling up.

Thinking it was the sending unit I pulled the tank and the sending unit. Already had bought another and a new gasket for the top of unit. The sending unit assy including pickup had come loose (only held by three screws). It was raised to the top position and giving me screwy readings. Already haveing the new unit I installed it and put a little extra on the screws. No problem since.

 

[Guest00]

Originally posted by Phil Johnson:
Im now on my 10th fuel sender, yet Ive never had my truck quit running. The low fuel ding ding is enough to make you head to Dodge with your shotgun tho. I just hope they finally get a real fix to the problem before im out of warranty... ... ... ... ... .

Gauge never went below 1/4 and no ding dings.

 

[Koa Man]

Guess I've been lucky. Never had a problem with the fuel gauge sender and it reads pretty accurately. It would also be easy for me to change since I have a dump bed. As is usually the case, if it is something hard to get to, then it will go bad.

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1996 3500 Clubcab SLT, auto, 4. 10 limited-slip, TST #5, 370s, AFC spring kit, Psycotty, Dunrite converter, Trans-Go, DiPricol EGT, boost & trans temp. gauges, 9 ft. aluminum flatbed and tool boxes with Venco dump. Custom front bumper, Hadley air horn.

 

[Mopar Man]

My sending unit went at 40k in Sep, but I haven't change it yet. Maybe in the Spring, as I find it no real problem to re-set the trip indicator each time I refuel. It is also a quick check on fuel mileage. It still should not happen , I agree. BUT my son has a Ford Explorer with a bad sending unit and the sending unit is part of the fuel pump in the tank and the complete unit is EXPENSIVE. He has been driving for years with no guage.

 

[vc]

Mine went at about 65000. It started acting eratic,and sometimes show near empty with only about 300-400 miles on the tank. Just in case I filled it up and as I suspected the fuel gauge was wrong. So I got another sender and changed it. So far so good. It's like I keep telling my wife,you need to keep track of miles on every tank- it can give you early warnings about problems.

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'97 Ram,automatic,3. 54 limited-slip, 4x4,smoothie,BD fuel plate,Prime-Loc.