Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) I think my Lift Pump has headed south

[JMathena]

Hello all,



Well I changed my fuel filter today, and believe that my lp has failed. I didn't cycle the pump as usual, but refilled the filter canister by hand to speed up the process today. I thought is was funny that I didn't hear the lp run when I went to top off the filter canister with a couple of starter bumps. The engine fired up, but that silence from the pump started buggin me.



So, off to the store to purchase a new tool! I bought a fuel pressure gauge, it has the little valve attached to vent the pressure off before disconnecting. (that little tid bit is important later)



When I got home I threaded the gauge on to the schrader valve on the back of the filter canister and started the engine up. The gauge didn't even budge off zero. I thought that the gauge may not be hooked up right so I figured I'd put my vacuum gauge on the pressure relief valve. (the one on the fuel pressure gauge) Low and behold I'm drawing 5 inches of vacuum on the inlet of the fuel filter.



I'm really bummed because it seems to me that my poor vp44 has been workin really hard for some part of the last 15k miles. I know I should have put gauges in sooner! :{



So is there any input on my diagnosis, or how I should approach the Dealer about the repair? I figure that I'll just tell them that I measured the fuel pressure at the filter and it was negative. Hopfully this will get the ball rollin.



Thanks for all the help you folks have been in the past!



Jeff



2001. 5 HO 6spd, 44k miles, S/B QC 4x4

 

[csevers]

Sounds like you have a dead lift pump, just take it to the dealer and tell them you did the filter change and didn't reprime do to the dead pump and they should take care of it with out questions unless they are a bad dealer, they will probably recheck the pressure to verify the complaint.



Good Luck

Craig

 

[JMathena]

Talked with the service dept at the dealer today, they said that they had to run this through STARS, and I will be without my truck for at least 2days. When I asked how this might effect my vp44 the response back was, "what's a vp44"?



Oh well, hopefully a completely dead liftpump in a running truck is still considered a defect!



Jeff

 

[Pit Bull]

Jeff, I had this happen to my 2000. Dead pump truck had 40K miles on it and the pump might of been dead for who knows how long. Drove to the dealer and they checked it and installed a new lift pump. I was in and out of the dealer in 30 minutes. That included the call to STARS. Call another dealer and see if they have any lift pumps in stock if they do take it there. You have a bad dealer. You might also recheck your fuel pressure. If you don't get the male/female connections on real tight at the VP44 you will show "0" fuel pressure. I've done this before checking my 02. Thought it was dead 0 pressure then I tightened the connection and all of a sudden I had 15 lbs

 

[JMathena]

Thought I'd let everyone know what happened with my dead lift pump from a year and half ago. The dealer replaced the pump no questions asked but that was the start of a problem that I've been trying to figure out now for over a year.



I've always kept a record of my fuel mileage for every tank of fuel I've put in my truck. I guess I was one of the lucky ones, since my overhead trip computer was always within 0. 2 mpg of the calculated amount. Well ever since my lift pump died, my overall mileage has dropped 2-3 mpg, and the strangest of all is that the overhead trip computer now reads a very consistant 2. 0 mpg more than what I actually get by calculation.



I've done all that I can think of, cleaned the IAT sensor, checked all the hose clamps, check fuel pressure, checked the accuracy of the odometer, etc... ... Still no clue to what's happened with my mileage, and why my trip computer is off.



I've talked to the dealer, but once you mention the fact that it's getting lower fuel economy, and the trip computer isn't working correctly , they can't offer any help. I had one service tech tell me that if STARS hears that the complaint has any mention of the trip computer in it, that the response to that customer should be that they aren't that accurate, and it's "normal". Even when I tell them that I can show records for the last 3 1/2 years of fuel usage, and if you plot it on a graph, the issue shows up right at the time of lift pump death, and continues to this day, they won't take any responsibility for it. I will have to pay for all the diagnostics if they don't find anything. When I ask what kinds of tests they'll do, all I get is, "well we'll look at the codes". I have a code reader, there are no codes!



The only thing that I can come up with is that I have a leaky injector. That would explain to me why my mileage is lower, the trip computer is off, and the fact that my truck smokes a bit more on acceleration.



So does anyone have any ideas?



Thanks for the effort.



Jeff





Stock 01. 5 ETH DEE 4x4 SB Quad

 

[JMathena]

Bump, looking for some help.



Jeff