Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) just installed fass pump now hard starting

[D. Belleque]

I just put on a fass fuel pump, now when the motors hot it has to crank a lot to start. Bad injector pump?? Also I have a low fuel pressure light that still flickers with the fass pump. I think the light comes on at 5 psi? Is that normal or do I have other problems?

Thanks

 

[RAJohnson]

Welcome to the TDR.



Did you install just the Pump or the Pump and filter combo. You may need to replace the FF (fuel filter) or increase the fuel line size from the new pump to the OEM FF and then to the VP. Not real sure if just the pump comes with the oversized fuel line like the pump and filter system does. IS the light coming on when it is idling or when you are driving it.

 

[D. Belleque]

I just installed the pump. It has a new line to the fuel filter, also replaced the filter. The light only flickers when under a load.

 

[RAJohnson]

Where is the pressure switch for the light tied in at pre or post FF.



You might want to consider installing a fuel pressure gauge. Then you will know what your pressures are across the board.

 

[D. Belleque]

Post fuel filter, right at injection pump

 

[RAJohnson]

I would relocate the light farther away from the VP, like right at the bottom of the FF. I had my Fuel pressure gauge first mounted right at the VP and saw real eratice fuel pressure. I relocated it as far away from the VP as I could and also installed a snubber valve in line with the sender and it is now rock solid. I think there is so much pressure at the VP that I was seeing some kind of a back pressure from the VP which was making my gauge bounce. I had found a post here on the TDR that talked about locating it as far away as possible from the VP to get a better reading.

 

[BDanner]

I had the same FASS hard start issue in the summer. It came on immediately after installation of the FASS with filters which did not make me real happy. Several threads if you search "FASS +HARD START" will discuss things such as too much fuel pressure for the vp44. I called and spoke with FASS and they told me that "HOT hard start" is a sign of a dying I. P. and that many performance diesels run 30+ psi without hot starting problems. Not at all what I wanted to hear.



There are a couple of questions first. Does the truck start fine first thing in the morning cold?



Second, if it is having trouble hard starting hot will it start with the FASS Fuse pulled and then reinserted?



If it is the vp44 shooting craps another verifying test is run your garden hose out under your truck's hood and run cold water on the side of that hot hard starting I. P. for a couple of minutes. If it starts right up I will bet you a dinner at "Outback Steak House" that it is the vp44 and nothing more!



You did not say the reason of going to the Fass, but if you ran with no fuel pressure gauge and a stock lift pump... ... ... ... ... . You know the rest of the story if you have researched TDR vp44 threads. Death comes in many shapes and forms. It may be swift or slow. :{



My hard start was fixed immediately, well after 2 months of jumping out and pulling my FASS Fuse for starting. By replacing the I. P. with a Diesel Injection Hot Rod VP44 the hot starting was issue solved exactly the way the Customer Service people at FASS had suggested. This additional expenditure is not what one wants to hear, but I made the mistake of not getting a fuel pressure gauge installed as my first bomb!





Bruce in Northern Virginia