Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Lift pump answers from DC

[Sregorb]

Correction, make that 33 now. I have:



Sregorb

Pit Bull

Scott Rosendahl

rashwor

Diesel Gunner

jcbrown

JCyrbok

Shortshift

Edward

Trexroat

DBeatty

Ncostello

jjohn

dgvg81

RThompson

sticks

Rob Thomas

jvanwaardhuizen

HWhite

Hohn

wrhuston

robobx

100 Proof

dsherman

Motorhead

kboettcher

DHawthorne

jhellmers

mongoose

Rockcrusher

MVeselsky

IWeiny

TWhiteside





Brian

 

[StevenJ]

NHTSA

Given that this ongoing problem could potentially cause an accident due to loss of power, if it has'nt already, perhaps a copy of this letter to NHTSA would be in order. If Chrysler Corp. decides not to resolve the problem with our complaining, perhaps a government agency on their back will prod them into action.

 

[PRout]

Still waiting for a response, but not getting a warm & fuzzy feeling about it yet...

 

[nineonethree]

Emailed mine...

I emailed one on Dodge.com, and am sending one vial snail mail to DC today.

 

[RustyJC]

Almost 15,000 miles on my 2002. Just returned from Nashville, TN to Houston yesterday towing our 13,500 lb 5th wheel, and the original lift pump is still delivering 16+ psig at idle, 15-16 psig at 65-70 MPH cruise and 13. 5 psig at WOT. I'd be glad to join the complaints, but at least for now, I have nothing to complain about!



Rusty

 

[Sregorb]

Oh! This subject includes those that have a concern about the design and owning a truck that may be more prone to having a problem because of it.



I have not had a failure of a lift pump, I'm at 18,000 miles on a completely stock truck (drivetrain and engine), but I'm VERY concerned that I will have a failure and experience unnecessary downtime (read money and time) due to what I perceive as a design flaw that could be corrected and alleviate the problem. You know, the whole "ounce of prevention" thing... .



Even if you haven't had a failure, if you're concerned about the issue, let your thoughts be heard too. Best to have something on record BEFORE you have a problem. That way you always have the position to say, "Told ya so!"





Brian

 

[nineonethree]

my automated reply and REF #11403209

*****AUTOMATED RESPONSE - DO NOT REPLY TO THIS ADDRESS *****



Thank you for your email inquiry. Your question has been sent to the

DaimlerChrysler Customer Assistance Center in order to provide the best

answer for your Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep question. Every effort will be

made to respond to your email within 3 business days.



While waiting for our response, feel free to visit our brand web sites

at http://www.chrysler.com, http://www.dodge.com or http://www.jeep.com. These sites may provide the information you have requested.



NOTE: This is an automatically generated response. Our system is NOT

able to accept email at this address. Please do not use the 'Reply'

function of your email.



If this matter is urgent, please call us at 800. 992. 1997 (8:00 a. m. to

5:00 p. m. , Monday thru Friday).



For ALL future communications (related to this email), please refer to

the following information:



REFERENCE NUMBER: 11403209

 

[diesel DOG]

Best guage to install? I have 28,000 on my 2001

 

[nineonethree]

do a....

search on gauges in the forums, you will find plenty of information there. There are a number of different gauges out there, most of which work well, so it ends up being personal preference. I got my Westachs from Gino's, great customer service.



Just my . 02



Dane

 

[nineonethree]

Darn the luck...

Originally posted by Sregorb

Oh! This subject includes those that have a concern about the design and owning a truck that may be more prone to having a problem because of it.



Even if you haven't had a failure, if you're concerned about the issue, let your thoughts be heard too. Best to have something on record BEFORE you have a problem. That way you always have the position to say, "Told ya so!"





Brian

I didn't have a problem until I started reading this thread... Or maybe I did and didn't know it. My 01 with 69k on it is at the dealer right now getting a new VP44... Now I am REALLY a part of the club! Do I get a sticker or something????

 

[nineonethree]

Here is the reply from DC...

Dear Dane:



Thank you for your email regarding a problem with the fuel transfer (lift) pump on your Dodge Ram diesel truck. It is regrettable that you have experienced a problem.



Of course we can't diagnose any mechanical issue based on an email alone, however our dealers have the diagnostic equipment and trained technicians available to determine what is causing a problem and to perform the necessary repairs. For your information, the lift pump on your diesel engine is covered for 5yrs/100,000 miles, under the terms of the diesel engine warranty on your Ram truck. Therefore, if the pump

requires replacement please contact your local Dodge dealer to arrange for servicing of the vehicle. If your vehicle is within the warranty coverage it will be replaced under the terms of the warranty.



If you have already had the lift pump replaced and paid for the repair (within the terms of the diesel engine warranty time/mileage), please send the original paid receipt showing the part # replaced, as well as the mileage and vehicle number, to our Customer Assistance Center at:

P. O. Box 21-8004, Auburn Hills, MI 48321-8004 and request consideration for reimbursement of the repair cost. We will review your request and advise you of our decision as soon as possible.



Thank you.



NOTE: Please do not use the 'Reply' function of your email system. If you have a need to respond to this message, please visit us at our reply form (link provided below). Our system is NOT able to accept any emails at this address.



For any future communications related to this email, please refer to the following information:

REFERENCE NUMBER: 11403209

REPLY LINK: http://www.chrysler.com/wccsapp/wccs/brand_forms/us/reply.jsp?trk_ID=KMM221150C0KM&



Sincerely,



Robert Clark

Senior Staff Representative

DaimlerChrysler Customer Assistance Center

 

[Rockcrusher]

Received the "canned reply" from DC regarding list pump.

 

[Sregorb]

Sregorb

Pit Bull

Scott Rosendahl

rashwor

Diesel Gunner

jcbrown

JCyrbok

Shortshift

Edward

Trexroat

DBeatty

Ncostello

jjohn

dgvg81

RThompson

sticks

Rob Thomas

jvanwaardhuizen

HWhite

Hohn

wrhuston

robobx

100 Proof

dsherman

Motorhead

kboettcher

DHawthorne

jhellmers

mongoose

Rockcrusher

MVeselsky

IWeiny

TWhiteside

nineonethree



34 people?!? Obviously this is a HOT topic since the read counter for this post is amazing (8000+!!!)... . BUT, that's not really enough people to send a manager running down the halls at D/C screaming "We've got to do something and NOW!". I'll keep compiling for the foreseeable future but I'll tell ya straight. Unless alot more people are convinced that this really is an issue AND willing to let their voice be heard, we're not going to get anywhere... ... even if we can show a manufacturer is using a component out-of-spec.



In the meantime, seeing as how NOBODY in the Dodge Cummins/Daimler-Chrysler world is even interested in making contact back with me/us, acknowledging that they have the issue under investigation, or even that they have dismissed it as a non-issue and provided metrics to prove their perception, the next course of action is for the type-A personalities among us that are interested in fixing this issue would be to go to to the following site and submit the same info:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

These people seem to have alot more luck in getting the auto industries' attention, and as pointed out, it only takes a few simultaneous and similar concerns to get someone looking into the problem. Sounds like some have already started sending them concerns.



Also, customer service gave me the following as the CEO's mailing address:

Daimler-Chrysler

Attn: Jurgen Schrempp

PO Box 21-8004

Auburn Hills, MI 48321



We'll see if there is integrity in the American/German Corporate world.



However this plays out, this is a great tool for proving/disproving consumer perception!!! Don'tcha think so?



Brian

 

[mavrick01']

Make it 35 People!!!!!!!

If we keep bothering that dam auto replie computer maybe it will run out of replies haha . keep up the good work guys we need a big list. I know there are more Cummins owners with a lift pump prob.

 

[DLausche]

I just sent one.



-Deon

 

[shaft]

Me too

My LP went out and killed my VP44... ..... When I replaced it with a reman VP for $1100 I also replaced all the fuel lines with -8AN lines and put a PE4200 LP back by the tank in the hopes this would cure the problem... ... another $500... ...



I knew the truck wasnt right ie low power, hard starting etc... ... but I was just starting to learn and do many of the great upgrades I learned of from here and other sites and had bought my pressure gage but had not installed it yet.



The story gets better (or worse depending on viewpoint)... ... . when the VP died I was on a rather narrow HWY being followed by a semi and the driver was not paying attention... ... there was no place to safely pull over and the semi driver nearly creamed me... ... As it was he managed to jack-knife his truck and came real close to killing a family in an oncoming vehicle... ... Fortunantly no one was injured and no vehicles collided.



But I thought I had fully cured my fuel delivery issues... ... sadly that isnt the case as I am on my 2nd PE4200 pump in 10,000 miles... .....



My concerns and complaints to DC have fallen on deaf ears... ... ie the same canned responses etc... ... . But you may add me to the list... ...

 

[PRout]

Now that sounds like something the NHTSA should hear about.



I havent rec'd a reply from DC yet. Maybe it was because it wasnt quite as diplomatic as some of the other letters were.

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: Me too

Originally posted by shaft



The story gets better (or worse depending on viewpoint)... ... . when the VP died I was on a rather narrow HWY being followed by a semi and the driver was not paying attention... ... there was no place to safely pull over and the semi driver nearly creamed me... ... As it was he managed to jack-knife his truck and came real close to killing a family in an oncoming vehicle... ... Fortunantly no one was injured and no vehicles collided.

Shaft, you really need to send in a report to the following site and submit the same info:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

Your lift pump almost killed you and other people, that gets the governments attention and will make them contact DC. Please file a complaint with the NHTSA.

 

[mavrick01']

So Now its a safety Issue

You know suppose it died right as you were crossing a road with traffic. Now I would say thats a safety issue my self.

 

[BK]

count me in

my LP died at about 20K.

Took 3hrs of arguing and educating the "diesel service tech" on how to test the LP to determine it was really bad. After 3 calls to the Star hotline, he aggreed to road test it with the pressure guage installed...

Stupid me didnt have one installed in the cab, after that I did.