Attention: TDR Forum Junkies lift pump dead
Brian
I thought I would add my experience with my lift pump. On Friday, July 18, I received a call at work from my wife who said our 01 3500 would turn over but not start. She said it started hard earlier in the day but didn’t think too much about it. I came home and checked the drain value on the fuel filter and guess what, no fuel came out. I tried bumping the starter, but there was no familiar whirring noise from the lift pump.
I’ve read a number of articles concerning lift pumps in TDR but not being very mechanical and not having the problem yet, I didn’t concern myself with the issue. Now it was time for the TDR web site. I couldn’t believe how many posts there were on this problem.
On Monday morning I had my truck towed to the dealer. I called to let them know what had happened and what I thought was the problem. Two hours (not days) they called and verified that the lift pump would be replaced under warranty and the towing was also covered (COOL).
What was really interesting was that they always run the VIN numbers through their system for any recalls or TSB’s and found nothing on lift pumps. They also called into the Star system and found that there was a recall (phrase used by service manager). On my no charge invoice they refer to “Preformed Campaign 878” instead of a recall. I asked the service manager if this meant that he just installed an updated version of the lift pump, but he didn’t know.
Count me in on another letter sent. Also has anyone reported this as a defect, which could cause a crash or cause injury to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. This last paragraph is straight out the owner’s manual.
Thanks to everyone for all your input.
Rick
Brian
I thought I would add my experience with my lift pump. On Friday, July 18, I received a call at work from my wife who said our 01 3500 would turn over but not start. She said it started hard earlier in the day but didn’t think too much about it. I came home and checked the drain value on the fuel filter and guess what, no fuel came out. I tried bumping the starter, but there was no familiar whirring noise from the lift pump.
I’ve read a number of articles concerning lift pumps in TDR but not being very mechanical and not having the problem yet, I didn’t concern myself with the issue. Now it was time for the TDR web site. I couldn’t believe how many posts there were on this problem.
On Monday morning I had my truck towed to the dealer. I called to let them know what had happened and what I thought was the problem. Two hours (not days) they called and verified that the lift pump would be replaced under warranty and the towing was also covered (COOL).
What was really interesting was that they always run the VIN numbers through their system for any recalls or TSB’s and found nothing on lift pumps. They also called into the Star system and found that there was a recall (phrase used by service manager). On my no charge invoice they refer to “Preformed Campaign 878” instead of a recall. I asked the service manager if this meant that he just installed an updated version of the lift pump, but he didn’t know.
Count me in on another letter sent. Also has anyone reported this as a defect, which could cause a crash or cause injury to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. This last paragraph is straight out the owner’s manual.
Thanks to everyone for all your input.
Rick
Maybe then they'll get the hint.
I called the dealer from whom I’d bought my Ram the very next morning and told him about these readings. He said, “Yes, we’ve been replacing quite a few of those lift pumps. I have one that I’ll put back on the shelf with your name on it. Next time you make it down here (Tulsa area), just come in and we’ll replace it. ” Interestingly, he’s very well aware of the little “mods” I’ve done to my truck, and he said, “If this problem were just a few more inches along the fuel path, we couldn’t cover it, but since the problem comes BEFORE your little enhancements, it’ll be covered by warranty. ” 
