Lift Pump Dies at 36021

[Red360]

Lift pump died today. Thank God I was able to get it back home, as I live off the beaten path as Shooter knows. I thought originally that it was my "pusher" pump which died, so I bypassed it to get to work. Once bypassed, the truck really ran bad and I noticed that the factory lift pump only ran once in while and even then it sounded like a coffee grinder. I must admit, I'm impressed with Zangara Dodge, flat bed is on it's way and even though I'm over the 3/36, they are covering it all. More to follow once I get the truck back.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Out of curiousity, at what mileage did you put the pusher pump on your truck? Was the stock pump the original?

 

[Red360]

Steve,

The pusher pump was put on at the 27,000 mile mark. The lift pump on the engine is original. I wonder when it would have died if I didn't have a pusher?????

 

[Yellowlab]

alright, what is a "pusher pump", and how do you know exactly when the lift pump dies. I here people saying things like they think that its going bad and stuff, but when it flat out dies, I would think that you would not be able to run it unless there is some type of alternate mode of fuel delivery. According to the manuel, it delivers fuel from the tank and delivers it under low pressure (10psi), to the high pressure pump. So when the lift pump FAILS, does it still deliver fuel to the high pressure pump, but just in an insufficiant quantity?

 

[otis]

CMoursund, My lift pump just died the other morning. The truck started and drove normal the only thing that caught my attention was the lift pump went silent when I turned the ignition on. The injector pump was keeping itself primed .

 

[Red360]

Well I must say how pleased I was with the service at Zangara. The flat bed truck arrived and took my truck away at 1020 AM. At 1330, Annette from Zangara called and said my truck was ready for pickup. I can't speak for other people when their lift pumps died, but I knew when mine died. The truck started normally, then after driving for 30 seconds, the engine started missing, then missing really bad and white smoke started pouring and I do mean pouring out of my stacks. The only way to keep the truck idling, if you want to call it that, was to firmly plant your foot on the pedal. The only way I got it back home was to shut the engine down and cycle the key until I heard the pump running. Then I started it and drove like a bat-out-of-hell to get it home.

 

[The Sequel]

Is the buzzing sound you hear when you turn the key the lift pump cycling?

 

[dsvarczkopf]

lift pump/ pusher pump

Alright, now I know I am an idiot! I thought that if you installed a "pusher pump"back near the fuel tank, that would take care of your problem if the lift pump went. Now with these results I am confused. I have 35K on my truck, no mods, running fine, knock, knock, and getting paranoid!! Can someone explain this like I am an idiot, which I guess I am now.

 

[Red360]

Pusher Pump

The pusher pump doesn't solve any problem, but it does help to preserve the factory lift pump. If the factory lift pump fails, the pusher pump cannot push fuel through a bad pump... or at least enough fuel to keep it running properly. The only thing I was thinking of doing is removing the factory lift pump on the engine and placing two pusher pumps by the fuel tank but wire and plumb those so I could select a different pump should one fail.

 

[jbone]

Guys, the more I read this site--the more I get nervous about my fuel pump (40K). But for you guys who don't have a fuel pressure guage in 2nd Gen--site history says you will be sorry!?! I believe fuel pressure guage should be the first thing you add to truck!!

 

[mike r]

Occasionally dies?

Changed my filter about 2 weeks ago and couldn't get the thing primed. Lift pump wouldn't pickup. Tried numerous times and nothing. Took it to the garage and the had it all day and said nothing is wrong. Picked it up and now the pump is cycling. Problem is now I put on a pressure guage and have 7 lbs. at idle and 5 lbs. running. I don't think its high enough.

 

[Posm]

Your Dodge dealer did not do you as big a favor as you think. The lift pump is part of the emisions warranty. I have read the book and I am still confuced. I think the 2500 has and 88K warranty as per federal emisions law, but the 3500 is different b/c it is over 10K GVWR ?????. I had two replaced under this warranty. My Dodge dealer wanted $400. 00 to $500. 00 for a non-warranty replacement. I went to the Cummins dealer and got a spare for $145. 00 plus tax for when I need my next one. I have gotten about 40K out of my first two and that would put me needing my new fourth one mounted in about 2 months.

 

[mike r]

Someone's getting a phone call Monday!

Andy and Posm, you're right. Page 14-73 in the manual says running pressure should be not less than 10 lbs. Should only be 7 lbs. when engine is cranking. :-{}

 

[FG]

My original lift pump died at 100,300 miles.



I installed Geno's Westach fuel pressure gauge in December. At that time, my fuel pressure was



idle 11 psi

no load cruise 70 mph 8 psi

wot 4-6 psi



Two weeks ago I noticed that pressure readings were generally lower, suddenly reading only 1-2 psi at no load cruise. My selling dealer replaced the lift pump under warranty, no hassles.



New pump readings



idle 15 psi

no load cruise 13 psi

wot won't fall below 10 psi



My 2 cents, install a gauge and have peace of mind. I am sure glad that I did. Thanks for all the advice on this site.

 

[KD7GYJ]

Doesn't the Cummins come with a 100,000 mile warranty. That would include the fuel pumps. Mine went out at 89,000 miles and I puttered up to the dodge dealer in Pocatello and they replaced it for FREE! They said the engines and everything fuel delivery is covered by the warranty. Am I barking incorrectly at the crosswind?

 

[The Sequel]

Just took mine in as the pressure readings were low. I had 9# at idle, 6# at cruise (65mph) and 2-3# at WOT. Dealer said normal should be between 9-15#. But since I am not having any problems, they will not replace it. They did tell me that the lift pump and injection pump fall under the 5/100,000 engine warranty and they'd fix it if it fails. But until then, they will not.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Find a different dealer (that would be my advice) or talk to someone higher up at the dealership you're at now. If they're that stupid do you really want them working on your truck? If they call the STAR hotline they will tell them to replace the lift pump if it's below 8 psi at WOT. Here's a post from another member that works at a dealership (mopars1):

Briar, I would like to step in here and tell all of you with the 24 Valve that according to DC the lowest you want to see at the injection pump is 8PSI at WOT under any conditions. They have upped the low pressure limit because of injection pump failures. Under load the pump is not getting enough fuel through it to lubricate it and if the pump clearances are a little tight you will have a failure if run at a lower fuel pressure over a period of time. Just a concern all of you might want to think about.



David

 

[TNT]

2#'s at WOT

At 30,500 just changed the fuel filter, opened up the banjo fittings, and installed briar's test gauge fittings. Took it out for a test drive and only had 2# at WOT. 4-6#'s cruising. Looks like a trip to my 5 screw stealer to argue with him about warranty coverage. :-{}