Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Lift pump pigtail?

[Heavy Metal]

A few months ago, after reading threads in this forum, I bought a spare lift pump to keep in my tool box. I was told by the parts guy at Cummins that I may also need the pigtail so I bought it just in case. Yesterday my original lift pump kicked the bucket so I went ahead and changed it. I didn't see any difference in the new lift pump and the old one so I installed it without the pigtail. I don't see any difference in the plug on the pigtail and the original plug. In fact, the pigtail will plug into itself so it obviously isn't intended as an adapter for a different plug type, but if not, then what is its purpose? Am I missing something?



Bryan

 

[Bob Wagner]

its used on the 98. 5-99 trucks

 

[Heavy Metal]

That still doesn't explain why the male end of the pigtail will plug into the female end of the pigtail. That tells me that the male plug that goes into the pigtail is the same as the male plug on the other end of it. In other words, the connector that it adapts from (i. e. the old male end) is no different from the connector that it adapts to (i. e. the new male end on the pigtail). So what's the difference-is it a length issue due to different plug locations between the new style lift pump and the old one? Is it a current flow or resistance issue? Or something else? I'm not trying to be argumentative, I just want to be sure I didn't leave out something important.

 

[IWeiny]

.I THINK

And this is a big assumption...



That the 98. 5 and 99 original lift pumps had an integrated wire with them. The new pumps just have a plug socket. So you need the pigtail to go from mail or female to the socket on the new lift pump.



BUT I don't really know for sure, just extrapolating from the new pump and pigtail I bought recently.

 

[TomGolden]

I'm not entirely sure this will answer your question...



I was told that it is an advantage to get the pigtail when adding a second, pusher pump, so that you can have the pigtail in your hands and splice into it for the pusher pump wiring, then just plug the pigtail into the original lift pump in the stock location and install the pusher pump as close to the fuel tank as you can. That's what I did, and it has been working great for the last 16 months.



Tom

 

[mediccummin]

Heavy Metal

I still don't think anyone is understanding what your saying, but I do because I was sold this worthless plug also. The only thing I could see it being used for is an extension of the existing wiring to reach about 10" further. What Metal is saying is that both end of the wire are exact matches to the existing wire Male and Female of the existing wire and plug on the pump itself. This nothing more than an extension. The plugs match up exactly, if 98,99 were different plug types than the new pumps this plug would be worthless, as it is now. Here ya go.

 

[mediccummin]

Here ya go.

This is plugged into itself... .....

 

[JR2]

The pig tail is just an extension for the older trucks. I belive in the first 24v trucks that the lift pumps had wires haginging out of them and a plug on the end of the wire. Then there where many problems (corrosion mostly) with the wires haginging out of the lift pump so to solve those problems they did away with the wires coming out of the lift pump. That made the harness on the older trucks too short so they came up with the pig tail. So that is the story as I know it.





The more comon use for it now (for guys with newer trucks) is to use the harness to adapt the factory connections to an aftermarket pump or to make an even longer extension so you can relocate your stock pump to the rear of the truck with out just cuting the factory harness.



Its not useless, you just did not need it. If you don't need it take it back or sell it in the classifieds.



JR2

 

[mediccummin]

In our application

It is useless. I can understand if I were moving my pump I could use it. So what I meant for our current position it is useless to us. We don't need it, and it did'nt need to be sold to us. It is not worth taking back tried that and they want a restocking fee, so I will keep it in case some day I will move my pump and make it useful. Later



And by the way thanks for your answer that is what Heavy Metal was looking for to begin with.

 

[propuller]

if your putting a lift pump off a 2001 on a 98 or 99 you will need this extension. i ordered a new lift pump for my 98 & when it came it was just like the pump on my 01(i have 2 trucks). the lift pump on the 98 has about 6 inches of wire with the plug on the end of it. i went to put the new pump on the 98 & the plug in on the harness wouldnt reach the new lift pump so i had to buy that extension. its only for new lift pumps being put on older trucks. 98 & 99. 2000 & 2001 dont need it. kurt.

 

[Heavy Metal]

Thanks JR2 & Kurt. That explains why. What I still don't understand is why Cummins said it is required on my truck according to their information (I even gave them my engine ID number). They know that there's an updated design-it seems like they should know when it was implemented. Oh well, it's only $7. Probably would have been $50 if I'd bought it from DC.

 

[klaybus]

Pigtail....

I have a 99 & when my LP pressures dropped I took it to DC for a replacement under warranty. When I got my truck back pressure was great & then 2 days later she went to zero.

What was already mentioned, mine was hard wired & then replaced with the pigtail method & one of the pins inside the pigtail was bent & didn't have a good connection thus no power, no pressure.

My point was the 99's were hard wired & the replacement pumps come with the pigtail.



Clay

 

[IWeiny]

Klaybus

I think that is what I was trying to say...



later all,