lift pump prob's

[ralphr]

Well I went and did my semi annual fuel filter change today, took only about 15 min to change the filter and three hours to get the engine started again!!! after changing the filter I loosend the plug on top of the filter, engaged the start briefly 3 times until I got fuel cominf out (this is the one on the filtered side, toward the engine), and went ahead and cranked her, it started immediately and ran great for about 20 seconds! It died and I could not seem to get her started again. I used the "tricks" I used before, loosening one or 2 injector lines and crank until I got fuel following, ( this always worked in the past, last time about 6 months ago it took about 30 mins to get things going), this time I had 4 injector lines loose and all I could manage was a slight trickel which did not get it going. I finally rigged up a nausal with a funnel and some rags, I stuck that in my filler pump, hit the started to get the pump going then pushed in compressed air into the tank 3 times doing that and she finnaly cranked ran real bad for a couple of min and then smoothed out, batteries nearly dead, I had to jump it with my other vehicle!!!



Needless to say I think the lift pump is about pooped out. I don't want to thru the hassel of taking it to a dealer who will probably keep it for a couple of days and then give me heart ache over not being covered under warrenty, (she has 38K on it). I think I read some time back some of you replaced the factory unit with an after market pump. PLease I need part numbers and where it can be purchased PLEASE. Also, what if any mods were required to hook it up. I also remember one guy who rigged up a "helper" pump closer to the tank. I am inclined to do both at this point. I still have the stock tank, however if I can find a good supplier I will change out to a larger one in the near future, (had real bad situation with aero).



I am awaiting your prompt and honest replies! Thanks in advance!

 

[Whitmore]

ralphr, sound as if you are on the right track, I think your lift pump is dead or very weak, I just had the same problem and decided to install a CUMMINS lift pump, It is #3990105 lift pump, it looks identical to the OEM and uses the same wiring and bolt up , I paid $142. 66 and installed it in the same location as the OEM pump,at least do this ,its a start and then go from there, also for all 24v operators if you dont have a fuel psi gage get oneIf you dont have a fuel pressure gage get one its for your own protection... ... . Kevin

 

[LSMITH]

Ralph, the lift pump is covered by your 100K mile engine warranty, just so you know.

 

[Whitmore]

ralphr, LSmith is correct however the cummins pump is the latest updated model, I talked with the cummins guy and he says the cummins and the dodge pump are different ??? I just took his word for it... ... ... ... ... Kevin

 

[Ray Torresdal]

replacement

I didn't have time to wait for my dealer to get a pump, so bought the Cummins pump the first time around. The dealer is going to give me a replacement for my bad pump, since it is under the 100,000 mile engine warrantee. As of tonight, I need it! The Cummins pump died on the way home. I'll have to check my book to see how many miles were on it. I can't say that the Cummins part lasted any longer than the original. I'll be checking with Enterprise Monday AM.



Ray

 

[Steve Campbell]

Ray, I strongly recommend mounting the lift pump back at the tank. Lots of opinion here but if for no reason than the ease of changing it out in the future if it should ever fail again.

 

[Paul Somers]

Lift pump 100K?

My pump was replaced couple of months ago at about 34,000 miles. It was replaced under warantee and shop manager said I barely made it under warantee period of 36,000 miles. I said I thought it was covered under the 100,000 mile warantee. He said not the lift pump. Has any one actually had DC replace lift pump with over 36,000 miles under warantee. Would be nice to throw all these after market pumps on but it took all I could come up with just to buy this truck. Being retired I don't have unlimited money to through at this truck.

 

[Whitmore]

Paul, I was told the same thing from the 5 screw stealer, lift pump warrenty only good for 36k ? Kevin

 

[Tom W]

I had my lift pump replaced at 67000 miles. It was covered by the Cummins emissions warranty (100 000 miles). Pressure would drop to zero under load. Now have 89000 and the replacement pump is working just fine, 13lbs at idle, 10lbs WOT. I have the upgraded fuel lines, pre & post filter pressure gauges. Dealer does not give me any hassel about my mods, likes the way my truck runs.



I have heard that the lift pump is no longer on the list requiring special authorization to replace, why some dealers are so reluctant to go ahead and replace it is puzziling to me.



I would suggest the anyone with less than 100 000 miles and low pressure to insist on warranty replacement. The problem is well known. I met a mechanic yesterday who is replacing 6 - 8 per month.



Tom



PS, I made an appointment to have mine replaced, was in and out in less than an hour. I'm lucky to have a good dealer.

 

[ralphr]

Most of the replies indicate what I was afraid of, most dealers will try and get out of replacing lift pump if over 36K miles. for $150 I would prefer not to go through the hassel. Of course I bet parts and labor at Dodge will be 5 bills >!



Thanks again guys for your assistance.

 

[ralphr]

update on lift pump prob

Well, after eading some of your advice I found a Cummins dealer close by, of course they are not open on Sunday. While waiting I decided to hook up a gauge and see how bad the problem is. Being Sunday I could not connect it using the supplied schrader valve and hose, but connected the guage directly to the top of the fuel filter, (on the outboard side towards the injector pump.



When I breifly engaged the key and let the pump run, the guage registered 6 lbs, but when I started the truck it register 15lbs! Since I do not have the hose and it is hard to see from the cab it looked like about 12 lbs at 2500 RPM, (no load). Tomorow I will get the correct adaptor so I can view the gauge while driving and see if under a load makes any differance.



With those kinds of pressure it does not seem as though the lift pump is my problem!?? Anyone have any suggestions???????

 

[Whitmore]

ralphr, my pressures were very erradic ,some days were ok and some days I had a hard time getting 1 or 2 lbs at 65 mph on the flat, I always had 12-13 at idle, so dont let it fool you just yet ... ... ... ... ... Kevin

 

[Mopar-muscle]

just went thru the same thing on a 99 last nite , 114k on the truck , looked like the original pump , changed banjos and couldn't get it started no matter how hard we tried . in my opinion the 98-99 filter housing design is a nightmare , i never have problems with my 2000 filter .



anywho , one carter HP4601 mounted back at the tank and problem solved . started right up with the new pump .

 

[Ray Torresdal]

Update

Saturday evening, my pressures begain to fluctuate. Before I got home the needle sat on the "0" peg, and didn't move when idling at stop signs. This morning I have some pressure, but the minute I hit the throttle, it is on "0". I don't think these pumps quit all at once, at least not all the time. ray

 

[Ram Bear]

Well people you are right. My dealer just charged me $563. 92 to relace lift pump. After reading these posts I called him back and said that this should be under warranty. The service manager is out and they are going to call me back in the morning. I will keep you informed. I have 46,735 miles on truck. If the dealer says no what is my next step?

Thanks for the help

 

[Ram4Sam]

Ram, just about any part of the fuel system on most vehicles is usually covered longer than the normal 3 year/36000 mile warranties. Emission warranties are set by the feds, not the manufacturer of the vehicle. Look in the owners manual for the warranty info section. The pollution control device warranty is written in a very specific way. Me thinks you been had by the stealer! Get your money back!



Sam

 

[MikeR]

RamBear,



Take your warranty owners booklet with you to the dealer and show them that the lift pump is covered under the 'emissions warranty'.

Also the late '00 trucks have a recall on the lift pump, but your engine serial number has to fall between #56662576 and #56671920.



If the 1 800 997 1992 DC customer service will help at all, that would be great too.

 

[Ray Torresdal]

DON'T PAY

I just returned from dealer. They replaced the 2nd lift pump - no charge, and gave me a new replacement for the pump I bought from Cummins back when the first pump went (also no charge)! The mechanic said that they had a couple lift pump failures when they replaced fuel filters!!! I let him know that the lift pump was already bad, and they just learned about it when they tried to fill the filter bowl. If there is a moral to the story: Install gauges, and read TDR for good information!



Ray

 

[ralphr]

What lift pump probplems???

I thought I would post this final "update" to my lift pump problems just to let everyone know. As I originally stated I "found" my problem after filter change, engine seemed to run well and when a fuel guage was installed pressure seemed well wqithin the norm's, in fact if I were a dealer I would either not change the pump or I would charge double to the person requesting it. I bought a pump a cummins and installed it.



First, when removing the old pump the as I put the wrench on the bolt for the rear, (towards the tank), fitting it litteraly turned just from the weight of the wrench, I thought prehaps this was the problem all along. I am no master mechanic, far from it it took just over an hour to remove the old pump and install the new one. By the way there is a wiring harness that I thought was "optional" it is not part number 3406879, the oem has one but it is soldered on the pump the new one comes with a plug, it seems almost impossible to get the original plug to reach the pump without the harrness. Anyway, after installing the pump I went through the priming routine 3 times, and bled the air from the hoses each time. On the 4th try I noticed that my gauge was reading 20 lbs!! just from the priming routine, the old pump barly registered 5 lbs and would drop to zero when the pump stopped! I cranked her up and it fired at once the guage read a rock solid 20 lbs at idle droping to 15 lbs at 2500 rpm. Checked for leaks and did the road test. From brand spanking new 10 miles on it to present it would seem to "defuel" at about 3100 rpm's, with this pump on it went to 3500 rpm's with no stumble before defueling and droping back to 3200 red line! I really think the old pump was "bad" from day one, I just did not know any better...



Hope this post might help someone out there with a 98 1/2 up model, I guess you can not tell right off just by looking at a guage unless the pump is really bad! Total cost $165 with the harrness tax tag and out the door, and about an hour to change, peace of mind!!!!! No dealer to fight with, no hassels just plain down and dirty! Thanks everyone who responded to my original question.

 

[pwr2tow]

Ask the dealer for the regional rep's phone number.

There is also a 800 number in your owners manual, it is towards the back of the manual, I think it is customer service number. I would ask the dealer for the rep's phone number first, just to see the dealers face when he knows your not going to back down.



Ron