Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Lift Pump

[Big Wheel]

Have two friends that have our trucks. One has A 2001 the other has A 2003. Both trucks have 29,000 miles on them. Both trucks are in the dealer for lift pump replacement. I wonder if dodge has A bad datch of lift pumps out there and just keeping it quite about it ????????

 

[Dkevdog]

It's the design and how its used that's bad. Some stock trucks are getting up to 150K miles on the original pumps. Others have gone through three in the first 40K miles. As for the 2003?? I was under the impression it was a totally different pump and very different fuel delivery system, one that was not supposed to have the dreaded failure. This is the first I've heard of 03's having the problem.



Kev

 

[donyo]

Gheez - I just had my stealer chastise me yesterday for wanting to monitor my FP. I was only making conversation while I was there looking for paint to match my interior (which by the way they can order for $8. 25 for a 5 oz. can). He claims the lift pump issue is WAY overblown. He claims that of the hundreds of trucks he gets in every month, in 10 years experience he can only remember 10 to 12 LP's that needed replacing. Not sure what his problem is, but I'm going ahead with plans for a FP gauge in the very near future. So far mine tests fine with a test gauge at 21K miles on my 01.



He said "what's the problem, the LP is covered under warrenty just like the VP 44, so why worry?"



Don't think I'll be looking to them for too much more advice

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Look at it another way - VERY few cars in a given year or 2 will experience a flat tire - even with drivers who NEVER check their tire pressure - and besides we DO have road service...



So why carry a spare tire...



Oil related failures in an engine are extremely rare as well - so why have an oil pressure guage?



Pretty poor reasoning, if ya ask me!

 

[BillGotthelf]

I can't believe that the dealer would say that. It is a problem and dodge knows it. Luckily for them Cummins reimburses Dodge for the Lift pump labor for the 100,000 mile warranty. If this website is a good sampling of Dodge experience you can read alot about bad lift pumps. My 99 just got its 3rd one(one that came with truck and 2 others) at 87,300. My 96 got a replacement at 30,000 and another at 60,000. These are engine driven pumps not electronic like the 98. 5's and up. It now has 134,000 miles and that pump put in by a Cummins dealer (reimbursed by to me by Dodge) in Georgia is still going strong.

 

[Ncostello]

Perfect analogy Gary! I think that dealer needs some gauges hooked up to his skull to see if maybe he is having too much pressure up there causing poor thinking and advise.



Gauges rule... plain and simple... there is nothing wrong with monitoring how well the mechanical systems are working. Especially when the result is being stranded. Warranty or not, who likes being stranded because of something they could have seen coming. I think the 5-star rating is "way overblown". Out of hundreds of dealers, only about 10 or 12 are worth going to .

 

[AKDrifter]

What would be the symptoms of a bad, or going bad lift pump.

 

[AKDrifter]

I'll sho 'em 5 stars

There's a so called 5 Star Dealer in Whitehorse that almost saw 5 or more stars after blowing me off bigtime in '01 for brake failure, I cant imagine going to him ( Dave at Metro ) for something serious!

 

[Bob4x4]

Bill,

Cummins does not get involved with warranty expense or reimbursements,only tech advise and training.



Bob

 

[Ron Bissett]

Originally posted by AKDrifter

What would be the symptoms of a bad, or going bad lift pump.

Hard to start , Low idle psi less than 12-15psi Low psi normal cruse speed less than 10 psi , Low to no ,3-4 wot - 0 psi (wot = wide open throdel) Some injector pumps will suck the fuel from the tank just enough to seem to run fine but that will not last for long as extra fuel is used to cool and lub the pump . Some lift pumps run but do not pump. some will jump around on psi guage. GET a Guage O to 16 psi and mount the sender off the motor to keep from shaking it to death. Lol Ron in Louisville Metro ? KY

 

[BillGotthelf]

Bob4x4-if you think that dodge does not have many "safety" features built into their contract with Cummins to supply engines you need to rethink that. When a run of engines shows abnormal #'s of same type problems Cummins pays. THe percentages and number crunching are in the contracts rest assured.

 

[clem]

Originally posted by AKDrifter

What would be the symptoms of a bad, or going bad lift pump.

My pump would read low pressure when cold and the engine seemed to miss. When I say cold 50F and blow. Now in AK it should show up. The dealer I went to in Raymonrdvile TX. The service mang. just said OK had it checked and said OK I will have a new pump sent in this was Fri. see you Monday. No trouble.

 

[AKDrifter]

Thanks Ron B. I'll keep an eye on it.

 

[Ray Torresdal]

I just put in my 3rd lift pump, 112,500 miles on '01. My truck runs fine, but before I had fuel pressure gauge to monitor, it would start hard after sitting 12 hours. Once running, you couldn't tell that anything was wrong. PUT IN A GAUGE!



Ray

 

[HTRDHLR]

Yes put in the gauge. All I need is to be stranded on the side of the road with 8500 pounds of enclosed race car hauler in another state than my own and have to unhook and leave my stuff by the side of the road because a $150. 00 pump took a crap. No thanks