Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) LP: Min Info to show its faulty

[jponder]

What is the Minimum data/input that would force a dealer to replace a lift pump? I mean to hedge him off from giving you the run around. X PSI and voltage to the pump?Here is a paste from my first post:



If I have just lost another lift pump and injection pump I am really going to be sick. I noticed my truck missing Sunday and my heart just sank. I had heard that sound before and it was a failed injection pump following a failed lift pump. I cut it off and finished what I was doing and when I tried to crank it just turned over and over. I bumped the starter 3 times and could not hear the lift pump working. I was stunned. I thought oh well its got 71,000 miles on it so its covered. I had it pulled to Marietta Dodge in Atlanta where I had bought the truck. I called and told them what I knew and that I had had an injection and Lift pump installed, under warranty, while I was out of town and it sounded like the lift pump wasn’t working. They called me later and Said, “ We need to do some electrical diagnostics to evaluate your problem”, I said , “Did you check the lift pump?” He said, “well we have done all the testing that we can do and we must do extensive testing to verify the problem and it may very well be the lift pump”, I mean I was stunned that sounds like a Dealer who really doesn’t want to do warranty work and figures youll be an easy mark for a couple of hundred. He said they needed me to approve 3 to 4 hours at $300 dollars. Does that sound like bull to anyone else. I was getting real mad and I told the service guy, Dewayne, That I had bought that truck new from Marietta Dodge and had payed 27K for it and it was under warranty and if the lift pump was bad I wanted it fixed. I was getting real Mad at this point so before I started hollering I said I would call him back. I have calmed down a lot since then, but anyone have any suggestions on what route to take from here. I might be jumping the gun a little on thinking it is Lift pump and/or injection but I just had that done 7 or 8 hundred miles ago and I know I cant hear the lift pump. I just feel like you walk in there and you are a mark. I hate to say it but I kinda wish I had a p7100. I am ashamed to say that I still don’t have a fuel pressure gauge but I thought I could get more than 700 miles out of a factory installed one.

 

[Mundgyver]

How many miles on your rig now? Is it still under warranty or did you fall out at the 36,000 mark? If still under warrnaty, have your ever heard of the lemon law? Last question would be, how come you have not installed your own fuel pressure monitor?? My guess is that they (dealer) is working you over for more money if they can. The lift pump either makes pressure to the factory spec or it does not. Seems like that should be pretty straight forward for the dealer. It either works or it does not. Ground connections, are they all good and tight, along with your 12vdc supply connections. This should be fairly easy for them to figure out. Good luck.

 

[jponder]

I have 71K and its a warranty item because they just replaced the lift and injection pump 700 miles ago

 

[Mundgyver]

A thought has come to mind since I noticed that you are down South in a humid part of the country. When was the last time you changed your fuel filter? I ask this because in areas of hi humidity, bacteria can grow in the fuel. Have your ever noticed anything slimly in the fuel filters changes? Bacteria can kill a pump also. Just a thought, but it might be usefull if you can rule it out.

 

[Joe Mc]

I "think" they are trying to BS you. However, it's possible the no start is related to another problem, non LP or VP. But, from the sounds of what you are saying and since this has happened to you before my hunch is the LP or VP. Strange that they would both go out like that, especially in 700 miles of both being new. Did you look at the VP to verify it was new? Possible the installer screwed something up? Fortunate the LP & VP are covered under the 100k warranty.



You could take it to another dealer or suggest they call Star with the symptoms you've reported and see what Star tells them to do. I wouldn't give them a dime! - you'll never get it back - they'll figure out something to tell you so they can keep it. MHO



Keep us informed. Good luck.

 

[mopars1]

Even though the lift pump and injection pump are covered under the 5 year and 100,000 mile warranty, if the dealer states the parts aren't warrantied for this time period, they are still covered under the the 12 month/12,000 mile parts warranty so there should not be a problem either way. What I am trying to say is, even if the parts were bought and installed by a dealer when the vehicle was out of warranty, the parts still have the above rated warranty and as you see, you are still well in the warranty window.



Also, when a part is installed when you are in the warranty time and mileage period , and then the part fails when you are out of the warranty period, but still within the 12 month and 12,000 mile period after the install, MOST parts are still covered within that time and mileage period. The biggest one that is not covered in the "after warranty" time frame is a battery that was installed under warranty and now the vehicle is out of warranty, the battery is not covered anymore. Did I confuse you enough?



As to your first question, The minimum pressure under load and wide open throttle is 8 psi. This is not published anywhere, but the dealer can verify this by calling the STAR Hotline.