Attention: TDR Forum Junkies Having been an ardent reader of TDR since purchasing my 2002 3500, I was struck by the seemingly high incidence of lift pump failures in the 2nd generation trucks.
So I took both your and our readers advice and at 20,000 miles had a fuel pressure gauge installed. For 8 days the pressure was consistantly at 12 to 14 psi. however on day 9 the gauge started giving rather erratic readings.
On start up the gauge showed 12 psi but after about 30 seconds dropped to 2 psi and stayed there. Shut the engine off, restart and for 30 seconds 12 psi the dropping to 2 psi. My initial conclusion (as confirmed by the mechanic that installed the gauge) was that I had a malfunctioning gauge or sender. So we replaced both, same situation 12 psi on stat up dropping to 2 psi after 30 seconds. The mechanic cross checked with the shop gauge and same situation.
Conclusion was that there was something going terribly wrong in the lift pump.
So back to the dealer for warranty service. Now is where this story gets aggravating. On making the appointment I advised the Service Rep. what had transpired and to please ensure that they had a replacement lift pump in stock. Sure !! the dealership's position was that a lift pump simply couldn't't fail after only 20, 000 miles so my problem must be something else. After 4 hours the dealership mechanic confirms lift pump failure, and guess what they don't have a pump in stock so I will have to come back in about 10 days.
So here is the big question, have I done any damage to the VP pump having ran the truck for 10 days with the very low ( 2psi) lift pump pressure?
So I took both your and our readers advice and at 20,000 miles had a fuel pressure gauge installed. For 8 days the pressure was consistantly at 12 to 14 psi. however on day 9 the gauge started giving rather erratic readings.
On start up the gauge showed 12 psi but after about 30 seconds dropped to 2 psi and stayed there. Shut the engine off, restart and for 30 seconds 12 psi the dropping to 2 psi. My initial conclusion (as confirmed by the mechanic that installed the gauge) was that I had a malfunctioning gauge or sender. So we replaced both, same situation 12 psi on stat up dropping to 2 psi after 30 seconds. The mechanic cross checked with the shop gauge and same situation.
Conclusion was that there was something going terribly wrong in the lift pump.
So back to the dealer for warranty service. Now is where this story gets aggravating. On making the appointment I advised the Service Rep. what had transpired and to please ensure that they had a replacement lift pump in stock. Sure !! the dealership's position was that a lift pump simply couldn't't fail after only 20, 000 miles so my problem must be something else. After 4 hours the dealership mechanic confirms lift pump failure, and guess what they don't have a pump in stock so I will have to come back in about 10 days.
So here is the big question, have I done any damage to the VP pump having ran the truck for 10 days with the very low ( 2psi) lift pump pressure?
). Each VP44 is a little different. 
. He must have got a REALLY GOOD one 
. 
