Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) New FP guage says 0 - LP bad?

[bhohn]

Installed a Westach FP guage (I've read all the old posts and am posting here as a last resort) and it reads zero. Double checked all grounds and grounded body of sender. Ran positive off of same hot lead as guage lights so I know there is juice when lights are on.



Geno's sent a new sender (thanks Andy) but same problem, then a new guage (thanks again) but still reads zero. I'm going to re-wire just to check again but anything else that I should try? I can't have received two bad guages and senders in a row right? If the LP is dead would the guage read zero but the truck still seem to run fine?



I bought this truck about 3 months ago with 60,000 miles and have put another 4K on it since then and seems to run great.



Am going to drive from east coast to midwest in the near future so am hoping to resolve this ASAP - any ideas appreciated. So far I love this truck but don't want it to die on the highway.



Ben



98, 24 valve, 2WD, extra-cab, long-bed, 5 spd. Di Pricol EGT and Boost.

 

[RJOL]

Ben... It's pretty unusual for the meter to read zero, but it could be a dead lift pump. Yes, the motor can run with a dead lift pump, as the injector pump can draw fuel on its own (not good for the injector).



If your still under warranty, take it to the dealer and have them check it... if not, and you are sure you have hooked up your gauge correctly, get a replacement pump, from Cummins, and get it installed asap! You don't want to take a chance on killing the VP44 (injector pump).



Just a couple of questions.



1. Where did you mount the sender?

2. Can you hear the lift pump running when you bump the starter (don't start it, just bump it)? If you don't hear anything (it should run for 15-20 seconds) you probably have a bad lift pump. However, even if you do hear it running, it may be bad internally.



Good luck...

 

[Shovelhead]

Makes me love my mechanical fuel pressure gauge even more.





Look Ma'..... no sender to go bad.

 

[bhohn]

Trying to decide whether to chance a 3,000 mile trip with this pump and have a dealer check/replace or just replace it myself this weekend before I go assuming I can find one in stock tomorrow. Still got six months or so under warranty.



I don't think I hear any clicking sound when I bump it but I'll check again. Took a number of trys to start after I installed the sender (twice now) on top of the filter.



Got the guage mounted on the top of the filter housing with a 45 degree elbow so I can still get at the nut for filter.



Ben

 

[RustyJC]

Do you have an air compressor? Kluge up a regulated supply of around 10 PSIG into the sending unit inlet and see if the gauge reads anything.



Rusty

 

[Boondocker]

3rd faulty Westach FP gauge this week

This is the third report of a new non-working Westach Fuel Pressure gauge, including mine in about the last week.



After double-checking everything about the install and metering the sender, I concluded that the sender is faulty.



I spoke with Vern at Westberg Mfg. He was helpful in giving me some diagnosing tips and agreed to ship out a new sending unit and I could return the old one after installing the new one. Hopefully early next week I'll have the new unit and it'll fix my problem. I'll follow up when all that transpires.



Regards,

Neil

 

[kaffine krazed]

Go down to your local auto parts store and buy a fuel pressure gauge. What does it read? If zero then the lift pump isn't working. If it reads pressure but the permant gauge on the truck still reads 0 then there is something wrong with the install or the guage or the sender.

 

[Thomas]

Ben,



Does the needle on the gauge ever move? You should see some movement of the needle on your Westach gauge any time power is applied to the sender or power is removed from the sender, even with the sender not attached to a pressure source.



I have a Westach dual fuel pressure gauge that is powered by a key-on source. When the key is turned to the run position (engine not started) both needles move to show pressure as the transfer pump runs for two seconds. The needles then fall back toward zero as fuel pressure drops to zero. At this point, both needles are at points slightly different than with the key off. Turning the key to the off position results in slight movement of both needles.



If you see no movement of the gauge needle as you apply and remove power from the gauge/sender circuit, I think you have a wiring problem.

 

[A Johnson]

" Trying to decide whether to chance a 3,000 mile trip with this pump"





The only place I would head with zero PSI is a suitable place to install a new lift pump. You really need to hook up a mechanical gauge and see if your lift pump is working. You could also plumb your Westach gauge into the intake manifold and see if it reads turbo boost, if you don't have a regulator.



Without a positive head of fuel pressure you run a chance of cavitating and destroying the VP-44. The VP-44 will put up with some restriction but nobody seems to know how much. -A Johnson