Archived No start/no fuel on 01

[JLEONARD]

My son has an 01 (81 K miles) at his shop that won't start and won't pump any fuel.

Dead lift pump???

Truck sat at his place for the weekend, and he did some front end work this morning. The water in filter light came on for about 30 seconds as he was driving it in the shop, then went out. The owner said that never went on before.

On a short test run the engine ran ok at idle and low speed, but was breaking up as he tried to accelerate.

He called me for help and I talked him thru how to drain the fuel filter. He drained out about a cup, then started the engine. It ran for a few seconds then died.

We tried to bleed the filter... nothing. Then opened the fuel inlet fitting on the filter... . nothing. I can feel the pump motor running, but no fuel comming out of the banjo fitting.

Bad lift pump? Is this how they fail... . motor runs but no pressure?

Thanks in advance for your help..... I'm a first genner... . I don't know squat about the electric fuel pumps.

Jay Leonard

 

[johnrv4]

I had a lift pump fail the same way

Jay, I worked on a 2000 that had a bad lift pump and did the same thing. Lift pump motor ran, but it put out no fuel. I found this out AFTER I replaced the fuel filter and couldn't get any fuel out of the Shrader valve on the VP 44 injection pump. I usually hook a hose up to the Shrader valve on the VP 44 after a filter change and bump the starter to allow the lift pump to run longer. Usually after two bumps, I have almost a quart of fuel in a pail, and the truck starts right up after removing the hose. Well, this truck didn't pump squat, and it was sitting in front of my garage blocking me in. I hooked up a MityVac vacuum pump to the hose on the VP44 and sucked the fuel up from the tank until I had it coming out of the pump. The truck started and was taken to the dealer for a warrantied lift pump. Some people have posted that they slightly pressurized the fuel tank with compressed air and bled the air out that way. Hope this helps.

 

[JLEONARD]

John,

Yes that did help thanks.

Found out it is really a 99. My kid couldn't find the Shrader valve,

but he sucked fuel thru the filter using one of the fittings on top using a vacuum pump as you suggested. But no fire cause the inj pump is dry.

None of the local dealers had a pump, and the CT Cummins distributer has 27 of them on backorder (that's what he told me. . 27).

So with the help of The TOOL MAN I got some part numbers and he has a NAPA pump comming in later today.

Customer wants to try some more with the dealership again for a warrantee replacement... . but at least my son should be able to get him running if he gets the okey-dokey from the owner.

Thanks again TDR for the help.

Jay Leonard

 

[WadePatton]

There is no schraeder on the 98/99. It's on the fitting at the inlet to the VP44 on 2000-up.



Good Luck.

 

[JLEONARD]

Wade,

Thanks. That explains things.

At least I know he's not going blind.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Good ya got a pump Jay! Lemmie know .....

 

[JLEONARD]

Well, my son got the NAPA pump in and it looks like it would have fit.

But the owner opted to have it towed to a Dodge dealer 2 miles away.

The first dealer, in Thomaston, told him that no way the fuel pump would be covered... they never saw a truck with a transfer pump problem.

The second dealer, in Torrington, said no problem, if its the transfer pump we'll warantee it. We've seen those before.



So there you have it. Some dealers want to sell you another truck some day, and some want to bleed you dry (like the tranfer pump eh?)



The only question now is whether the roadside assistance is still being covered... the dealer said yes, but the 800 number he called said no.



So there you have it, and thanks all youse guys for the help.



ps... . I think I got the owner convinced to join the TDR. Didn't take much.



Jay Leonard

 

[TORQUE THIS]

The NAPA pump will not work with banjo fittings for future reference. You need 3/8 NPT fittings.



Glad everything worked out!

 

[WadePatton]

It's a real shame that the auto industry is so OUT OF TOUCH with reality. You know we're just supposed to bend over when they charge 4X street price for parts. Then you have them LIEING to your face. NOPE, not all of them. But enough to make D/C look bad, REAL bad.



WE all know that there's no service department out there that hasn't seen a TU LP or VP44. LIARS.



Sorry the good guys get caught up in this, but IF D/C gave a crud, it could be cleaned up.



end rant.

 

[JLEONARD]

Well, it turned out that the dealership would NOT warantee the pump

They gave the owner an estimate of $300 for labor and when he threatened to tow it back to my son's place they said they'd only charge $50 labor.

What's up with that? I won't say more or I'll get kicked out off the forum.

So he said do it.

We'll see how it goes.



Jay... . apparently from scumville, Ct

 

[TORQUE THIS]

That blows...

 

[mikeg135]

I am going through what I believe is a bad lift pump problem right now. I was told by one dealer that it would be covered under the 5/100,000 warranty.



Did they say why it would not? Have there been any power enhancements to the motor the reason why?



Mike

 

[WadePatton]

There is no standard treatment on this deal.



Some Deelers jump right on it and fix it under warranty with no questions asked.



Other Deelers give us the "never heard of that", "not under warranty", "three days to diagnose, get part, and install" CRAP.



This second type dealer should lose ALL of his Diesel business. But they don't, because there's only a few of us that care to know something about our vehicles beyond the glossy ads and tv commercials.



So IF you want warranty coverage, you have to shop the D/C stores.



I had one of the better D/C outfits do a safety recall on my 95 the other day. The kid screwed it all up and I had to re-do it, but that's the only way to get the parts.

 

[mikeg135]

so I guess the question is, what can one do if a dealership does not want to warranty the lift pump problem?



I guess we can take documentation from this site to the dealership if they claim they have never heard of it. I know when I talked with tech support at cummins. They acknowledge that there was a problem with the lift pump. They also mentioned that if the lilft pump was going out slowly it could possibly cause injection pump failures in the near future.



Mike

 

[fj40dave]

Lift pump replacement should be covered under the warranty - plain & simple. Dodge knows they go bad.

If dealer "A" isn't willing to recognize that, gently point out your facts and documentation to demonstrate otherwise. If it's still not a learnable experience for dealer "A"... ... let the rest of us know for our ability to avoid doing business with them, and be sure to point out to dealership "A" that there is a large contigent of us out here - with him not wanting our sour thoughts of his business practices.

Conversly - if he is rational and inteligent - and your shop visits are productive - tell us about it.....



My lift pump failed in '01

2 hours West of Burns, Oregon in the middle of nowhere.

On a Saturday at 10am

1-800-road side assistance got a tow for me from Burns

Dealer knew I was coming, kept his maintenance people after noon (they normally worked only until noon on Saturday)

Called in "the" diesel mechanic from home (this guy was good - rather grumpy - but that's just his "nature" I think)

Had a brand new loaner van for me to continue home - they initially thought the trouble was the VP44.

Grumpy diagnosed and changed the lift pump in 30 minutes.

I was back on the road by 3pm.



I sent them a $60 gift basket from the local smoked salmon shop (Sea Bear) here in Anacortes, WA when I got home.....

And

I would recomend that dealership to anyone..... customer service is what it's all about.

DC knows this... ... it just has to be reminded to the dealership "A" types out there.

Shoot, anytime I go to the local dealership and mention anything negative - I get a free oil/filter change!



Next - my experiences in Redding & Sacramento with the cam position sensor failing... .









Dave Alberts

Anacortes, WA

'01 Quad 4x4 personalized

 

[JLEONARD]

Have there been any power enhancements to the motor the reason why?

No. The engine is bone stock. Owner was waiting for the end of his warantee before he starting adding to it.

I don't know the specifics of why the dealeship refused to warantee the pump.

I'll get the details next week when I talk to my son... an I'll post the gory details.

 

[WadePatton]

Originally posted by JLEONARD

No. The engine is bone stock. Owner was waiting for the end of his warantee before he starting adding to it.

Maybe now he'll see the error of his ways.



That $tealer is a weasel---GO AHEAD AND BOMB IT!









resistance is futile. (along with warranty repair )

 

[JLEONARD]

That $tealer is a weasel---GO AHEAD AND BOMB IT

Yessir!! My theory exactly.

 

[JLEONARD]

Happy ending... the dealer FINALLY waranteed the pump.

But he did NOT make an ally of the owner ... that's for sure!

It was tooth and nail to the bitter end.

But he's back on the road... and it only cost him a $75 tow and 5 days at the dealer waiting for parts (most was over New Years weekend).

Thanks all for your help and encouragement.

Jay Leonard