Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Old lift pump runs like new?

[Lazy-Boy]

I just ran into a situation where I was forced to put in an old lift pump until I could get a new one. And now this old one is running like new! I’ve got about 300 additional miles on it since I put it back in. I can’t pull the pressure down below 13 on this thing! (I’m stock).



And yes, I thoroughly checked the electrical and fuel connections on the pump before I swapped that old one back in.

And no, I didn’t accidentally put a new pump on. The old one still had 17k of road grime all over it.



My logs show I had put about 17k on that old one when it finally drifted down to 6 pounds on the gauge. So I replaced that one before it went entirely dead. I kept it in the truck in case of emergency. That is, like if one went “completely” dead while I was out of town, at least I could limp home with a used one that “kinda” worked.



Anyway, I seem to remember Gary and others here on the TDR experienced the same thing about two years ago.



Wonder if they ever found anything?

 

[johncameron]

It just needed a break!

 

[Casey Ray]

Might have been the electrical connectors, unpluging and reinstalling it may have made for a better electrical contact.





Casey

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Might have been the electrical connectors, unpluging and reinstalling it may have made for a better electrical contact.





Casey

Yup - very possible - and I figure the same thing happened to my original LP - replaced it with a used one from another guy who was experiencing low PSI from it right outta the box, and did still another replacement, and sent me the "old" one for a test and related pictoral thread I did here on TDR...



I put that one on to replace my original, and it has been working perfectly for the last couple of years - meanwhile, thoroughly checked and test-ran my original, and IT too works perfectly, so it's now my spare...

 

[Lazy-Boy]

Yea Gary – I read that thread you mentioned, back when it was active.

That’s why I started checking the electrical connection before I remove a pump.



But I guess it may be like Hoof said. Maybe pulling the whole thing out somehow reestablished a good connection.



Well, before I ever buy a new pump again, I’m gonna swap’em first.

They’re sure enough easy to swap.

 

[Challenger-II]

Anybody ever reuse the banjo washers? I might need to do a swap and can't get down to the Cummins dealer to get new ones. Am I looking for trouble reusing the old ones?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Anybody ever reuse the banjo washers? I might need to do a swap and can't get down to the Cummins dealer to get new ones. Am I looking for trouble reusing the old ones?

I reused mine with no problems...

 

[DJW]

If ever in doubt of reuse of a compression washer, if brass? copper? thread washers on a length of wire, place over flame ( cook stove ok ) until showing color then plunge into cold CLEAN water. This will soften them and unless split can be reused. This method also useful on copper pipe to reshape it, although be careful, hold pipe with grips as heat, hot water, and steam travels fast along pipe. Scrum Down