Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Possible lift pump?

[CEbbert]

Have a friend of mine that tried replacing the fuel filter, got it replaced and won't start now. We can't get any fuel out of the fuel supply banjo bolt. Is this for sure the lift pump? Please help!!

 

[Joe Mc]

Did he put fuel in the filter bowl before installing? By the sounds of it probably not. Here's what you can try: turn the key to the on position (not start) then jog to the start position for a second, just to bump the engine this will place the LP in a run cycle for 30 -45 seconds and listen to hear if the LP is running. If its running then let it complete the cycle. Crack the banjo @ the VP and jog to star again, continue until you get fuel. Then tighten the banjo - now you have fuel at, or close to the VP. Hold the go pedal to the floor and crank for no more than 15-20 seconds, allow at least a minute between cranking sessions, it should start and run terribly. Once it fires don't continue to hold go pedal to the floor, ease up and just try to keep it running - it'll smooth out and idle normally once all the air is cleared from the VP. If after 8 or 9 cranking sessions it doesn't try to fire you'll have to crack 2 or 3 injector lines (3/4" wrench) at the head and crank (as mentioned above 15-20 second intervals) until you get fuel weeping at the cracked injector line nuts. If it starts and you still have lines cracked shut down and tighten all lines.

If there is no sound of the LP running when you jog to start and release the key then there are two possibilities - 1-the LP Relay is bad - you can find one in the engine compartment relay/fuse center that is the same and swap to see if its a bad relay or bad LP - I think the wiper or horn relay is the same, not sure? 2-the LP itself is bad - don't replace junk with more junk if you need an LP go with one of the after-market units and forget about it. Do a search on the TDR for "LP" and you'll get a million hits.

Good luck and let us know how you made out. Don't forget to always put fuel in the canister when installing a new filter - eh?

 

[WestTN]

Never pour fuel into the filter housing. If you get unfiltered dirty fuel in there you run the risk of wrecking the VP44. Just bump the starter and listen for the lift pump to run. If it runs, repeat the bump a few times and then start the engine. If you don't hear the lift pump, replace it and try the above procedure again.

 

[AWeaver]

not the vp...

u can fill the fuel filter canister with unfiltered fuel... its not going to hurt your vp... if you have a weak lp it might take 5 or 6 cycles of bumping the starter to get the filter canister full of fuel (if your lp is dead you might need a new one or a can of ether or two to get it running)... make sure the lid is tight so you are not getting air in to the system... keep light pressure on the throttle... and when it fires... keep your foot in it until its steadily running and youre sure all the air is out of the system... . then you should be good to go... . the light throttle will ensure the engine keeps running through the air in the fuel lines...

 

[AWeaver]

if u dont want to pour unfiltered fuel into the fuel filter canister... fill it with lucas untill it fires off... it will clean your injectors...

 

[AWeaver]

also... bluechipdiesel.com has a great diagnostic page that can help you diagnose lp from ip problems... just fyi... .

 

[CEbbert]

Thanks for the help. Got it fixed over the weekend. He was bleeding the wrong banjo bolt and the batteries were toast. Got new batteries and it fired up.

 

[Joe Mc]

Sweet - bleeding the wrong banjo :-laf Oo.