SPA guage problem OR Fuel Pressure Problem

[RobG]

It started last night on my way home from work... and the second day after installing DD3's.

My SPA fuel pressure/oil temp guage has started acting up. At random, and fairly constant times, after the truck has been running for 20 minutes or more, the pressure will start to fluctuate, bouncing from like -32 psi up to 20 or so. I'll even occaisonally see the FL (fault) code appear.

This morning, I checked the sender and the electrical connector, expecting them to have worked loose. They were fine.

Drove to work today, and the same thing happened.

So... has my SPA sending unit developed a flakiness, or am I see a real fuel pressure problem, possibly caused by the addition of the DD3 injectors?

Rob


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2001. 5 RAM 3500 QC 4x4 ETH/DEE Silver/Agate, 4. 10, USGear OD, Rickson 19. 5 Wheels, DD EZ, DD3 Injectors, SPA Guages, Psychotty, Firestone Airbags, Hellwig Rear Swaybar, Torklift Superhitch & Camper Tiedowns, Mag-Hytec Diff Cover, DD 4" Exhaust, US Gear Exhaust Brake, etc.

 

[Bigsaint]

Rob, did you mount the sensor pre-filter? I was talking to Brandon about the best location for the SPA and he was getting the same type of sporadic readings from the SPA when the sensor was located post filter. Also, you could take that 90 degree elbow apart and check the wires to ensure that they are making a soild connection. That has apparently been a problem in the past with the SPA's. Hope this helps.

Scott W.

White 2001. 5 3500 ETH/DEE 4X4 Quad cab SLT,tow package and camper prep,Husky liners front and rear,DiPricol pyro,boost and oil temp gauges,Edge EZ,Psychotty air,Bully Dog stage III injectors,ATS 3 piece manifold,HX40 turbo,4" BD exhaust,4" BD E-brake,McLeod clutch,Mallory 4150 lift pump,Mag-Hytec rear,Go-Rhino grill guard,Lund bug shield,PM tractor utility back up lights,Penda bed mat and blow by bottle is bye bye !!! I love the smell of diesel in the morning, it reminds me of... . VICTORY !!!
<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1231655&a=9089608" TARGET=_blank><font color=red>My Truck</font></A>
<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1231655&a=9089604" TARGET=_blank><font color=red>THE SAINTS</font></A>

 

[RobG]

Yeah, it's post-filter, out of that schrader valve connection on back.

Where would it go pre-filter?

I figured I'd trace down the wiring this weekend to see that it's all in order, and then go from there.

Thanks for the info.

Rob

 

[Bigsaint]

Rob, I should have been more descriptive. By pre-filter, I meant the Schrader valve on the rear (firewall side) of the fuel filter. Brandon did some tests on the Schrader after the filter and found same to be very erratic.

Scott W.

 

[Alan Reagan]

Rob, Sounds like the sensor. When my SPA boost sensor went out, that's what it did... . fluctuate like crazy setting off the lights even. They sent me a new sensor and the problem is gone. Boost would go to -20 then to +40.

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2001 HO 6 spd 2500, 4. 10 LSD, Towing Package, Electric Brakes, SPA EGT/Boost Gauges, Fog Lights, Real Backup Lights, Molded Running Boards

 

[Brandon]

location
location
location location
B

 

[Brandon]

tear apart the press sens elbow and reconnect all wires
B

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Danelle's Dodge

 

[Mike C]

Rob G. what type of fitting did you use exactly to hook up to where the schrader valve is. i just hooked up my auto
meters up but the fitting i used i cant get it to stop leaking. i ended up disconnecting sending unit and put schrader valve back in. iused a 4 an female flare swivel coupling with a 4 an to 1/8 npt thread. any help would be great

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Y2K 2500 4x4 ext. cab 8'bed nerf bars,Linex,xtang cover bug shield, husky liners,every option but leather and cab lights remote starter auto 3. 54 gears
98 grand caravan (for wife) 93 harley davidson fatboy

 

[RobG]

It sounds like you used the same fittings I do, but at Ron @ SPA's suggestion, I used Teflon tape on the fittings, because mine also leaked without it.

Rob

 

[DUNE RACER]

I noticed my fuel press gauge acting up and found it to be trapped air in the sensor. Mine is teed into the line after the filer with about 3" of line running up to the sensor. After my sensor acted up I bled the fuel out and checked the pressure with a manual gauge and it was fine but the SPA was normal after the bleeding also. The next time this happened I just bled the line with the schrader valve and the problem went away again. I'm going to remount my sender this time to eliminate the possibility of trapping air.

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2001 black 4X4 dually, 6 speed, all the factory goodies plus... SPA's on the pillar, billet grill, lighted running boards, lund visor, rhino liner,
aluminum rail caps, zerked tierod ends, dynomax muffler, custom bug screen, big smile on owners face.

 

[RobG]

Dune Racer:

That's a VERY good idea... bleeding the system. Is this something I can do with the sender still mounted, or do I have to remove it? I haven't primed/bled the system on a 24V before, only on my old 12V.

That's a very good diagnosis... since we didn't bleed the system after installing my injectors, it's likely that air is in there. It took quite a while to get it to start once we were finished.

Rob

 

[Fred Swanson]

RobG, my temp sender did the same thing, and I had SPA send me another sending unit, and it has worked ever since. If you get the fault code, then it is seeing an open circuit.

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Fred Swanson
Co-Owner
Canyon State Components, LLC
www.canyonstatecomponents.com


'00 QC,SB,4x4,Auto,3. 54 w/LSD,Trailer Package,Tow Package,DTT's
TC(91%)&VB(80psi),DD2's,EZ,HOT PE,K&N RE-0880,Cummins RED Valve Cover

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

Originally posted by RobG:
My SPA fuel pressure/oil temp guage has started acting up. At random, and fairly constant times, after the truck has been running for 20 minutes or more, the pressure will start to fluctuate, bouncing from like -32 psi up to 20 or so. I'll even occaisonally see the FL (fault) code appear... ...

<font color = blue> Rob, I had precisely this same conversation with Brandon shortly after I stopped by Modesto California last month. My error conditions are #ad
EXACTLY #ad
the same as you report and I have since validated the location of the sensor for the Fuel pressure gauge. It was up and down the whole trip from west coast to east coast USA.

Can't do much about it now as my truck is somewhere in the Atlantic and won't leave the docks in England until the middle of next week at the earliest... . The reason why I went with SPA was because the factory is in the UK, about 30 miles from my home town and I figured if anything went wrong with the gauges, then they're right on my doorstep.

Stay in touch and let me know how you get on. I'd be interested in your final resolution and will get back to you on mine, probably in the next couple of weeks.



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JMc

2001 Flame Red Sport 3500 QC, 5. 9L 24v Cummins, 4x4 Auto, 3. 54/LSD, 155 inch WB, Agate leather, HX35/14cms turbo, DTT VB,TC & "smart" PAC Exhaust Brake , Mag-Hytec transmission & Diff covers, SPA Dual Gauges,DD2s,DD4" exhaust, Rickson 19. 5" wheels, Roadmaster XX,Firestone Airbags, WAAG sidetubes with dually kickouts, Line-X, Grovers , Lance 1130 slide-in Camper, 60 gallon “stock” Aerotank, RS9000s, Reese Titan class 5 hitch. plus the ICE-bomb