Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Transfer (Lift) Pump Failure

[HBarlow]

I joined the "club" today. I was beginning to think my truck was going to be exempt from the infamous lift pump failure I've read so much about on this forum.



Today, running around town, I slowed to cross a bumpy area and when I attempted to accelerate away gently the engine stumbled momentarily like a gasser running out of fuel. Then, as I drove across town, it missed and stumbled every time I accelerated in third gear, like a gasser with a bad spark plug or spark plug wire. I don't have a fuel pressure gauge and had no symptoms until it stumbled.



I'd heard enough about lift pump failures to be fairly certain what the problem was and I didn't want to risk damaging the injection pump or having the truck quit running in traffic so I headed right for the largest and closest Dodge dealer in town.



I was lucky. The service writer got me in, got the problem diagnosed and had the pump in stock. It was repaired and I was on my way within about 2 1/2 hours. It was covered under warranty. The truck has 68,100 miles on it.



I guess I'll have to say something good about this dealer now. I refused to buy my truck from them although they are only a mile from my home because it is one of those stores that operates with a high pressure, turnover type sales force.



I'm sure glad it didn't happen while pulling my trailer in a remote area on a Sunday afternoon!



Harvey

 

[Slingblade]

I wish I had a dealer like that here. I took mine in last week to have the lift pump checked. It had lost alot of power for a few days, so I made a service appt. The service manager drove it and said that it was fine. He wouldn't check anything. He also told me that the lift pump is not part of the cummins engine warranty. He said he based this on the fact that the replacement lift pump comes in a mopar box, so it must be a Dodge part with a 3/36 Dodge warranty. He stated he had just read the new testing procedures for the lift pumps and that they rarely fail and should not need testing anyway. This was at a so called 5 star dealer, so I guess the 5 star rating doesn't mean a thing. I will have to find another dealer and try again.

 

[PHX ATC]

Hey Mckinney360, I was born in Oak Harbor, WA. Albeit 34 years ago!



Lift pumps almost never fail, my ass. You're right 5 stars does not mean crap.

 

[HBarlow]

I know very little about the Dodge warranty system but have been told that transfer pumps, injection pumps, throttle position sensors (TPS or APPS), and other expensive parts are controlled by STAR. STAR is apparently an abbreviation or acronym for the Dodge warranty administrator.



Before a part controlled by STAR can be released for a warranty repair, sometimes even before the part can be shipped, STAR must approve.



Maybe someone will add to this discussion and explain to both of us what STAR stands for.



You may need to insist that your dealer or some dealer contact STAR to determine that the part is covered under the engine warranty.



Harvey

 

[rashwor]

As I understand it...

the lift pump is covered under the emissions warranty of the truck. This varies depending on the year model of the truck, but my is a '99 model and it is covered under the 100,000 mile warranty. My first pump went out at 84,000 miles (warranty paid for everything) and the second one is still kicking at 137,000+ miles. I know... I have gauges to watch it!

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: As I understand it...

Originally posted by rashwor

the lift pump is covered under the emissions warranty of the truck. This varies depending on the year model of the truck, but my is a '99 model and it is covered under the 100,000 mile warranty. My first pump went out at 84,000 miles (warranty paid for everything) and the second one is still kicking at 137,000+ miles. I know... I have gauges to watch it!

Rashwor, I think we have an advantage when it comes to LP's and with your new one it might last a very long time. One of the guys that works for Carter said they were designed to pull fuel in the approx. 3 foot distance. With a regular cab it is around 3-4 feet from the LP to the fuel tank. So I think this helps us to operate in the design limits of the pump. Also the newest LP's were being installed after 1/1/2002, so you might also have the latest and greatest pump?

 

[rashwor]

Pit Bull...

I agree with you on the distance and a regular cab truck. I sure was drooling all over a quad cab when I bought this one, but they did not have a quad equipped like I wanted it, so I bought the regular cab equipped like I wanted. Did not have time to wait for a order or dealer swap. (Long story, but drunk ran a stop sign and totaled my '92; her insurance finally agreed with MY FIGURE on what the truck was worth after a month of arguing (figure came up significantly and quickly once I gave them the keyword: LAWYER) and they were stopping payment on my $200 / week rental. I put over 4,000 miles on the rental shopping for what I wanted. )



I doubt that I got the latest version of the pump though... it was replaced sometime early to mid 2001. Guess I am just lucky (to some extent anyway.



It would be interesting to do a poll of lift pump failures in regular cab verses quad cab trucks. It might provide some insight. Include mileage at failure point.

 

[Pit Bull]

I traded in a 2000 3500QC 4x4 auto CTD for the Regular cab. The quad did not fit in my garage and I never used the back seat and I love the looks of the regular cab plus I got a deal that I could not turn down I will start a thread and see if regular cabs have that many failures.