Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Truck is at dealer to have fuel tank pulled, what should they check?

[Dixie Dawg]

got a load of bad fuel (water), truck is at dealer to have the tank pulled and drained... . should I have them check to see if the fuel pump etc is still working properly? The fuel station is taking responsibility, and will pay for all damages. Thanks for any help!

 

[Sticks]

Originally posted by Dixie Dawg

Should I have them check to see if the fuel pump etc is still working properly? The fuel station is taking responsibility, and will pay for all damages. Thanks for any help!

Absolutely! Don't sign of on anything that states that their business is done with you once you get it back from the dealer. Fuel pumps in general don't like water, and the VP44 certainly doesn't. Who knows what kind of damage could have been done to that rather expensive part.

 

[Ncostello]

Are fuel stations responsible for bad loads of fuel? If so... how difficult is it to prove its their fault and make them pay for repairs. Did they offer much resistance? Just curious.



Seems to me they all should be responsible for damages. If a person pays for diesel fuel... and instead gets a tank of diesel, water, and algae... then the customer didn't get what they paid for. Kinda like if a person finds a bug in their food.



I've never had this problem but you read about it once in a while. This is the first I've read where the station is paying to have the vehicle fixed.

 

[Dixie Dawg]

Yes, they did not hesitate to offer to pay. Just told me to bring by an invoice and they'd reimburse me.



What are the chances my fuel pump has gone bad? What measurements on the fuel pressure guage should I look for? I don't trust my dealer whatsoever, so I want to tell him exactly what's acceptable numbers from the VP44. Thanks.

 

[WadePatton]

Your questions are a bit confusing. I think it is from mixed knowledge of our systems.



You have two fuel pumps. The fuel transfer pump, which is a Carter 12v weenie. We call that the LP for "lift pump". It supplies 8-15psi fuel to the other pump.



The other pump is a gear driven and electronically controlled INJECTION PUMP. This is the VP44 and makes upwards of 16,000 psi to fire the mechanical injectors.



Now to your concerns. They might find a bad LP if they lose prime in the system and can't get it back. Otherwise you can usually drive forever on a bad LP-until it ruins your VP44. That's why we all have FP gauges.



If the VP44 starts going out, you'll have serious drivability issues and maybe codes set in the computer.



HTH, and FIND a good stealer, there are a few out there.

 

[Dixie Dawg]

Thanks, I did see a code when i was trying to start the truck to take it to the dealer... P1693. What does this mean?

 

[WadePatton]

Nothing without another #. It's the code that says there was a code. --a government thing I guess.