Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Truck won't start, lift pump dead?

[Blacksdieselhp]

I'm working on a 97' that will not crank. At first he thought he ran it out of fuel(guage doesn't work). It just went dead while going down the road. He said he pumped the primer about 150 times after putting some fuel in it. So I cracked the bolt on top of the filter housing and cranked on it for about 30 seconds with no fuel coming out. I tried the primer about 100 more times and still no fuel, not even bubbles. So then I got a can of fuel and I disconnected the hose from the heater and the lift pump and ran a hose from the pump to the can of fuel. It will not pull any fuel at all. Could it be the lift pump again or is there something I'm overlooking?

 

[Blacksdieselhp]

Come on. I know someone can help me out.

 

[Joe G.]

It sounds like a bad check valve in the lift pump if you removed the short curved hose between the lift pump and the pre-filter. If you removed the input line from the fuel heater and the output line from the lift pump so that fuel goes thru the fuel heater, pre-filter, and lift pump you may have an air leak there somewhere. These things may leak:



input fitting to fuel heater

gasket between fuel heater mount and fuel heater

fuel heater electrical plug

gasket between fuel heater and pre-filter

hose between pre-filter and lift pum

one or more of three O-rings in the lift pump



If any of these leak air very badly the lift pump won't pump fuel.

 

[NBowlin]

i hate to sound stupid, but my truck did the same thing..... up and died in the middle of a hill. primed, cranked, and nothin. the shut off solenoid took a dive. sorry if i am putitng my foot in my mouth on this.

 

[KYOUNG]

I just replaced the lift pump on my 94 model and evrything was fine, than the next day I unplugged the fuel heater to test it with an ohmmeter and put back together and parked it in the barn. The next morning it started than died, no fuel!!! It took me 2 days of pumping and replacing fuel lines and pumping more, I happen to see alittle green seal with 3 ribs on it that had fell off of the fuelheater connector when I was checking it. So I unplugged heater , slipped little green seal on connector and plugged back in... ... ... needless to say the lift pump worked in 3 strokes!!!!!!!!



By the way this was the first time I have replaced the lift pump and the truck starts and runs much better now. .

 

[Joe G.]

Kevin,



If that fixed the problem then you have an air leak in the electrical connection for the fuel heater. This happens when the heater element burns up right behind the connector. That makes the pin in the connector loose so it leaks air. When you replaced the plug seal you stopped the air leak temporarily. There was probably nothing at all wrong with the lift pump.

 

[KYOUNG]

Joe, does this mean I need to replace the element in the fuel heater? If so does it come with new gaskets or do you know, also any idea what it costs?



Thanks, Kevin

 

[Joe G.]

I don't have the part number handy. Get hold of Andy Redmond, I think he has it. I have been running without my fuel heater for some time. It is fastened in place with a screw that is really and adapter. If you take that out and one of the O-ring gaskets, the pre-filter will screw right into the fuel heater mount. If it's doesn't get too cold I don't think you need the fuel heater at all. It looks like the fuel heater is actually an add on thing for an existing pre-filter unit.



I would not be a bit surprised if a lot of people were running with a burnt out fuel heater and don't know it.

 

[Joe G.]

I found the part numbers:



Fuel heater/pre filter

Fuel supply line fitting grommet (Cummins) 3923194

Fuel Strainer (Mopar) 04762962 (Cummins) 3847102

screen kit (FleetGuard) 3845400-S

pre-filter O-ring (FleetGuard) 3834185-S

heater element (includes 3834185-S) (FleetGuard) 3907766-S

cable harness (FleetGuard) 3843722-S

 

[KYOUNG]

Joe, Thanks for the info, I will check into getting a new heating element for my truck although it has been starting fine in cold weather.



Its 6 degrees outside this morning, I am glad I dont have to go anywhere till tonight.