My buddy has a '98.5 24v 4x4 3500. Not long after buying his truck his lift pump went, and he bought an aftermarket performance lift pump. I can't remember what he bought, but it was in the neighborhood of around $300, and was something I had read decent things about on here. Unfortunately, the damage was already done, and his injection pump went not long after. He coughed up around $1800 for an upgraded mild performance injection pump.

On my recommendation, he bought an Edge w/Attitude system, with the PDA style display do he could keep an eye on his fuel pressure, have the built in turbo timer, watch EGTs, etc. He's no kid playing around while driving- he usually keeps it on one of the lowest settings except the few times he's towed something, and is very gentle on his truck.

His truck made it just over a year of intermittent driving- maybe 10k miles- before his lift pump went again. Unfortunately it had a 1-year warrantee, and it was just past that. Since the expensive pump didn't last long, he bought a new Carter from a local part's store. He was driving the truck a lot more now, and that pump only lasted around 2 months. He had to replace it a couple more times after that. So far he's put about 3 Carters in in the past 6 months. Luckily they were warranteed, so no cost to him, but he wants to find the real problem and deal with it. His last pump needs replacing again.

When he installs a new pump the fuel pressure runs around 13-15 psi almost all the time. After a few weeks it drops to 10-11 at idle, and 6-7 going down the road. With any real use of the throttle it drops to 4psi and the low fuel pressure alarms start going off.

He's been under the truck and checked for any kinks or damage to the line, and can't see any. He changed filters with the last pump, same thing happened right on schedule.

Any thoughts about where to look next? He's about ready to hang a for-sale sign on the truck.

Jim

 

the oem pumps are hit and miss, mostly miss, he is not going to find anything under his truck that is causing the LP's to fail. its the LP's that are faulty. I went thru a couple LP's have installed an Airdog its got 2000hrs on it now and LIFETIME warrantee, they run around 500$, but for the money you spend on cheap pumps its a bargain!

I did have a AD fail about 8 months after instal, I'm sure its the exception not the rule. it had about 1400hrs (approx 84,000miles if you average 60miles X hour of run time)or so on it. Pureflow, sent me a new pump and paid freight both ways, noting but happy with it, service was great.
Fass or Airdog are your two best options, if you only want to do it once, just make sure the warrantee card is filled out and sent in!!

an airdog 100 will be more than enough and you wont have to mess with a draw straw (low fuel pressure issues at 1/4 tank or less) it comes with everything 1/2fuel line/pump with dual filters on it/wiring harness and all fittings, you would likely be finished in a couple hours, as there is no need to drop the tank. the ad100 is good for 500+hp

 

We are talking about maybe 1000 miles/month, so these pumps are going out every 2k miles. That seems stupidly fast even for a stock pump. I could maybe see 25k miles, but 2k miles? If that is the case, the truck will be in next week's classifieds. He's out of work, and is in no position to be shelling out that kind of bucks.

Makes me glad all my trucks have NO electronics or computers running the show. Actually my Deuces have electric in-tank pumps...but they last decades. I'm glad I stuck with the stock mechanical pump when I put the 4bt in my Durango.

Jim

 

i firmly believe constant lp failures are related to electrical or other problems in the fuel system......maybe filtration before the lp would stop the failures, it did on mine......i have a 2 micron racor filter before the lp (on the frame)

 

AirTex is supposed to have a decent OEM replacement and there is a FASS OEM for about $250. The Carters can be a real joke. 2-5k death of Carters is very common. Some last 250k, but, I think, 10-25k is their normal range.

 

We checked out the stock-replacement FASS pump, but most companies who are selling it said its for stock engines only, and to use a different pump for slightly to moderately modified trucks. With his programmer, would the stock-style FASS be good enough, or is he better off going with a different pump? While he is trying to be careful with his money, he doesn't want to spend money on a pump that isn't going to work, or isn't going to last in his application.

Jim

 

A fused power supply from the battery with an ECM signalled relay (by the stock lift pump power wire/yellow w/brown stripe) should get some good steady voltage to the lift pump.

 

He ended up going with an AirDog, with the filters. I hope he made the right choice- apparently Airdog isn't offering a lifetime warranty any more, just a 1-year. The price was less, and it looks like its a smaller unit that won't hang down like the FASS systems would. $475 shipped to his door for the complete kit is about $100 cheaper than the FASS system. I know FASS is good; but I haven't seen any complaints about Airdog, so I think he did O.K.

I was hoping the part's store would give him a refund on the junk Carter, but they will only give him a new pump. Maybe he should take it and throw it on ebay to get a few bucks back.

Thanks to all who replied.

Jim

 

Well it looks like he made the wrong choice. The Airdog was a very nice unit, and it went in easily, but immediately upon starting the truck there was a small fuel leak from the housing of the pump. Its not at the lines, its coming from the actual pump housing, where the machined parts are joined. He contacted the seller, and has been given the run-around. First they sent him a "rebuild kit" with a few o-rings, but they appeared to be just where the line fittings connected. He doesn't want to get into disassembling the pump himself, so that he doesn't void the factory warranty. He's been dealing with the seller for 3 weeks now trying to just get a replacement pump shipped out, but they are dragging their feet. My friend made a good point- for what he paid for the pump, he shouldn't have to be the one to rebuild a brand new pump.

Jim

 

So much for quality and customer satsifaction. I have heard this story before.
On to the failure issue of OE type pumps. I have tested a few of the failed pumps and find they may be susceptible to external issues. Example is a lot of failures is due to air leaks. The pump gets air locked and quits. Or debis causes the floating vanes to stick. Will pump some volume but no pressure. The stock fuel filter gets air locked in top and pushes air back into LP when shut down. Hard or no start results.
If anyone wants a pump diagnois or willing to contribute a failed but undamaged OE style for diagnois just PM me. Thanks.

 

Any chance there is crap in the tank that is damaging the pumps? Is there any kind of strainer located before the pump to keep the big stuff out?

 

why is he messing around with the seller of the pump, have him call pureflow directly, I'm certain they will make it right.

 

Go to the head of the stream when you want a cool drink of water. Call AirDog. They can't have this kind of crap going on posted all over the web. Call & they'll handle it. 3 weeks is waaaay too long to deal with a re-seller. Be sure to post AirDog's response.

 

man this sounds like my truck before i finally got tired and had an empty wallet to learn my lesson. i had 3 injector pumps and 3 lp go out on me before i ordered my fass fuel system and vp44 hotrod. and two fuel pressure gauges one on the fass and one at the injection pump make just makes me feel better when i lay the hammer down.

01 dodge 2500, fass150/150, vp44 hotrod, diablo power puck(for fun)