OK guys, help me out. I have almost no experience with the 24V trucks but I have done some research here and on other 'net sites and do my own work on my '92.

I just got in from helping a neighbor change fuel filter on his truck and we can't get any fuel to run out of the line to the filter or out of the port on the top of the filter when bumping the lift pump. (We didn't try starting it since we didn't get fuel flow.) He has a '99 2500 Sport 5spd and it drove fine on the 100 mile round trip to Tulsa and back today. I'm assuming that the lift pump is out even though I can hear it hum. He's asked me if I will change it for him tomorrow so that he can leave on a 1500 mile trip on Saturday morning.

What do I need to know about changing the lift pump on this truck aside from what's posted here?

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/recalls/Notice878.htm

Also, my understanding is that the '99 doesn't show codes on the dash. Is there any way to tell the condition of the IP BEFORE it leaves on the trip?

I've told him several times before that he needs a FP gauge but he always says that money is too tight. Hopefully he got lucky this time and will get one soon.

I'll be calling Cummins in the morning for a pump. If they don't have one, I'll try the O'Reilly's pump that DisplacedTexan used. Any idea on what kind of price I should expect to have to pay?

Thanks in advance.

BTW, I also posted this on a existing LP thread in the HELP forum.

 

I changed mine from the top. Just take the filter houseing loose from the block. Also may need to get banjo bolt washers. Some folks on here reuse the old ones with no problems.

There is no way to tell the condition of the lp with out gauges. You could at least put a freon gauge( the old style, Not 134a ) on to see if pressureing up at idle. But that will not tell you what it is putting out driveing down the road.

Sounds like the pump is out if it humms but no flow. And it could of been bad for awhile till you lost the prime changing the filter. May have some ip damage.

 

You're a good neighbor Jay and I think you're right about the lift pump. I've read that Napa Auto Parts has a part number too.
Stay on him about the lift pump pressure guage.

 

As mention above you can check your fuel pressure on the schader valve on th IP pump but I will show you a little bit of number why you need a gauge.

Bump Starter ........16.0 PSI
Engine Idle ...........14.0 PSI
Cruise @ 65 MPH...11.5 PSI
WOT........................7.5 PSI

These number could fall very fast to zero if you LP is already weak.

I was once one of these people that kept saying I don't need gauges on my truck... Yeah right when the LP went the IP followed in 2 weeks it failed... Just try to get at least a fuel pressure guage.

 

I put in a LED 5 psi warning light that I installed in 20 minutes. It lights up for about 2 seconds after starting and then goes out. Also it will let me know if I have a plugged filter too. I was a little worried about my lift pump but now for 50 bucks I can relax. It didn't want to start after I opened my fuel line but I did the procedure in the manual for post fuel filter change and it worked. Those 5 psi sensors are cheaper and easier. win, win I'd say.

 

banjo bolts 17mm
bolts hold LP to bracket 10mm

thats about it...get a step stool and go in from the top...i can change them out in less than 15 mins!!! Did 3 in a week...2 different rigs....

 

Thanks guys. I went in from the top and it took me just under an hour from the time I opened the hood to the time that it fired up. Not too bad for the first time to do one IMHO.

The only thing that I'm aware of that wasn't done quite right is that Cummins only sold me 2 pairs of gaskets rather than the 4 pairs that I needed to replace both the pump and filter banjo bolt gaskets. I put the new ones on the pump and told my neighbor to replace the old ones on the filter next time that he changes the filter.

Since he has no pressure gauge, I can't tell what pressure the new pump is putting out but it was pumping fuel out the top of the filter so I know that it has more flow than the old one. I think the neighbor will be getting a FP gauge or light soon. Any recomendations on kits or is it best to fab your own?

I did find it interesting that O'Reilly's "low price guarantee" was $183.99 and Cummins was $160. Of course O'Reilly's has a "lifetime guarantee" on theirs.

I went with the Cummins.

Thanks again for all the help. The truck is headed for Indiana tomorrow so I'll keep my fingers crossed on that IP.

 

Can you PM me with how you did this?

 

Or just post it here. Inquiring minds want to know.