Once you drain your lift pump, take it about to see if you have something in there. If you go with the relay, be carefull where you mount it so you won't have problems down the road.

On my kit, I had to push really hard to make a solid connection from the pigtail and the lift pump after I smeared some di-electric grease inside it. You can also disconect the pigtail at the factory location, have a helper recycle the key to make the pump turn and measure the voltage. Then, do the same test where the pigtail plugs into the lift pump and compare the two. This will let you know if the relay will do anything for you.

About the color, I don't remember what the factory wire colors are, but I know the ECM controls the power to the lift pump. There are some that claim the ECM backs down the voltage during startup to prevent overpressurizing the VP-44. I think this is all theroy, but there are many who are running FASS, holley and other pumps without any problems using the relay trick so who knows.....

Keep us informed!!

HTH,

Joe

 

My fuel pressure reading kept getting more and more erratic so today I put my "campaign" fuel pump and the problem is gone. I am getting 14.5 at idle and 12 on the highway and 10 at wot. I am still curious why the lift pump went out just after adding the vulcan kit. The pump that went out had to be fairly new since it was shinny and clean as a pin. such is life with diesel.
"Diesel is not just a fuel it is a lifestyle"

 

It is very possible that something got in the pump or it was just the fate of the pump to go after the line install.

 

Where did you get a pump for $69.76 ?

 

Cummins dealer. I have a feeling they will be putting a stop to it soon.

 

P.J. is right. I got it at our local cummins dealer. It was the last one that he had in stock.

 

Well I took the pump off, cleaned it out, nothing to be found...it did have the dreaded rattling ball sound....telling me the pump was going bad. I put it back on pressure was at 15.6 idle, for about 10 seconds then back to erratic pressures. Now cruising at 45mph I am seeing 5 to 6.6 pressure, at 65mph pressures are at 7 to 12 psi.

I ordered the new cummins kit, the ambulance/bus kit, from a local cummins dealer for $62...I actually ordered 2 just to have another spare. Ironic all this happened after the relocation kit was installed. I hope this is the last pump necessary. I would have never thought the FASS kit was affordable, but $300 worth of lift pumps later...I am rethinking my choice. I am actual hopeful that the newer pump and the relocation kit will be the last pump I will need....hold on, I just reliazed I was dreaming as my head banged off the keyboard!

 

Could all the Hell being caused by lift pump failure actually be a venting probelm causing fuel pressure fluctuation and killing the pumps? I was a pump tech in the oil field for years and starving a pump will kill it faster than anything.
Comments?

 

Well this weekend I found time to change out the lift pump. It honestly takes less than 15 minutes including time to find the necessary tools. The new pump went on, using the old washers, and pressures are at 14.8 to 16 at idle, 12.4 at WOT. The pressure stays steady cruising.

I took the top off the old lift pump to look for anything obvious, but nothing was apparent. Is there any way to take the pump apart without destroying it? I am curious to look inside..Oh yeah, the rattling sound was the metal puzzle like parts inside , seemed normal.