Driving the truck down the road and just died. Changed the in tank lift pump with a new one. Started the truck and ran for a couple minutes and died. The pump does not kick on and the fuel gauge does not move to show there is fuel. It is an 03 208,000. I changed the fuel filter out at the same time. Any help would be great.

 

Check if you've got power going to the pump (with the key in the "on" position). If it's got power, then I would suspect a bad pump.

 

Their should be a fuel pump relay somewhere, listen to see if it's clicking when you first turn the ignition key. It should click on, and then off in a few seconds giving time to build pressure. If you find it, and it's clicking, and your new pump doesn't pump, than the relays contacts must be dirty.

 

I was loooking for the relay and did not see one in the relay box. I checked power to the fuel pump and sometimes it has power and then not. I have also checked the fuel pump and it is good.

 

Let me know if you figure anything out. The exact same thing just happened to mine. It's getting towed home as we speak.

 

IRC you will have intermittent power to the pump as it comes on when needed but I could be wrong. Before this started have you had a hard start or longer cranking time. Any white smoke at idle on a cold start or a brown haze once the truck is warmed up? If so your injectors may have died. Check the oil to see if over full. See if there are any codes you could have lost an IP as well.

 

Before this I had the truck stall the day prior but started right back up. I have never had hard starting or white smoke. I am wondering if it is the ECU that could be causing this or a short in the harness that is replaced when the pump is put in the tank. Does the lift pump run all the time?

 

The lift pump runs when the grid heater is on befor you start the engine, the pump is on for 15 sec when you turn the key on but dont start the truck, and if you use the ignition switch (key) to bump the starter, the pump runs for about 90 sec, pump runs when engine is running. The in tank electric pump is a draw thru type that should not leave you stranded on the road if it fails (just reduced HP). The CP3 will operate without a lift pump but its not good to do so for a long time. If your truck was converted from mechanical to the newer in tank electric, the above may not be all true. If you have no gauges operating, look for an open fuse.

 

I was thinking, I replaced a fuel pump on a 1994 gas dodge van with the plastic tank. The lower part of the fuel pump moved up and down to prevent damage if the tank bottom was pushed up. When I opened the box, I had to cut a zip tie to free the lower pickup on the pump. Just a thought. I have never changed a diesel lift pump.

 

The relay is not in the relay box. It is normaly tie strapped behind the drivers side battery and to the left of the mastercylinder. It will also have a wire/fuse that comes off the drivers side positive teminal. The relay is triggered by the factory canister LP harness that is normaly behind the fuel filter housing. Can't miss it.

 

Thinking again did you try opening the fuel filter water drain valve and (after the fuel stops draining) turn the key, bumping the starter but NOT cranking the engine, see if fuel starts pooring out of drain tube. I have used my truck as a bulk fuel carrier and connected a hose to the drain tube into a 55 gal drum. The lift pump will empty the 30 gal out of tank into drum in 15 min. Not a lot of pressure, but that pump can move the fuel.

 

Thank you all for the help on this. I cleaned the teminals on the relay and the wiring harness under the drivers side fender and everything is working as advertised. I am thinking that it was just a bad connection.

 

That's a pretty good time! I still have the origional lift pump on my '03. Took me a well over an hour to drain 34 gals out of my tank through the water drain.