Well I graduated up from a 1st Gen 1993 D350 dually to a 3rd Gen 2004 3500 dually. It has the HO 325 hp Cummins in it backup with a automatic trans.
It's really a nice truck. It had 13,480 miles on it when I bought it two weeks ago. Everything seems to be running and working great. Just wondering if there is anything I need to know about on the 2004. Or is there anything I should check. Been from end to the other on my 93 now I get to start all over again....Thanks for any advise or suggestions you all can give me.....
By the way 93 is for sale in the classifieds if anybody is interested...

 

Just an FYI....your truck is actually an 04.5 truck...not an 04. Nothing wrong with either...but there are some differences.


The biggest failure we seem to have on 03-04.5 trucks is the stock lift pump which is mounted on the back of the fuel filter housing. 05 and up trucks are mounted in-tank and seem to have a better track record.

Just be prepared to upgrade your lift pump at some point....with maybe a GDP Walbro pump or a FASS system.

Other than that......Congrats and enjoy your truck! If you want some extra power...buy a Smarty!

 

OOPs! It's a 04.5...Is the lift pump electric on the 04.5..I've notice when I turn the key on I hear a noise like a pump running then it stops...Is that the lift pump??? I've got to learn the electronics on this truck...

 

Yes, it's an electric pump mounted on the rear of the fuel filter. Failure rate seems to be quite high. When I had my 04.5 lost LP at 25000 miles. If you have it still under warranty the dealer will install an intank lift pump which seems to be more dependable that the on filter pump. If you have capable mechanical skills another fix is to remove the on filter and install a FASS, Warbo or a variety of other rear mounted to the frame pumps that seem to be much more dependable. The only problem with the in tank is if you want to do any fuel type of upgrades the in tank is only adequet for mostly stock engines and it must be removed for most of the upgrade pumps you might want to install. By the way, make sure the warranty was transfered to you, maybe a small $150 or so fee to do that but as low as the miles are on your truck it should be worth your money. Warranty on the 04.5 was 3/36 no deductable, 7/70 drivetrain with a few exclusions and a $100 deductable, and the Cummins engine warranty is 100K miles (5years 100k no deduct, 7yr 100k $100 deductable). Lift pump and injectors are covered (if still original) under the Cummins warranty with no deductable up to 5 years and more than likely if you have a problem that is where it might be.

 

If it's an '04.5, then the LP should be in the tank, if I remember correctly...

 

Hate to sound like a "DUMMY" here. But what do I look for to see if the lift pump is on the filter...I change the fuel filter the other day but did really pay attention to the housing or what was mounted to it..I do remember seeing what looked like a yellow lever on the side of the filter house lower front.

 

No the intank didn't start till the 05 unless it has already been replaced on your 04.5 then it wouold be the intank unit, that was one of the problems with the 04.5's. The replacement was the intank unit and had some parts that were installed on the back of the filter to eliminate it but to still keep the pre heaters working. As far as what to look for I can't really tell you as I now have an 07 but if nothing else you can call your local dealer and see if it was repaired etc.....There should be some type of small bump on the back of the fuel filter that is the pump itself and it is removed for the intank unit. Maybe someone else can give you a little more help than I can here.

 

Cool- thanks for the info donhov. Don't tell my wife I was wrong...

 

On a stock 04.5 when you turn the key on you will not hear the Lift/Transfer pump run unless you bump the starter.

If the pump has been relocated to the "in tank" location, when you turn the key on the lift pump will run for 25 seconds and no bumping is required.

There is a flash (ECM) update done when the relocation is made and there should be a sticker on the ECM or fender/hood rail showing it.

 

I'll have to check under the hood for a sticker. When I turn the key on to the point where the dash lights come on I hear a humming noise which sounds like a pump running. It runs for a few seconds then stops. That is happen without bumping the starter....

 

Just went a looked under the hood. On the back of the filter housing between the housing & the firewall there is a black cylinder looking device which is attached to the filter housing with a black rubber hose connected to the bottom of it....Is that the lift pump?

 

Sounds like you found your lift pump, now to decide what you want to replace it with ??? If you complain enough maybe the dealer will , if that is what you want, replace it with the intank unit, there seems to be much fewer complaints on problems with the in tank units unless the owner is heavily moding the truck. Remember you will not have the items to replace the rear housing as they come in the Dodge kit. Thats the best I can advise you and suggest that from here you speak to your dealer about having it done or you very well will end up being towed into you local dealer and at his merch as far as a timeline on getting it done under duress......

 

Is there a good lift pump frame mount kit which has everything you need with the items to replace the rear housing your talking about. At this time I'm not looking at doing a lot of mods other then a progammer.

 

Yup. The Glacier Diesel Performance 392 Kit. I have it on my truck. Easy install, takes maybe 3 hrs to put it in and I get a constant 20 psi.

 

http://www.glacierdieselpower.com/pr...?pf_id=3920345








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