Hopefully someone here can help out.

My 2003 Ram runs out of fuel when the guage says half full. It has happened three times in a row now.

I carry a can of fuel in the truck to get home. Fill it up and it runs great until it hits half again. It only takes 18 gallons to fill each time it has happened so the fuel gauge is correct.

I had the lift pump replaced with the fuel pumo in the tank at 106,000 miles. I now have 207,000 miles.

Any ideas? Obstruction in the tank? Somthing came loose? Fuel pick-up moved in the tank?

Thanks a bunch for any suggestions.

 

Could possibly be the sending unit in the tank, with that mileage its certainly possible. You could pull the bed and take a look.

 

definitely check the sending unit sounds like something worked loose and its not staying down.

 

If it is only taking 18 gallons to fill it up I would say the sending unit is fine.

I would drop the tank or lift the bed and then pull the pump out to check it. Something has come off or loose.

 

Thanks guys. I will check the sending unit. Guess I will drive it till the half of tank is used up. Hate throwing away all that fuel. Sounds like a messy job ahead.

 

the pump and sending unit are all on one large piece, sounds like it mite have a hole in the line.

 

It could be a few things. More than likely, a hose has come off, broken, or has a hole in it. Easiest way to do it, in my opinion, is to pull the bed off. The unit comes off really easy.

If you want more details than that, let me know. I've done it a few times. I can get you pics and everything.

mad

 

Thanks for the help guys. It is at the dealer right now. They are telling me that the pump needs replaced.

After a few minutes of conversation and me showing them posts from a few threads here, they decided to not rape me and clean out the screen on the current pump.

Isn't it something how a dirty filter (screen) means replace the pump to a Dodge dealer. That is all the problem was, the screen on the lower end of the pump was clogged.

Thanks again for the help.

 

Yeah... not a lot of good troubleshooting going on these days. Glad to see that we could help you out a bit.

 

now, did the dealer clean the tank out when the pump was out? if not do your self a favor and clean the tank out the next time the tank is low. you may save yourself a pump, injectors, and no telling what other malfunction. if the tank is/was dirty enougt to clog the filter, there is no telling what is in there, waiting to gotchaya.
Grant

 

Might also want to consider a Fass or Air Dog pump soon. If the tank pump does die, dont bother replacing with an OEM.

 

Saw that issue on another thread recently - called it the 1/4 tank issue. Turned out the bottom of the fuel pickup, which is shaped like a cup, was clogged with gunk. As long as fuel level was above the top of the cup, truck ran fine, when it got below the top of the pickup cup - around 1/4 tank, the truck ran out of fuel. Not my info, never seen one, just what I recently read.

 

Little update.

Dealer's mechanic showed me the dirty pump and talked me into replacing it. Put a new one of the same in the tank.

Drove it for two days and it left me stranded at the boat ramp getting ready for a day of work. I am a fishing guide. Customers were not impressed to say the least.

Now it is back at the shop on a holiday weekend. Yeah!!!!

Will let everyone know what it turns out to be.

At least this time it got to 1/4 before it quit.

 

Personally, I'd drop the 500 or so bucks and get an Air Dog 150 and be done with it.

I would be more than happy to give you my number and walk you through it.