Hello all. I have a 1998 Durango SLT 4X4 with a 5.9.

Since I bought the truck, Ive had this issue and I thought I knew the reason for it, but now im having more issues.

So, Problem #1. The 3 year long problem... when it gets below 1/4 tank of fuel, taking off quickly from a stop it will fall on its face occasionally. 1/8 tank, almost always. around the red Empty line, every time. Now just so you know, this isn't how I drive the truck. This is 3 years worth of experience of how it drives when below 1/4 tank. Anyway, I ignored this problem because Ive always just assumed that low fuel level+fast acceleration=fuel sloshing to the back of the tank and the fuel pump cant pick any fuel up. Makes sense right? So I just drive it easy and this is a very small inconvenience for me.

Now, Problem #2. For the past three days, Every time I go to start it (3-5 times now) It starts and barely gets a "breath of life" before It dies. Now, Everytime Its ever started, It immediately jumps to 1300-1500 RPM just to start but falls right down to Idle. Right now though, It doesnt even jump to around 1500 RPM, It just barely gets running then dies. Second time and it fires right up no problem and runs just fine.

Some information worth noting:
It currently has 1/8 of a tank of fuel.
I don't have a fuel pressure gauge to check fuel pressure.
I have been doing some wiring and programming of my aftermarket alarm that requires me to have the ignition in and out of the on position many many times over the past few days.

I would imagine though, That even if it built up too much fuel pressure somehow, It would work itself out after one drive and not be an issue again after that... So now I wonder, What's the chances Its struggling to build up fuel pressure because the filter is clogged or something? I don't want to drop a tank to replace a fuel pump and find out this is completely unrelated

EDIT: while driving it earlier, the low fuel indicator and chime went off three times in ten minutes. It's never done that. It has always come on and beeped at 1/8th of a tank and never again after that. I know that's more sending unit related rather than just strictly fuel pump, but i think its worth noting. Also, I parked it with 1/8th of a tank and I came out here to do some more wiring and I decided to see if it would start. Same thing happened, started barely, but It didnt die. It tried to, but barely picked itself back up then idled perfect for a minute before I shut it down.

Just thought this could be useful information

 

I think you can borrow a fuel pressure test kit from autozone.

Anyway, the starting issue could either be the check valve in the pump going bad or leaking injectors. Usually the check valve is the issue, and the only way to replace it is to replace the pump assembly.

As for the issues when low, it could be a problem, but I've never experienced that before. I will say that it's not good for the fuel pump in any car to run low on gas all the time.

This is the pump I replaced mine with last summer:

 

Okay. And your pump has never done this? as far as the cutting out when running below 1/4 tank?
I may just replace the pump with a better one, Don't know who replaced it last and how cheaply made the pump was.

Ive got the 25 gallon tank, you have the same one?

And yeh Ive always been the one to tell people that that's bad on the pump and Ive always filled up at 1/4 tank to be easy on it. But you know sometimes it just runs below that. And lately Ive lost my job and am behind on pay so sometimes it gets low and stays there for a while until I can get some regular income again.

I think the starting issue was due to too much fuel. the last time that I had that problem, It wouldn't start at all. Completely flooded. Just held about 3/4 throttle then helped it idle and I havent had the problem since. Maybe when I'm working on it and I need to flip the key on and off, I'll pull the relay so the pump doesnt kick on constantly.

 

My old pump never did that.

As far as I know all the tanks were 25 gallon.

Unless the injectors are leaking, the fuel pump only primes the rail until you start cranking.

 

Yeh that's what I thought too. Maybe my injectors leak a little bit. The truck has 245,000 miles on it so it wouldn't really be surprising. But it was definitely flooded the last time. The whole area smelled like fuel right before I got it to start.

So im thinking I just have a cheap fuel pump and maybe some leaky injectors which are going to get replaced when I get my new plenum and actually finish the kegger mod anyway