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Intermittant Fuel Pump Failure

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Old Jul 21, 2007 | 10:25 PM
  #1  
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98DodgeRam360
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Default Intermittant Fuel Pump Failure

98 Dodge Ram 360 v8 5.9L 250,000 miles.

New Coil, Plugs,Wires,Kat,IAC,Water Pump,Fuel Pump,Belt Tentioner, Duct Tape and Bubble Gum.

Fuel Pump was replaced about 1.5 months ago.

You can hear the pump prime and it the truck starts up. Sometimes more cranking than others.

The engine sputters and dies. Either at high RPM or at idle. Traced it down to the fuel pump again. You can hear it hum and listen to it stop - the truck sputters. Sometimes, the fuel pump kicks back on - sending the RPM back up to 800. Other times it wont and the engine dies due to no fuel pressure. Confirmed this at the fuel rail too. I replaced the IAC on the TB because its about time i did. Took the TB off and gave it a good cleaning too just because i love my truck.

The relays are good. No codes are indicated. No idiot light comes on.

I've read about the crank position sensor(CPS), the cam sensor(CS) and the PCM itself but dont know if they would cause the fuel pump to just shut off. CPS controls spark. CS does whatever - havent figured that one out entirely. I know theresa lot of things that can tell the PCM to shut off the fuel pump but dont know iftheCPS or the CSwould just shut off the pump intermittantly.

Does anyone have any experience like this?

I'm re-setting the PCM (I think) by letting the truck sit with no battery overnight.

Any advice would be appreciated. I wana drive this 4WD to my funeral.
 
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Old Jul 21, 2007 | 10:32 PM
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Default RE: Intermittant Fuel Pump Failure

Real quick reset for the PCM. Disconnect the Neg cable and turn the ignition switch to "start" for 30 seconds. This should do the reset.

Wish I could help on the other probles though...

Good Luck.
 
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Old Jul 22, 2007 | 12:58 PM
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Default RE: Intermittant Fuel Pump Failure

Haven't had a fuel pump problem on my Ram, but have had with others. I plan to buy a gauge to check fuel pressure soon. You said you confirmed pressure on the fuel rail - did you do it with a gauge?
 
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Old Jul 22, 2007 | 02:00 PM
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Default RE: Intermittant Fuel Pump Failure

No guage. You can hear the fuel pump stop humming. It starts fine, runs for a bit then sputters. You can push the port on the fuel rail when its running and it squirts out with pressure. If the engine sputters and dies, you dont get and pressure at the rail when its checked.
 
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Old Jul 22, 2007 | 03:35 PM
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Default RE: Intermittant Fuel Pump Failure

Been reading through the forum. Can the Oxygen Sensors cause the PCM to shut down the fuel pump?

Another idea was the camshaft position sensor failing - telling the PCM to shut down the pump. Any ideas?
 
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Old Jul 22, 2007 | 08:55 PM
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Default RE: Intermittant Fuel Pump Failure

Check the power wire to the fuel pump as close to the tank as possible. Use a test light and probe the power wire it should light up if the pumpis running. When the pump starts to sputter and quit watch the test light if the light goes out it could be wiring, relay, pcm, etc. if the light stays lit it's the pump or connection to the pump module.
 
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Old Jul 24, 2007 | 11:46 PM
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98DodgeRam360
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Default RE: Intermittant Fuel Pump Failure

RABBLER - CORRECT!

In this case, when they replaced the fuel tank, they replaced the power wire and used crimpsfor connecting the new wire. It held voltage at the harness under my drivers tire, but lost power after the "crimp connector" they installed at the pump. A voltage test showed the power loss at the pump while I had power at the front harness.

I took the crimp connector off and soldered/shrinkwrapped the splice.

Moral of the story: INSIST ALL ELECTRICAL WORK BE SOLDERED AND SHRINK WRAPPED. If the shop that replaced the pump would of done a thorough job, this never would of happened.

Thanks for all your help. My baby is up and running! Eating gas and small cars as it goes.
 
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Old Jul 25, 2007 | 01:29 AM
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Default RE: Intermittant Fuel Pump Failure

Your wecome.
Donations can be made to Rabbler@yadayada.......
 
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