Qoute "It almost started once but just died like it wasn't getting fuel. " When you say that it sounds like a fuel prob. for sure! But a fuel problem won't make the starter just click.So your comment about it "Almost Starting " needs to be clarified. Like, was is turning over slowly and almost started or turning over normally and almost started?

And I've seen post after post !But, for the life of me , I can't figure out why anyone would take the bed off to change the fuel pump!

 

I dont know, f-it! The reason we took the bed off is because we had four guys to lift it. There's only six bolts holding it on and its WAY easier than draning 25 gallons of fuel and dropping the tank. Have you done a fuel pump on one of these trucks? If you have a better way I'm all ears. If you haven't figured it out I'm a noob so I'm learning as I'm going.


SO... I went to my friends house who has a badass scan tool. I have no codes, no pending codes except a MAP problem so I dont know. I'm just going to put a fuel pump and a starter on it and fix it enough to trade it in. I've already put 3500 in it just trying to get it right. Every time I fix something, something else goes wrong. so f-it!

 

Sorry, didn't mean to upset you with that comment. I understand that the 25 gallons of gas is a PITA and the main thing you had to deal with.

And yes, I have changed the fuel pumps in 2nd generation Rams many times, All you do is remove the screws holding the fill tube to the side of the bed, loosen the tank strap bolts enough to be able to reach up and disconnect the fuel line and electrical plugs. Loosen the hose clamps on the fill and return line and pull the hoses off. Then just lower the tank with help or a floor jack and a piece of plywood or 2x10 about 16 inches to 2 feet long centered on the tank. I do it by myself in half an hour. But like I said I understand the 25 gallons of gas delemna . I've never done it with more than 5 gallons.

 

When you say the starter keeps spinning is it engaging the engine too, or is it just spinning by itself? If it is just by itself then the bendix gear on the starter is bad. If the engine turns over too it could be your ignition coil breaking down due to heat. Transient trouble is the worst and most expensive to find. Rule out the simpler items before throwing a lot of money at it.

 

Like apa228 says don't just throw money at it. At least take the battery, alt, and starter out and have them checked first. And get a cheap fuel pressure gauge and see where you are at. Before you replace the 250 dollar pump. And if you've already gotten the the point of removing the old pump, go ahead and take it out and see if the screen is clogged. Also you might want to drain the fuel anyway just to see if the gas is loaded with water.

 

ZMAN you didn't upset me at all. It's this damn truck thats got me upset. Your idea sounds like it would work great but this thing was broke down at a gas station and we didn't have many tools to work with. Taking the bed off seemed to be the logical way to go. Imma throw about $500 at it today and go from there.(I don't think it will dent my truck) Starter, cap, rotor, plugs, wires. I want to get rid of this damn thing but lack of credit is holding me back. Plus she turns heads everywhere I go. I'm driving an 08 Tundra 4 door with the 5.7 right now (rental) and nobody looks twice at it.


Edit... Yes the starter is engaging the motor.

 

did it keep running fine afterwards, like all the way home, have all the power that would tell you if it is part of the fuel or the ignition, if at any point it spits going down the road, or even idleing ( When it oes start) its probably your fuel, i am a noob as well, i am still learning but that would make sense to me. i had a problem with my truck not running a few weeks back and it turned out to be the cat, it broke apart and clogged the exhaust, at first it would start, then shut down and not start again, its a good idea to change that anyway cause it should help on gas mileage, and power, along with sound

 

No prob man, just trying to help. Don't spend the money on things you don't know for sure are bad. I don't want to see you spend $500 and still have the same prob. For at least half the price of the fuel pump alone you could have some nice diagnostic tools to help you out,and will work on other vehicles also.

 

Yeah it runs great once it starts. I don't really care about the money, the crap I'm replacing is probably going to break soon anyway. I just picked up a starter, OE ignition coil, 8.5mm MSD wires and autolite 3923's. I had 5224's in there. I will post results this afternooon.



And I just put a magnaflow high flow cat and new O2 sensors on there about 4 months ago.

 

Well here is wht happened to me. Truck runs great then all of a sudden one morning she wont start up altho the engine is turning over as she should. I call the dude I bought her from and he said yea she does that every once and a while he told me to crawl under her and give the gas tank a good smack on the bottom near the center so I do and wham she fires right up. If she quit on me while I was on the road I would just find me a bump tp hit and she would start right back up.. I installed a new pump and now she is doing fine. He said something about a dead spot in the armature in the pump. Oh yea he bought me the new pump. S0 I said all that to say this the truck would do fine for a while and all of a sudden she wasnt getting gas. The pump wouldnt pump gas to the engine unless I hit it on the bottom.